32 books that will make you a more well-rounded person

There's any easy way to do it: Read everything!

You can't just stick to the mystery novels, anthologies, or biographies you've grown partial to. If you really want to orce yourself out of your comfort zone at the bookstore.

If you're not sure where to start, you've come to the right place. We've selected 32 timeless books on all different topics — politics, science, history, culture, and more — that may help you become the well-rounded person you strive to be.

Jacquelyn Smith and Natalie Walters contributed to a previous version of this article.

Classic: 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee

First published in 1960 and winner of the 1961 Pulitzer Prize, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was an overnight success. 1.1 million copies

In this American classic, lawyer Atticus Finch agrees to defend a black man who was accused of raping a white woman.

This classic novel hits on a few important topics, such as parenting and racism in America.

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Classic: '1984' by George Orwell

George Orwell wrote this anticommunist novel in 1948 to predict what 1984 would look like in London. His prediction? A totalitarian state where "Big Brother," the government, was always watching you and telling you what to think and believe.

Some of his predictions came true, like cameras being everywhere and our bodies being scanned for weapons.

This book is a must-read because it's a cautionary tale of what happens when the government is given too much control over the people and their lives.

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Classic: 'Walden' by Henry David Thoreau

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Children's classic: 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' by J.K. Rowling

If you haven't read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," or the following six books in the series, you should run to the bookstore immediately.

This beloved tale follows a young boy who finds out that he's a wizard on his 11th birthday and is whisked off to a wizarding school called Hogwarts to begin his training.

These books were so universally loved and praised that they spawned a multibillion-dollar film franchise, a theme park in Orlando, Florida, and a spin-off series based on a Rowling book, "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them," which will be released later this year.

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Fantasy: 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien

"The Fellowship of the Ring" — the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien 's "Lord of the Rings" series — is another must-read.

This epic adventure novel takes place in Tolkien's made-up world of Middle-earth and follows Frodo Baggins as he sets out to destroy the One Ring before the Dark Lord Sauron gets it and uses it for evil.

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History: 'A People's History of the United States' by Howard Zinn

American historian and political scientist Howard Zinn wrote this book to present his theory that American history can be summed up as the oppression of the majority by the minority.

It was a runner-up for the National Book Award when it was released in 1980, and has since made appearances in various films and TV shows, such as "The Sopranos," "The Simpsons," and "Good Will Hunting."

While some readers complain that it doesn't have enough references, this book may open your mind to new interpretations of our past while also filling in the gaps in your knowledge of American history.

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History: 'Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank

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History: 'Guns, Germs and Steel' by Jared Diamond

Politics: 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln' by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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Politics: 'Game Change' by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

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Science: 'The Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin

This book on Darwin's theory of evolution is worth reading because it revolutionized the science world — it's the cornerstone of modern biology.

Even if you don't accept his theory, you should still add this to your list to educate yourself.

And if you do accept evolution, you should read it to better understand the origins of the theory.

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Science: 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking

Written by the famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist, this book was published in 1988.

In it, Hawking offers a clear explanation of the scientific theories of today — from time travel to general relativity to the creation of the universe.

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Science: 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson

Bryson uses an upbeat and entertaining style of writing to take you from when there was nothing to where we are now.

Interestingly, the author isn't a scientist. He's just a curious individual who decided that he wanted to really understand science — so he did his research and wrote this book to help others like himself.

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Writing: 'The Elements of Style' by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

The Elements of Style," will help anyone drastically improve their mastery of the written word.

You probably recognize this book from school, but if you didn't pay attention to it back then, it's well worth your time now.

From commonly misspelled words to grammar and punctuation, you'll find all the answers in this concise and entertaining read.

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Philosophy: 'Existentialism from Dostoevsky to to Sartre' edited by Walter Kaufmann

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Philosophy: 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu

"The Art of War" may come from the fifth century BC, but it remains relevant today.

The book was originally written by military strategist Sun Tzu to help explain how to win in warfare. But over the years, people have found that the tactics described in the book, such as "know yourself" and "know your enemy" can help people succeed in the day-to-day struggles of life.

The book contains 13 chapters — one for each aspect of war — and has been used by sports coaches, legal teams, and businesses for its valuable advice.

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Philosophy: 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' by Robert M. Pirsig

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Philosophy: 'The Last Lecture' by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

When Pausch, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, found out that he had pancreatic cancer and had just three to six months of good health left, he gave the now famous speech "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams."

After this went viral, he decided to expand it into a book, "The Last Lecture," in which he gives advice on how to live your life to the fullest.

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Literature: 'Romeo & Juliet' by William Shakespeare

The masterfully written play by Shakespeare revolves around two young lovers whose families are in a violent and passionate feud. It is the ultimate story of forbidden love — and is often referenced in popular culture.

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Tech: 'Steve Jobs' by Walter Isaacson

This gripping biography is based on years of in-depth, personal interviews with Steve Jobs — and over a hundred family members, friends, and colleagues.

The book, written by Isaacson at the request of Jobs, explains why the Apple cofounder was so intimidating and alluring, and how he helped build Apple and Pixar into the enormous brands that they are today.

Reading it will give you an inside view of the tech world, inspiration to make a difference with your life, and an interesting tale of a fascinating man's life.

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Tech: 'Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution' by Steven Levy

If you want to understand how we went from using the post office and library to email and Wikipedia, read this book.

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Psychology: 'You Are Not So Smart' by David McRaney

The title may sound harsh, but McRaney is making a point: Every "rational" decision you make in your life is based on an underlying bias.

This book shows how the tenets of psychology affect you every day, even though you don't consciously realize it. And no matter what you do, you can't resist.

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Humor: 'Hyperbole and a Half' by Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh started out by posting illustrated, humorous stories about everyday events in her past and present life on a blog.

It became so popular that she wrote and illustrated this book, with 18 episodes on everything from depression to how she stole cake as a child.

Billionaire Bill Gates called it "funny and smart as hell,

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Business: 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' by Dale Carnegie

There are a number of lessons you can learn from Carnegie's classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," and they will help you in your personal and professional lives.

From it, you'll learn how to make people like you, win people over to your side, and lead them.

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Business: 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins

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Money: 'The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy' by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

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Money: 'The Intelligent Investor' by Benjamin Graham

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is one of many Wall Street power players who cite "The Intelligent Investor" as essential reading for investors at all level.

It was first published by Warren Buffett's mentor, Graham, in 1949 as a thorough introduction to investing for amateurs.

His "value investing" philosophy teaches people to make wise decisions with their money that can give them substantial returns in the long run.

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Food: 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' by Julia Child

Perhaps the most famous cookbook of all time, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" includes

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Food: 'Omnivore's Dilemma' by Michael Pollan

The food writer Michael Pollan has brought a revived awareness of the importance of eating healthy and implementing environmentally and morally sound agriculture and farming policies in the US.

In "Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals," Pollan outlines the heritage and history of different cuisines, discusses the prevalence of corn in many processed foods, and in doing so stresses the importance of sustainable, locally sourced food.

If nothing else, this book will open your eyes to the reality of industrialized food production in the US and why awareness and knowledge of where food comes from is an important part of our interaction with it.

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Social sciences: 'Gender Trouble' by Judith Butler

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Poetry: 'A Village Life' by Louise Glück

"A Village Life" is Louise Glück's eleventh collection of poems. In it, she describes a village of no specific place or time. Glück is known as a "lyrical and dramatic poet," and her prose has been compared to that found in novels rather than poetry by other authors.

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Sociology: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City' by Matthew Desmond

This book, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction for 2017, is a work of investigative journalism into the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee, where Desmond tells the stories of eight families living on the edge.

Even though evictions used to be very rare, they are becoming more frequent as many poor renting families are spending more than half of their income on housing, as the book describes.

As families become forced into shelters, squalid apartments or more dangerous neighborhoods, this book sheds light on the vast inequality among the classes in America.

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