8 Classic Books You Can Read in a Day

A good, old-fashioned list video. If you're searching for short books that are still worth your time, look no further.

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0:00 Beginning
0:26 Virginia Woolf
2:07 Lao Tzu
4:45 Sappho
6:10 Aesop
7:17 Hesiod
8:32 Musonius Rufus
10:00 Lewis Carroll
11:21 Herman Hesse

[drackaris_]

Another recommendation would be Hemingway The Old Man and the Sea. Love that book.

[johnalderete]

Benjamin Hoff’s “The Tao of Pooh” is a fun little read (around 160 pages). Hoff uses Pooh and friends to illustrate and explain the key principles of Taoism. Pooh actually has a lot to say and ask along the way. Again, a fun fast read that I think explains Taoism really well foe those new to it.

[jlstrick]

I read that version of Siddartha in high school and I am definitely older than you 😂. I devoured that book when I got it … I am normally a slow reader, but I couldn’t put it down. Started me on a lifelong interest in eastern philosophy. Glad to see you mention the Tao Te Ching. I’ve been meditating on that for over 25 years and I still have a lot to learn. Stephen Mitchell’s translation is a reliable one with helpful commentary. Thank you for your thoughtful and accessible approach!

[k_i_k_ii]

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a fantastic recommendation for anyone to enjoy. I read it for the first time this year and it was a 5 star read for me.

I agree with the sentiment that kids should have more interaction with quality works of literature and media in general. My mom started my love of books when she took me to the library often as a young kid, and I'll always be thankful for that.

[s-esq.]

Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorophosis’ has been so high on my list [of]* favourite short book[s]* that I read it every time I want to read a short book (😂), my preference being the Norton Critical Edition of it.

*: Editor's

[botks]

I would definitely recommend Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, very enjoyable and digestible read with an impactful story for a short book

[thebluesmurfdude]

I just picked up copies of Introduction to Classic Chinese Philosophy by Bryan W Van Norden along with Tao Te Ching, Lich Tzu, and Chuang Tzu. Working through Introduction to Classic Chinese Philosophy right now, and then diving into Tao Te Ching. Excited to have my tiny brain worked out!

[craiggersify]

On the note of looking for translations - one secret resource that I’ve found truly lovely is the Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation.

They basically get subject matter experts to overview:

-what the merits and detractions are of the different translations of major works

- especially for non-western areas, books that have good translations but are often overlooked or underknown.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve either discovered something new I’ve loved, or been very grateful I had my eyes open picking a translation.

It seems to be out of print, but also it’s still possible to pick up a used copy for under $10. I’ve used it way more than I thought I would- looks niche at first glance but is worth its weight in gold.

[tinahatch]

Great recommendations! I'd also like to add The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō, it's basically a 160-page essay about Japanese philosophy and culture.

[ericneff]

Great list. Others have suggested additions, so I'm going to suggest Notes from Underground by Dostoevsky.

[Cornflake]

I'll add a few from my shelf. C.S lewis- present concerns, China Achebe- things fall apart, Erlend Loe- doppler, timothy Synder - on tyranny, Julie barnes- the sense of an ending, Joseph conrad- heart of darkness, and very short but moving Khaled Hosseini- the sea prayer.

[bruceharrison]

Leo Tolstoy's Fables for Children
Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
The British in Love - Jilly Cooper (If you want to "get into" poetry, this is a really, really, really good introduction.)

[MarkLeBay]

Flowers for Algernon is my favorite short story.

[ralflth]

great video as always! If I can add a book on the list, would be The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Tolstoy

[davidbcalhoun]

Highly recommend Bryan Van Norden’s introduction to Chinese philosophy for a good perspective on what’s going on with Lao Tzu and other Chinese philosophers. So many translations of TTC as well! I really like Red Pine’s translation.

Also worth mentioning that there's definitely a common thread through Daoism (Lao Tzu and Zhangzhi) to Buddhism, and even up into Kierkegaard a bit.

[qgljgis]

The Death of Ivan Illych is another masterpiece

[joecarson]

Some great recommendations Jared.

If I could i would add 'The Fall' by Albert Camus and 'The Pearl ' by John Steinbeck...great great short reads. Maybe even add Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank and Redemption and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Just a few novellas that are great one day reads...but of course it could be a long list.

[jasonluis]

If you take a long walk while reading Siddhartha, by the time you get home, you feel like a different person. You feel this sense of connection and oneness

[gibsonraymonda]

I like the Jane English and Gia-Fu Feng translation of Tao Te Ching. Voltaire’s Candide is a quick read too.

[aleksandrshapovalenko]

I would add "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo. It's short and, at least for me, it was mind-blowing.