Reading is the quintessence of life. It opens new and crazy worlds, amazing people and unimaginable beauty. However, there are some people that are depriving themselves of this opportunity and for those waiting to start living, there are at least ten books you should definitely give a read before you die.

In the words of John Green, “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

To save you the trouble of having to find a someone with aforementioned weird evangelical zeal, here is a bucket list of books for your convenience. (P.S. If you had to look up the word quintessence, you ought to consider reading more.)

Book 10: The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

If you love to be inspired, read this book. After a bus crash, track star Jessica ends up without a leg and has to overcome her physical and mental blocks to not only get back to where she was, but become a better person along the way.

Book 9: Arabian Nights (One Thousand and One Nights) by Anonymous

A murderous Sultan’s wife tells intertwined folktales to her husband in an effort to stay alive. This book is amazing, especially if you like old foreign folklore.

Book 8: The Princess Bride by William Goldman

It doesn’t matter if you loved or hated the movie version, read this. There are some obvious differences and the language of Mr. Goldman may just change your mind about Buttercup and her crew if you disliked the show.

Book 7: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

This book is about being different and loving it. It will make you rethink your definition of normal in a good way, and maybe even cause you to rethink some stereotypes that tend to go along with high school drama.

Book 6: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes is amazing. There, it has been said. If you loved the movie version with Robert Downey Jr., you may even like the books better.

Book 5: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This book is about time travel. But at the same time, this book is about standing up for what you believe in, first loves, adventure, the meaning of family and a new take on the forces of good and evil. When Meg’s dad gets lost during time travel, Meg, her best friend and her little brother have to go on a crazy chase to find him before it’s too late.

Book 4: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Living in Nazi Germany, this literature-crazed little girl will tug at your heartstrings no matter how old you are when you get around to reading this. She will make you want to reach in and solve all of her and her dear adoptive father’s injustices. This book is told from the perspective of someone who introduces himself as Death.

Book 3: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book is about living in society and the stereotypes that inevitably come with school and culture and ultimately trying to overcome those. What seems like a heavy topic will go straight to your heart and may even have you crying by the end of Auggie’s story.

Book 2: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This book is quick and incredibly worth it. The boy in it is the epitome of nearly every kid in America and he will leave you wanting to have your own mind-blowing adventures. What starts with a mysterious box in Milo’s room takes him on an adventure to rescue Rhyme and Reason in a mind-blowing world of word and number games.

Book 1: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Fair warning: If you get offended easily by disrespectfully hilarious views on death and living, you probably shouldn’t read this. If you want to laugh, cry and fall in love, you must read this book. Okay? Okay.