Top 10 Books About What to Read

1. The New Lifetime Reading Plan

by Clifton Fadiman and John S. Major. HarperPerennial. This book was first published in 1960, and is now in its fourth edition. As the author writes: "The aim is simple. 'The Plan' is designed to fill our minds, slowly, gradually, under no compulsion, with what some of the greatest writers have though, felt, and imagined."

2. What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members

by Mickey Pearlman, Ph.D. HarperPerennial. Mickey Pearlman, Ph.D., offers book lists for every reader, but she includes ideas for organizing a book club, along with "How to Read," "When to Read," and "Where to Read."

3. The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written

by Martin Seymour-Smith. Kensington Publishing Corporation. This book lists the most influential books in literary history, including the "Bible," the "Koran," "The Iliad," "Odyssey," Shakespeare's work, Plato's "Republic," Machiavelli's "Prince," and many more.

4. Lost Classics

by Michael Ondaatje (Editor), Linda Spalding (Editor), Esta Spalding (Editor), and Michael Redhill (Editor). Vintage Anchor Publishing. From the publisher: "Seventy-four distinguished writers tell personal tales of books loved and lost: great books overlooked, under-read, out of print, stolen, scorned, extinct, or otherwise out of commission."

5. Literature Lover's Book of Lists

by Judie L. Strouf. Prentice Hall Press. This book has all kinds of lists: bestselling books, children's books, genre lists, and much more.

6. The Literature Teacher's Book of Lists

by Judie L. H. Strouf. Jossey-Bass. Strouf's book is a great resource developing lesson plans for all ages of students. You'll find lists for best-selling books, young adult books, reading for the "college-bound," with "Puzzle and Brainteaser" books, 48 lists related to autobiography, and other genres, 32 types of poetry, drama, 48 thematic lists, 20 lists of background, and much more.

7. 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader's Guide

by Erica Bauermeister, Jesse Larsen and Holly Smith. Penguin Group. From the publisher: "Often poorly represented in buyers' guides, women's books are now covered in this articulate and intentionally eclectic reader's guide. Covering a wealth of remarkable novels, narratives, biographies, and more, this resource for general readers offers more than 500 entries--capturing the flavor of each book. Includes seven cross-referenced indexes."

8. Literary Research Guide: An Annotated Listing of Reference Sources

James L. Harner. Modern Language Association of America. From the publisher: "In the new edition Hamer has added entries describing resources published since 1992 and has revised nearly half the entries from the second edition. The third edition contains more than 1,200 entries; the annotations discuss an additional 1,331 books, articles, and electronic resources and cite 752 reviews."

9. What Do I Read Next?: Multicultural Literature

by by David Williams, Edith Maureen Fisher, Ph.D., and Terry Hong. Gale Group. From the publisher: "Designed as a tool to assist in the exploration of multicultural fiction, 'What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature' guides the reader to recommendations in four cultural groups: Asian American, African American, Latino and Native American literature."

10. What Inspirational Literature Do I Read Next?

by Pamela Willwerth Aue (Editor), Henry L., Jr., and Carrigan (Editor). Gale Group. From the publisher: "Based on endorsements by librarians, book critics, subject specialists and their merits as an award-winner or bestseller, each of the 1,000 works is considered recommended reading and includes a detailed description to help readers make selections."