A photo of the author’s bookshelf. Photo by Sydney Moss.

For my entire life, I’ve been an avid reader and enjoy all genres of books. Recently, I haven’t had much time to read, but I am always searching for the perfect book to pick up when I do. That said, I’ve provided a list of my favorite books, which I think are the most thought-provoking and insightful. 

1. The Alchemist

Written by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist has been one of my favorite and most insightful books. With many hidden metaphors and symbolism, this novel follows the journey of a young shepherd boy named Santiago who is in search of a fortune. Throughout his journey, the boy explores themes of self-discovery and spiritual connection. Additionally, Coelho explores the theme of pursuing your dreams, introduced by a memorable quote: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” This short novel is one of my favorites, not only for its story and characters, but also for its deeper meaning that has resonated with me. 

2. The Midnight Library

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a novel of “what ifs?” The story begins with the sudden suicide of Nora Seed, and later, readers gain insight into her mind after she killed herself. In her mind, Nora enters a library of countless books, each representing the different lives she could have had, depending on the choices she made. Although somber, this book is one of my favorites because it reminds me never to take things for granted and to continue living life to the fullest. 

3. Freakonomics

Taking third place is Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I read this book over the summer for my AP Macroeconomics class, and although I was daunted at first, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. In this novel, Levitt and Dubner took a seemingly mundane topic, such as economics, and turned it into an incredibly insightful and entertaining one. Through anecdotes and stories, Dubner and Levitt compare various aspects of the economic world to real-world issues, such as cheating in the public school system and sumo wrestling. This book made me extremely excited to start macroeconomics and has allowed me to view economics through a critical, real-life lens. 

4. The Hobbit

A fantasy classic, The Hobbit is my fourth favorite book of all time. I read this book in eighth grade after having watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. This book is easy to follow and not too long. The Hobbit provides background for the stories in The Lord of the Rings, including Bilbo Baggins’s original adventures. 

5. A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns, a novel with complex themes such as love, social justice, friendship, and identity, ranks fifth. I read this book for the first time in my sophomore English class and reread it in my AP Literature class as a current senior in high school. This story, written by Khaled Hosseini, presents the perspectives of both Miriam and Laila, who face oppression, as many Afghan women did in the late 20th century. I love this book for the perspectives and narratives of both characters, which contribute to the essential themes of perseverance and friendship.