Books That Changed the World

The Kite Runner

Written by former doctor Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner is the story of Amir, a young boy living in Afghanistan, as he experiences war, becoming a refugee and watching the rise of terror in his home while simultaneously growing into a young man. This book was released in 2003, and slowly became an international bestseller. It carefully examines Amir as he navigates different relationships and how he grows as a person. It highlighted the experience of the people of Afghanistan and their lives under war and conflict, a perspective that isn’t as focused on compared to others. Its mass popularity, especially in the US, helped to demystify and expose Americans to the experiences of people in those “far away lands.” Throughout the story the author is able to show Amir's character growth from a deceitful and selfish child, to a generous and compassionate adult.
To Kill a Mockingbird

Published in 1960, during the era of the Civil Rights movement, To Kill a Mockingbird is a story that takes place during the 1930s, and chronicles the experience of a local lawyer in the south who risks everything to defend a black man accused of assault through the eyes of a young girl. The book was an instant success, especially since it was published during the height of the Civil Rights Era, as it was a clear critique of racial prejudice and hate rampant in the south that the author observed during her childhood in Alabama. The book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, and is considered one of the most important books in American Literature. Many of us may even recognize it from school, as It is a required book to read in many classes across the U.S. Not only did this story spread global awareness on racism, but it captured the novel through the eyes of a young girl, giving a unique perspective on societal issues like racism and prejudice in the south.
The Great Gatsby

Written by F.Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby takes place in 1920s New York, and focuses on the narrator's interactions with Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who is completely enamoured with his former lover, Daisy, and desperately wants to reunite with her. Throughout the novel, the author carefully details social issues like class, race, and wealth disparities. However, the main message the novel sends is that the idea of the past cannot be replicated, and that although the protagonist had all of the wealth and the status, he still couldn't be with Daisy. The novel itself was published in 1925, but didn't receive much notoriety until World War II. It's unique story centered around 1920s America turned it into a massive success, and it's considered one of the most famous books in American Literature that is read as part of curriculums in many classrooms around the globe.
Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953, and was written by Ray Bradbury. It takes place in a dystopian society where books and literature are completely banned. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman that is tasked with the burning of any books found. At first, the character stands completely behind the burning of book and censorship of society, but as the book goes on, he begins to come to the understanding that book burning is a form of censorship, and that they are invaluable tools in society that everyone deserves to get a chance to experience. This novel was a blatant critique of censorship, and of the many governments that then and now utilize the ban of books to prevent certain ideas and messages from getting spread in society. This story spread the importance of the right of free speech and the value of literature, something that still rings true today as more and more governments start to encroach on those rights.
Beloved

Written by author Toni Morrison, Beloved tells the story of Sethe and her family, who are formerly enslaved, as they go through life before and after the Civil War. Throughout the novel, the author showcases the impact of slavery not only physically, but emotionally as well. Many people in and outside of America at the time did not grasp the cruelty of slavery and its impacts, but this novel successfully captured it in a way that opened up eyes to the inhuman and savage treatment enslaved people were met with. It also showcases these impacts as time goes on, demonstrating the fact that although slavery was abolished in 1865, its overwhelming social and economic repercussions are still felt today. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction a year after its publish, and a movie was released in 1998 based off the story.

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Books That Changed the World

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