This is a great resource for books to read covering centuries of writing, some well known and others not so much. Each listed book gives interesting details about the story and author. There are a wide variety of stories, including prize winners.

This is a fabulous book not only for the pictures of the novels inside, the smart chronological organization and the heft and sturdy binding, but the sheer ability to start to "check-off" things on a "list". I immediately went through it and checked the ones I had read and was pleasantly surprised I was halfway there - and only in my 30's! Ah, the joy of a good education.

Seeing as how I don't have enough years left to read 1001 more books that someone else thinks I need to read, I would say that I found many of the selections less than inspiring and rather archaic. However, since I have spent my whole life reading no less than 20 books per year and as many as 75, I would have to say that there are books I found to be worthy of being printed in a more updated book such as this. I realize that many of the older books listed here have value to an intellectual, but I find that they do not mesh well with a person who loves reading for the sake of reading a good book. I would rather read a mediocre book that can keep my interest than read a book that takes me forever because I just can't muster any enthusiasm for it. This is an interesting volume to add to one's library, and even though I personally don't rate it highly, I can see where it would be of some value to other readers.