From 'The Origin of Species' to 'The Art of War', books that will make you a well-read person

Spanning across genres, these six timeless books can help you become well-rounded, and of course, well-read.

Science
‘ The Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin


This book is considered to be the foundation for evolutionary biology. (Image: Amazon)

This book on Darwin’s theory of evolution is a must-read because it revolutionised the science world and is the cornerstone of modern biology. Even if you don’t accept his theory, you should add this to your list to educate yourself. Believers should read it to better understand the origins of the theory.

Money
‘ The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy’ by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko


This book gives an insight to manage finances. (Image: Amazon)

The book is based on a 20-year study on how people worth $1 million to $10 million reached financial security. Getting an inside look on their views and beliefs, as well as their daily spending habits, may be able to help you get your finances on track.

Politics
‘ Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’ by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Even if you don’t agree with all of Lincoln’s views, this book is worth reading. It traces Lincoln’s rise from a lawyer to beating two more experienced politicians. It focuses on Lincoln’s mastery of men and how it shaped the most signifi cant presidency in America’s history.

Psychology
‘ You Are Not So Smart’ by David McRaney
The title may sound harsh, but McRaney is making a point: Every “rational” decision you make in your life is based on an underlying bias. This book shows how the tenets of psychology affect you every day, even though you don’t consciously realise it. And no matter what you do, you can’t fight it.

Tech
‘Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution’ by Steven Levy


The book includes stories of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Stallman. (Image: Amazon)

If you want to understand how we went from using the post offi ce and library to email and Wikipedia, read this book.

Philosophy
‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tzu


It is the most prestigious and influential book of strategy. (Image: Amazon)

The book was originally written by military strategist Sun Tzu to help explain how to win in warfare. But over the years, people have found that the tactics described in the book, such as “know yourself” and “know your enemy” can help people succeed in their day-to-day struggles.