I asked 6 authors to name 1 book everyone must read — only 1 book named twice

Reading is one of the most productive and enjoyable ways you can pass the time. It has so many benefits, from expanding your knowledge to lowering stress levels and strengthening your brain’s function. 

With this in mind, I asked authors to name the one book they think everyone should read before they die. There was a wide-ranging mix which included fiction and non-fiction. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, you can also click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.

Joshua Lisec, a New York Times bestselling co-author who has ghostwritten 100 books since 2011, said: “The best fiction reads like non-fiction, and the best non-fiction reads like fiction. And one of the reasons why How to Win Friends and Influence People is a perennial bestseller is because it reads like both.

“It is allegedly a memoir of its creator, Dale Carnegie, and much of his persona and background are fictionalised, including his name. It was a business fable before business fables were a thing. When you impress important people, you can open doors that would otherwise remain locked to you forever.” 

For non-fiction, Lisec suggested Reframe Your Brain by Scott Adams, saying: “This is the best, densest life success guide for the most people in the most areas of life — the most value per word of any book.”

Stacy Ennis, an author with an average rating of 4.18 on Goodreads and a long-time nonfiction book, chose The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. She said: “It exemplifies powerful story-telling, including narrative arc, sensory details, and excellent dialogue. The writing is simple and clear, emotional, and deeply impactful, whether you’re age 10 or 110. 

“It’s a classic, having been read and loved internationally for decades. And it’s quotable—full of beautifully crafted lines that inspire readers.” 

She also recommended a more “writing-centric” book: Stephen King’s On Writing, saying: “What a book. A must-read for every writer, fiction or non.”

Mark Weinstein, author of the award-winning book Restoring Our Sanity Online, which was called “a must-read” by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, said The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is “timeless because it’s about building character first, and then success naturally follows”. 

He added: “Dr Covey was generous enough to endorse my own books, which was a real honour. His principles of integrity, win-win thinking, and seeking first to understand, are just as vital in business as they are in everyday life.”

Neal Asher, author of the Polity series, who has tens of thousands of reviews on Goodreads, named Theft of Fire: Orbital Space #1 as his pick, saying it will “re-kindle readers’ love for sci-fi. It’s a thumping good read, with an excellent and breathless pace. I didn’t want to stop reading to pick up my phone; I wanted to lie on my sofa and keep on reading, which hasn’t happened for a year or more. I polished it off in two evenings.”

This was the only book named by more than one author. Jacquelyn Gilmore, whose book, The Elf Witch,  has a 3.83 rating on Goodreads and is an Amazon best-seller, says: “In my opinion, the book everyone should read, no matter their typical interests or writing topics, is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

“It operates on multiple levels — psychological, philosophical, moral, and social — while delivering a gripping narrative that still feels intensely modern, even today.

“Everyone should read Crime and Punishment because it isn’t just a classic, it’s an unforgettable journey into the human mind, morality, and redemption. Dostoevsky doesn’t simply tell a story; he forces you to feel it. The book will challenge your beliefs, keep you in suspense, and leave you changed. It isn’t just about a crime or a punishment — it’s about what it means to be human when faced with unbearable choices.”

Crime and Punishment was also recommended by Jan Yager, an author of 66 books, including several published by major commercial houses like Simon & Schuster. She said it was “a novel that explores the psychology behind a murderer that also is one of the prototypes for the modern mystery whodunit? novel”. 

She adds: “Dostoevsky also explores the way that guilt torments the protagonist, Raskolnikov, as it also examines such issues as redemption and social isolation. Although published in the 19th century, Crime and Punishment stands the test of time.”

For non-fiction, Yager recommended Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning. She says: “Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl shares his experiences in the horrific concentration camp during the Holocaust. But he goes beyond the horrors that he endured and shows how he overcame what he was experiencing and how the rest of us can get “through anything life has to offer. Dr. Frankl’s book offers hope for those who are dealing with the most demanding situations imaginable.”