Make time every day to read. It sharpens the mind, and keeps you better informed on the references in other pop culture. One of the best places to start on your reading list is to go to the classics. You know that you are going to find something that is well written, meaningful, and will be related back to things that your seen and heard before. Here are six classic novels that everyone should read.

Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen  | Published in 1813

This novel is written from the perspective of Elizabeth, who is the second oldest of five daughters. The land that they live on isn’t owned by them, which means that the family will not have financial support when their father passes. It’s a beautiful love story that has playful banter, a storyline of what it means to love, and the pressures of finding a marriage between a man with money. It’s still very applicable to the dating world of today.

The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald |  Published in 1925

In the Great Gatsby, you’ll find yourself in 1922 within a wealthy circle of friends. It’s the roaring twenties and there are elaborate parties being thrown. Gatsby strikes up an affair with an old acquaintance. Things quickly get out of hand with the lavish parties, affairs, and drinking. The story is thought to be a cautionary tail about the dangers of the American Dream.

To Kill A Mockingbird: Harper Lee  | Published in 1960

This novel was published during the height of the civil rights movement, but it was set to take place during the Great Depression. It is centered in a quiet southern town with a young six year old girl as the narrator. Her father is a lawyer who defends a black man in court who is accused of rape. The three young children befriend a recluse neighbor named “Boo” Radley, who ends up becoming an ally. This story takes you directly to the root of human behavior.

Fahrenheit 451: Ray Bradbury  | Published in 1953

This futuristic world has firemen who start fires, instead of putting them out. The name of the novel comes from the temperature at which books burn. In Fahrenheit 451, the world has become inundated with entertainment in electronic form that is controlled by a government who wishes to keep people as sheep. Books become banned because reading causes new ideas to form which can then be shared. It’s a commentary on how slippery of a slope technology and entertainment can become.

Brave New World: Aldous Huxley  | Published in 1932

Brave New World takes place in a dystopian society in the future where people are genetically modified. There is a class hierarchy that is based upon IQ. It’s an interesting view of how society can develop if science grows faster than ethics can keep up. It challenges the reader to question how important scientific developments are when it sacrifices your humanity.

The Odyssey: Homer  | Ancient Text

Homer is best known for two great pieces of literature: Iliad, which is an epic war saga, and The Odyssey. The Odyssey follows one of the heroes from Iliad through a journey back home from war. He is on a ship sailing through the seas to arrive back home to his wife and family. Through the journey, he and his crew come across several treacherous monsters and gods. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the man’s journey through life.

A good book always leaves you wanting more, which is why you need to have a long reading list to feed your appetite. It’s much more fun to read with a buddy. Form a small book club or read with a significant other to enjoy the story together. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these classic novels that everyone should read!