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What to Read? 3 Best Books To Read For A Beginner, Veteran and Expert from Each Genre – Part 5

What to Read? 3 Best Books To Read For A Beginner, Veteran and Expert from Each Genre – Part 5
Books have a preferred writing style that makes comprehension easy for readers who have mastered a certain level of fluency in reading a language. One of the secrets to acquiring knowledge is to read. A lot. Picking up a book and reading the words is the easy part. Reading to understand is much harder. The key is not simply to read more but rather be selective about what we read and how we are reading.

If a book is too hard, you become frustrated and discouraged; a book that’s too easy is boring. Knowing your reading level is the key to match yourself with the most appropriate yet, challenging books. The best way to grow as a reader is by reading text that’s not too hard and not too easy, or what some call the “independent” reading level. A right book at your level is a book that stretches your reading skills just a bit — not so much as to make you frustrated but enough to continue your growth as a reader.

This post’s main objective is all about that – breaking down books into 3 distinctive levels (Beginner, Veteran and Expert) for all genres imaginable. We’ve collected suggestions from a group of passionate readers at Reddit, covering over 100 genres – so we’ll be breaking these large compilations into smaller posts covering 10 genres each. Do take note that one’s selections and definition of different reading levels may differ from one to another, but it’s definitely a great reference.

In this fifth post, we’ll be covering genres from History, Fantasy, Scottish Fiction, Epic Fantasy Series, Science Fiction, World Building, Historical Fiction, Seafaring, Hard Science Fiction and Post Humanism.

First postMurder Mysteries, Out to Sea, World War 1, Graphic Novels / Comics, Southern Gothic, Science Fiction, Philosophy Texts, Children’s Books, Western and Horror.

Second postHistorical Fiction, Existential Narrative (fiction & non-fiction), Apocalyptic / Post-Apocalyptic, Magical Realism, Existentialist Philosophy, History of Esoterica, Stream of Consciousness, Coming of Age, Dystopian and Romance.

Third postClassic American Novels, True Crimes, Southern Gothics, Indian literatures, Epic Poetries, Cities / Urban planning, Argentinian Literature, Non-Fiction Physics, Books Spanning a Full Lifespan or Multiple Generations and Horror.

Fourth postUrban Fantasy, Coming of Age: Stories of People in Their early 20s-30s, Russian Realism, Poetry, British Literature, Post-modernism, Military History, Enlightenment Based Literature, Fantasy and Steampunk.

We hope this compilation helps you in a lot of ways regardless of your reading levels, and do stay tuned for the continution of this “Post Series”.

History

01.ONE
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “History Books” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
  2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
  3. A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
  4. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
  5. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Books for Beginners

History

Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne
Zealot by Reza Aslan
Dirty Wars by Jeremy Scahill

Books for Veterans

History

1491 by Charles C. Mann
Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder
Enemies - A History of the FBI by Tim Weiner

Books for Experts

History

The Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Gall - Lakota War Chief by Robert W. Larson
Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden

Fantasy

02.TWO
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Fantasy Books” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
  4. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
  5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Books for Beginners

Fantasy

Sabriel by Garth Nix
Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett
A Wizard Of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Books for Veterans

Fantasy

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Books for Experts

Fantasy

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien

Scottish Fiction

03.THREE
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Scottish Fiction” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
  2. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
  3. Lanark by Alasdair Gray
  4. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
  5. Morvern Callar by Alan Warner

Books for Beginners

Scottish Fiction

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Rob Roy by Walter Scott
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott

Books for Veterans

Scottish Fiction

The Viking's Apprentice by Kevin McLeod
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Driftnet by Lin Anderson

Books for Experts

Scottish Fiction

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
Lanark by Alasdair Grey

Epic Fantasy Series

04.FOUR
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Epic Fantasy Series” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  2. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
  3. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
  4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
  5. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Books for Beginners

Epic Fantasy Series

The Belgariad and Mallorean by David Eddings
Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher

Books for Veterans

Epic Fantasy Series

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin
The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson

Books for Experts

Epic Fantasy Series

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
The Prince of Nothing by Scott Bakker
New Crobuzon by China Meiville

SCIENCE FICTION

05.FIVE
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Science Fiction” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
  2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  3. Dune by Frank Herbert
  4. The Martian by Andy Weir
  5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Books for Beginners

Science Fiction

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

Books for Veterans

Science Fiction

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Books for Experts

Science Fiction

Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

World Building

06.SIX
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “World Building Books” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
  2. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  3. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
  4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
  5. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

Books for Beginners

World Building

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda
The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Books for Veterans

World Building

Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
Elantris by Brandson Sanderson

Books for Experts

World Building

Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

Historical Fiction

07.SEVEN
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Historical Fiction” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  3. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
  4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
  5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Books for Beginners

Historical Fiction

A Death Stuck Year by Makiia Lucier
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Books for Veterans

Historical Fiction

The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
Crossing the Horizon by Laurie Notaro

Books for Experts

Historical Fiction

New York by Edward Rutherfurd
The Century trilogy by Ken Follett
To the Last Man by Jeff Shaara

Seafaring

08.EIGHT
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Seafaring Books” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
  2. Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian
  3. Moby-Dick or, the Whale by Herman Melville
  4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
  5. Desolation Island by Patrick O’Brian

Books for Beginners

Seafaring

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
In the Sea There Are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda
The Caine Mutiny by Herma Wouk

Books for Veterans

Seafaring

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabitini
Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Bernard Nordhoff
The Long Ships by Frans Bengtsson

Books for Experts

Seafaring

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes
Island by Alistair MacLeod

Hard Science Fiction

09.NINE
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Hard Science Fiction” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. The Martian by Andy Weir
  2. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
  3. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
  4. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
  5. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Books for Beginners

Hard Science Fiction

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke
Foundation by Issac Asimov
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Books for Veterans

Hard Science Fiction

Neuromancer/Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Books for Experts

Hard Science Fiction

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
House of Suns/Revelation Space/Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester

Post Humanism

10.TEN
Click on the book cover for a larger version as well to know the full title and author.

The Top 5 Most Picked “Post Humanism” of All Time
Source: Goodreads

  1. Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene by Donna J. Haraway
  2. Manifesto Cyborg by Donna J. Haraway
  3. Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature by Donna J. Haraway
  4. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
  5. Manifestly Haraway by Donna J. Haraway

Books for Beginners

Post Humanism

House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Saltfish Girl by Larissa Lai
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Books for Veterans

Post Humanism

After Dark by Haruki Murakami
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut

Books for Experts

Post Humanism

Zero K by Don Delillo
Babel-17 by Samuel Delaney
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K Dick
In this fifth post, we’ll be covering genres from History, Fantasy, Scottish Fiction, Epic Fantasy Series, Science Fiction, World Building, Historical Fiction, Seafaring, Hard Science Fiction and Post Humanism.

First postMurder Mysteries, Out to Sea, World War 1, Graphic Novels / Comics, Southern Gothic, Science Fiction, Philosophy Texts, Children’s Books, Western and Horror.

Second postHistorical Fiction, Existential Narrative (fiction & non-fiction), Apocalyptic / Post-Apocalyptic, Magical Realism, Existentialist Philosophy, History of Esoterica, Stream of Consciousness, Coming of Age, Dystopian and Romance.

Third postClassic American Novels, True Crimes, Southern Gothics, Indian literatures, Epic Poetries, Cities / Urban planning, Argentinian Literature, Non-Fiction Physics, Books Spanning a Full Lifespan or Multiple Generations and Horror.

Fourth postUrban Fantasy, Coming of Age: Stories of People in Their early 20s-30s, Russian Realism, Poetry, British Literature, Post-modernism, Military History, Enlightenment Based Literature, Fantasy and Steampunk.

We hope this compilation helps you in a lot of ways regardless of your reading levels, and do stay tuned for the continution of this “Post Series”.