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A book becomes a classic because it is able to speak to people about human nature and life, but is able to transcend time and place in doing so. Though the writing styles and approachability of the authors may differ, the themes are universally understandable and if one classic does not do it for you, then try another! Books are meant to be explored and enjoyed. Here is a list of some classics, in no particular order, that all readers should at least attempt to delve into.

1)Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Addressing the ideas of self-reliance, self-assertion, and the need for love, the story of Jane Eyre is gripping and has ideas that all humans must grapple with, though, luckily not necessarily on as grand or as devastating a scale as Jane had to, though she did so, ultimately, successfully.

2)1984, by George Orwell

Political novels are always a gamble, but they are always relevant. The mere number of allusions that one hears in a day about the book 1984 big brother,' Orwellian,' etc. make this book well worth reading for anyone living in modern society.

3)The Bible

It is not a novel, and is indeed religious in its origin, but if you are looking to read in order to expand your understanding of the world around you, there is no better source. So much of literature, art, history, and, of course religion, stem from the Bible that reading even portions of it are well worth your time, even if you are not religiously inclined.

4)Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

The sheer contrasts in characters' personalities and the wittiness of their interaction and dialogue makes this book a pure joy to read. Not to mention the good example that Elizabeth Bennet provides for young women struggling to be themselves. This book is a perennial on must-read lists, and for good reason. Just do it you won't be sorry.

5)Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton

A quick read, this story of a lonely and silent man in rural Massachussetts traces how the events of a person's life come to shape them. It also demonstrates how the preconceptions people have of those who they live near and know of, but do not know well, can often be false and, can be altered once a communicative relationship is formed.

Other books to read, though some are not necessarily classics (yet), include: The Giver, by Lois Lowry; The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling; The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis; Anthem, by Ayn Rand; The Confessions, by St. Augustine; The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, by Oliver Wendell Holmes; and Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell.

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