Top Books to Read

I watched The Equalizer the other night with my Dad for father's day.
Denzel Washington plays a badass who kills gangsters, setting the world to right.
A plot point in the movie they mention briefly is that he is working his way through reading the 100 best books.

This got me thinking.

I like to think of myself as a man of letters.
How many, wondered I, of the 100 best books have I read?

So I started looking up lists.
The problem was these lists were all hot garbage 
They quickly devolved into works and authors I've never heard of.

So here I have assembled a list, of the best authors I have ever read.

Many books are worthy but had to be excluded because I have not read them.
I limited myself to using each author only once, but if you like them you should keep reading, almost all of them have many works to chose from.
This list is mostly fiction because its what I read.

This list is designed to make you both well read and interesting at parties, and is in no particular order.

So, without further ado: The Best Books 1-10!

1. J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings
   Genre: High Fantasy
   I am a Tolkien guy through and through, from back when I was in grade school and long before Peter Jackson made those classic movies.
   Yes, I know this is three books
   The Fellowship of the Ring
   The Two Towers and
   Return of the King
   but they are all worth reading
   Do I skip most of the songs and poems when I re-read the books? Yes because I am an uncultured clod but Tolkien is the god father of high fantasy and easily the most influential writer in my life.
   Those that really want to go deep can read go on to read the Silmarillion.
   I read that book in the sense that my eyes passed over the words, but how much did I retain or understand? ermmmm--moving on!
2. Douglas Adams - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
   Genre: Sci-Fi, Humor
   Wit and humor are Adam's specialty.
   Ever wonder where people shouting 42! at questions became a thing? Douglas Adams
   I will forever have the quote "it has the words DON'T PANIC inscribed in large friendly letters on its cover."
3. Michael Crichton - Jurassic Park
   Genre: 90's Sci-Fi, emphasis on Science
   There was a time before, when genetic modification wasn't passe, it was cutting edge. Take an a look into what trouble people can get themselves into when the reach exceeds their grasp and their tenuously constructed systems come crashing down.
   Also you should watch the movie, because John Williams' score is pure genius.
4. Frank Herbert - Dune
   Genre: Sci-Fi
   Another titan here, this one of Sci-Fi.
   I re-read this one from time to time when my soul needs to be cleansed in the austere beauty of the scouring sands of Arrakis.
   The follow on books are not required, they get real trippy real fast, but for those become addicted to the life altering properties of the spice, the other books are out there for you.
   I am always amazed how approachable the language of the book is.
   The world he Herbert sets up has a lot of moving pieces in the political landscape but its manageable. 
5. Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind
   Genre: Fantasy
   The writing here is simply gorgeous.
   Scrappy, three dimensional, set in a world with blemishes and scars.
   Also his ability to write about music is a thing to behold.
   This is book one of what is supposed to be a 'trilogy', a trilogy he will never finish.
   He has book one and two and seems content to never write three, which, oddly kinda fits with the theme of the books.
6. Baldassare Castiglione - The Book of the Courtier
   Genre: Non - Fiction
   Wow does this kid have a fun last name.
   Anyway, this guy was trying to teach people how to be the life of the party in medieval times (1528).
   The advice: never fight a guy whose smaller than you because at best congrats, you beat a guy smaller than you and at worst you just lost to a guy smaller than you.
   Yeah, that was this guy.
   Sprezzatura
7. Sun Tzu - The Art of War
   Genre - Non - Fiction
   How come they never want you to read the interesting stuff in school?
   Sun Tzu boiled down the principals by which every successful army has operated by since time immemorial.
   He is short and sweet with a cleared eyed view of reality that brooks no bullshit.
   Still read by business people the world over today.
8. JK Rowling - The Harry Potter Series
   Genre: Fantasy
   I do not care what you think of her political opinions, do not let that keep you from enjoying this stunning world she built, responsible for getting kids into reading in numbers mere mortal authors can only dream of.
   This is another one where I am not recommending a book per se but a series but I think if you read the first one you won't be able to put it down and will compulsively 
   The works get progressively more complex as the characters age and are fantastic (Pun!) but explore all kinds of classic themes with approachable language.
9. Susan Collins - The Hunger Games
   Genre: Dystopia
   Strong female protagonist in a battle royale who is a complicated figure.
   Great writing gives the story a blistering pace with never a dull moment. A quick easy read.
10. Milton - Paradise Lost
    Genre - Poetry
    Lead character? Satan himself.
    Talk about a compelling and interesting persona.
    From his arguments to sway the angels, to the descriptions of hell and the building of his fortress there, Pandemonium.
    His realization that he is cast out of heaven and swears eternal vengeance and spite is hair raising.
    You don't have to read the next piece Paradise Regained but Samson Agonistes is worth a read.

Ok, that does it for the first 10
Because, again, this list is not in order, stay tuned for the next round
where we unveil who else made the cut!

But I'm curious how many of these first 10 have you read?
Do any of them not belong in the Pantheon of the greats?
Let me know what you think.