Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen ; edited with notes by Vivien Jones — Austen’s powers of subtle discrimination and shrewd perceptiveness is revealed in "Pride and Prejudice". She is able to convey such a complex message using a simple, yet witty, style.

On the road : the original scroll by Jack Kerouac ; edited by Howard Cunnell ; introduction by Howard Cunnell, Penny Vlagopoulos, George Mouratidis, and Joshua Kupetz — On The Road, the most famous of Jack Kerouac's works, is not only the soul of the Beat movement and literature, but one of the most important novels of the century.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ; edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davies — An evergreen book that one can read again and again.

A clockwork orange by Anthony Burgess — A nightmarish vision of insane youth culture that depicts a heart wrenching insight into the life of disturbed adolescence.

How to win friends & influence people by Dale Carnegie ; editorial consultant, Dorothy Carnegie ; editorial assistance, Arthur R. Pell — This is the granddaddy of all self-improvement books. It is a comprehensive, easy to read guide for winning people over to your way of thinking.

David Copperfield by Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 — This is a classic tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one's emotional and moral life.

The alchemist by Paulo Coelho ; translated by Alan R. Clarke — A fable about undauntingly following one's dreams, listening to one's heart, and reading life's omens features dialogue between a boy and an unnamed being.

Crime and punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky ; translated with an introduction and notes by David McDuff — A smooth flowing, captivating novel of a young man living in poverty who criminally succumbs to the desire for money, and the huge shychological impact this has on him and the people around him.

The complete poems and plays, 1909-1950 by T.S. Eliot — It was written during World War 2 and is still entirely relevant today.

The great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ; preface and notes by Matthew J. Bruccoli — Set in the Jazz Age of the roaring 20's, this book unravels a cautionary tale of the American dream. The reader learns that a few good friends are far more important than many acquaintances.

The tipping point : how little things can make a big difference by Malcolm Gladwell — Gladwell looks at how a small concept can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding ; introduction by E.M. Forster ; with a biographical and critical note by E.L. Epstein ; illustrated by Ben Gibson — A powerful and alarming look at the possibilities for savagery in a lawless environment, where compassionate human reasoning is replaced by anarchism.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller — This book coined the self-titled term “catch-22” that is widely used in modern-day dialogue. As for the story, its message is clear: What’s commonly held to be good, may be bad… what is sensible, is nonsense.

For whom the bell tolls by Ernest Hemingway — A short, powerful contemplation on death, ideology and the incredible brutality of war.

For us, the living : a comedy of customs by Robert A. Heinlein ; with an introduction by Spider Robinson ; and an afterword by Robert James — Instead of telling you what can go wrong, it tells us what can go right. Filled to the brim with revolutionary social, economical, ideological, and political ideas, For Us, the Living, is less a novel and more a manual on how to make a country a paradise.

Siddhartha : a new translation by Hermann Hesse ; translated by Sherab Chodzin Kohn ; with an introduction by Paul W. Morris — A powerful story about the importance of life experiences as they relate to approaching an understanding of reality and attaining enlightenment.

Brave new world by Aldous Huxley — In this futuristic novel the reader can appreciate the impact that Brave New World has made on 20th century literature with its dire warnings about the future.

To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee — It’s a moving tale that delivers a profound message about fighting for justice and against prejudice.

The prince by Niccolo Machiavelli ; with selections from the discourses ; translated by Daniel Donno ; edited and with an introduction by Daniel Donno — This book does a great job at describing situations of power and statesmanship.

One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ; translated from the Spanish by Gregory Rabassa — This novel uses various narratives to portray a clear message about the general importance of remembering our cultural history.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison — This is a pivotal novel by Morrison.The search for identity, the effects of geographical displacement on African Americans, and the effects of distorted love all play out as important themes in the novel. Another major theme is the idea that the individual must find freedom from not only saving himself.

1984 : a novel by George Orwell ; with an afterword by Erich Fromm — 1984 still holds chief significance nearly 60 years after it was written. it is widely acclaimed for its haunting vision of an all-knowing government which uses pervasive 24/7 surveillance tactics to manipulate all citizens.

The republic and other works by Plato ; translated by B. Jowett — A gripping and enduring work of philosophy on how life should be lived, justice should be served and leaders should lead.

Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand — From this masterpiece of Ayn Rand we understand the relationship between capitalism, government and charity.

The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger — This novel firmly stands as an icon for accurately representing the ups and downs of teen angst.

The Grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck ; introduction and notes by Robert DeMott — Steinbeck's deeply touching tale about the survival of displaced families desperately searching for work in a nation stuck by depression will never cease to be revelent.

Walden and other writings by Henry David Thoreau ; introduction by Ralph Waldo Emerson ; edited by Brooks Atkinson — This is a story about being truly free from the pressures of society.

The fellowship of the ring : being the first part of The lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien — By far one of the most important works of the 20th century literature.

War and peace by Leo Tolstoy ; a new translation by Anthony Briggs ; with an introduction by Orlando Figes — This masterpiece has had enormous effect on Russian and World literature.

The picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde ; introduction by Peter Faulkner — The story of a man who preserves his youth while his portrait visibly deteriorates with time. It is masterfully told by Oscar Wilde.