Books have the profound capacity to stay with us for the rest of our lives.

Whether they're written for children, sci-fi lovers, mathematicians, or fiction aficionados, certain stories transcend their genre and should be read by everyone.

In a recent Reddit thread, users were asked what is a book that everyone needs to read at least once in their life ?

Here are the top 35 books based on Reddit responses.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig The story of a father and son's summer motorcycle trip across America from Minnesota to California, " Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance " is at its heart a philosophical journey. The travel narrative is filled with fundamental questions on how to live your life and conversations between the father and his son: “The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.” Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Exit_Smiling .

Watership Down by Richard Adams First told to his daughters as a bedtime story, Richard Adams weaves the tale of a band of rabbits who abandon their comfy holes in the English downs after one of the rabbits has a vision of it being destroyed by tractors. " Watership Down " follows them as they encounter evil rabbits, crows, a fox, rivers, and countless other dangers as they journey to find a new home. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user joeallenrealty .

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow An American professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, Pausch became famous after giving an upbeat lecture titled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" after learning he had pancreatic cancer and had three to six months of good health left. After the success of his lecture, he co-authored the book " The Last Lecture " on the same theme of enjoying every moment in your life. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user kkup .

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson One of the best rough guides to science, and written so that it could be accessible to the general public, Bryson describes everything from the size and history of the universe to the rise of human kind in " A Short History of Nearly Everything ." He also spends time talking about the eccentric archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians who have contributed to the world's greatest discoveries. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user I__just__cant .

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Published in 1946, " Man's Search for Meaning " was written by Viktor Frankl about his experience as an Auschwitz concentration camp inmate during WWII. Filled with a rich understanding of the psychological experiences of his fellow inmates, Frankl ruminates on the meaning of life, and how every society has decent and indecent human beings. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Nugatorysurplusage .

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Written by a Vietnam veteran as an allegory of the Vietnam war, " The Forever War " follows reluctant soldier William Mandella as he leaves earth to battle the mysterious alien race, the Taurans. But because of time dilating during his spaceship travels, he ages 10 years while 700 years pass by on earth. Mandella then returns to a completely different planet that he can no longer recognize. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user brokenscope . Business Insider: These Are The Books That Changed Our Lives

Cosmos by Carl Sagan Sagan somehow manages to explain 15 billion years of cosmic history while touching on philosophy, religion, and our society. This book is written so even those without a strong science background can understand it, and manages to convey the profound unity of the cosmos. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Jeff _ richardsss .

Bartleby The Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street by Herman Melville A short novella, " Bartleby The Scrivener " is an absurdist tale of a man named Bartleby who works at a New York law firm. Bartleby is a great worker, until one day he is asked to proofread something and simply says, "I would prefer not to." That becomes his stock, passive response as he slowly ceases all activity much to the chagrin of the flabbergasted narrator. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user flagrance .

Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman A Pulitzer prize-winning graphic novel, " Maus " tells the story of a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and his son, a cartoonist who is trying to come to terms with his father's story. Illustrated with cats and mice to represent the Nazis and Jewish people (respectively), Maus is both about the bleak and horrifying truth of life under Hitler, as well as the son's relationship with his aging father. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user waluvian .

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway This graphic war story follows Robert Jordan, a young and idealistic American demolitions expert, fighting in the 1937 Spanish Civil War with the antifascist guerrilla forces. " For Whom the Bell Tolls " takes place over 68 hours while Jordan is trying to find a way to blow up an enemy bridge, struggling with the passive leader of the guerrilla forces, and falling in love with a young Spanish woman. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user RueKing .

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Originally published in French as " Le Petit Prince ," this novella tells the story of pilot who crashes his plane in the Sahara desert and is greeted by a young boy who claims to be from a different planet. As the pilot repairs his plane, he learns the life of "the little prince" who yearns to return to his home planet. Though told as a children's story, "The Little Prince" is one of the most poignant and profound books in French literature. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user StoryDone . Business Insider: The 16 greatest books about how to be a man

The Road by Cormac McCarthy " The Road " won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007, and with good reason. Set in a post-apocalyptic nuclear winter, a nameless man and his young son wander through the cold, dark, and bleak world where everyone has turned into their basest selves. McCarthy writes in a minimalist style that suits the terrain as the man and boy struggle to find food and stay away from the roaming cannibalistic gangs who enslave the weak. But maybe, just maybe, there is something worth living for. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user spundnix32 .

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez This book , which is full of magical realism, depicts the village of Macondo and its residents. It begins wth José Arcadio Buendía, the man who built the village, dealing with the shadows of a civil war and the ghost of the man he killed. The story really does cover 100 years as each generation of the Buendía family is weighed down by past mistakes and spirals towards destruction. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user UselessWisdomMachine .

East of Eden by John Steinbeck Two families — the Trasks and the Hamiltons — live in California's Salinas Valley. The novel follows each generation's struggle with morality, right and wrong, and the bleak issues caused by sibling rivalry. Steinbeck considers " East of Eden " his greatest novel. "I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this," the author said . Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user tit_juggler .

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie " How to Win Friends and Influence People " was written in the 1930s, but most of Carnegie's advice remains true today. The interpersonal skills he recommends may seem obvious — like smiling and remembering people's names — but plenty of fans recommend this classic how-to guide as a fundamental book about human decency. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user West4th .

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky " Crime and Punishment " is the story of Rodion Raskolnikov , a poor ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill a pawnbroker for her cash, arguing that he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime. A master at understanding human nature, Dostoyevsky weaves a world set against 19th century St. Petersberg as the murder takes a toll on Raskolnikov's conscience. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user AimingFor30Days .

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Russia in the 1870s sets the background for this tale of patricide and family rivalry. Part murder mystery, part courtroom thriller, and part social commentary, " The Brother's Karamazov " follows the lives of three brothers and their father. The last book of Dostoevsky's career, "The Brother's Karamazov" is worth the 800+ page read. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user ARatherOddOne . Business Insider: 5 tips to read a book a day every day

The Stranger by Albert Camus Winner of the Noble Prize for literature, " The Stranger " begins with Meursault learning of his mother's death. His lack of an emotional response sets the tone for the rest of the novel as events lead to Meursault murdering a man. Divided in two parts, the story follows Meursault's life both before and after the murder, and leads the reader through his trial and impending execution. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user gewikinson .

Dune by Frank Herbert " Dune " is to science fiction what "Lord of the Rings" is to fantasy. Herbert is able to create complete histories, politics, religions, and ecological systems of this feudal interstellar society. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Paul Atreides transforms into a mysterious man known as Muad'Dib as he sets out to avenge the murder of his father, and leads a revolution that earns him the emperor's throne. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user NikolaTesla1 .

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood In " The Handmaid's Tale ," Atwood imagines a future where the United States has become The Republic of Gilead, where women are strictly controlled. Unable to have jobs or money, they are either forced to be chaste, childless "Wives," housekeeping "Marthas," or reproductive "Handmaids" who turn their offspring over to the Wives. The tale is told by Offred, a handmaid who can still recall the past and explains how the misogynistic society came to be. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user mandyvigilante .

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery One of Mark Twain's favorite books, " Anne of Green Gables " is the story of a couple on Prince Edward Island who send for a boy orphan to help them out on the farm. Instead, they are given the 11-year-old redhead Anne Shirley. Her imagination and penchant for trouble inspires plenty of comedic adventures as she ages from 11 to 16, meets new friends, and begins an arch rivalry with Gilbert Blythe. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user mandyvigilante .

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury " Fahrenheit 451 " is set in a dystopian future where literature (and all original thought) is on the brink of extinction. Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to burn printed books — as well as the houses where they're hidden. But when his wife commits suicide and a young neighbor who introduced him to reading disappears, Guy begins hoarding books in his own home. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Bobtheepicone .

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein "Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." One of the most-read children's books, Shel Silverstein tells the story of a tree that loved a little boy so much that as he grew older, she gave him everything she had. Both about unconditional love and selfishness, " The Giving Tree " still inspires extremely different interpretations, and remains one of the most powerful stories ever written. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user evolve18 . Business Insider: 9 brilliant business books you can read in an afternoon

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, " To Kill A Mockingbird " is set in Maycomb, Alabama during the Depression and follows the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, the trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman, and the mysterious character Boo Radley. Despite its serious themes of rape, racial inequality, and gender roles, Lee's story is renowned for its warmth and humor. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user gerwer .

Animal Farm by George Orwell An allegory and satirization of Soviet Communism, " Animal Farm " is about a group of animals who take over a farm after ousting their human master. And though everything starts alright as all the animals work together and productivity soars, their new society begins to break down as certain animals start to believe that perhaps not all animals are created equal. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user interrupting_candy .

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Paul Baumer and his fellow classmates are convinced to join the German army in World War I only to live in atrocious conditions in the trenches years after year, struggling to gain insignificant bits of land. The book shows the dark and gritty reality of war, as well as the effect it has on Paul and his young friends' psyches. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user augenwiehimmel .

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Full of intrigue, love, fight scenes, and social satire, " The Count of Monte Cristo " is one of the best revenge books ever written. It follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor in 19th century France who is falsely accused of being a Bonapartist traitor and imprisoned for six years. After acquiring a secret fortune from a fellow prisoner, he remakes himself and sets out to find — and repay — everyone in his old life. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user ani625 .

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick The inspiration for the movie "Blade Runner," " Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? " is set in 2021, after a world war has killed millions of people, driving entire species into extinction. Those who remain build simulacra of past species including horses, birds, cats, sheep ... and humans. Because the androids are so realistic, it's impossible to tell them apart from real people. But now it's bounty hunter Rich Deckards job to do just that — and then kill them. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user LazySnake .

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller " Catch-22 " follows Yossarian, a WWII bombardier whose men must keep flying more and more dangerous bombing missions. Yet if Yossarian tries to excuse himself from the deadly missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22: A man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. What starts as a comedy slowly turns into a nightmarish tragedy as the war becomes increasingly real throughout the novel. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Gyjf . Business Insider: 23 books to save from the apocalypse

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Billy Pilgrim is a man who has become unstuck in time after being abducted by aliens, specifically Tralfamadorians for their planet's zoo. The book follows his capture, as well as his time as an American prisoner of war witnessing the firebombing of Dresden in WWII. " Slaughterhouse Five " is a comically-dark novel that combines both fantasy and realism. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user ForkToTheLeft .

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams In the first book of the series , Arthur Dent is warned by his friend Ford Prefect — a secret researcher for the interstellar travel guide "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" — that Earth is about to be demolished. The pair escapes on an alien spaceship, and the book follows their bizarre adventures around the universe along with quotes from "The Hitchhiker's Guide" like: "A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user Gyjf .

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley " Brave New World " is about a government that is conditioning and drugging people to convince them they're happy. Set in dystopian London in 2540 AD, the book explores themes of commodification, psychological manipulation, developments in reproductive technology, and the power of knowledge. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user -iPood- .

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes After the success of a surgery that increases the intelligence of a lab mouse named Algernon, the first human test subject, Charlie, undergoes the procedure. Charlie keeps diary entries as his IQ grows from 68 to a stunning 185. But then Algernon suffers a sudden and unexpected deterioration. The book follows Charlie's diary entries and Algernon's progress reports. Buy the book here > Submitted by Reddit user onowahoo .