I'm going to love this book. It's not just a book you can sit down and read through. It is one you would want to refer to before embarking on a classic, which I find, for the most part, harder to understand. If there is any underlying meaning to gather by reading between the lines of any of these chosen books, this author will give meaning to the work so maybe you read with better understanding.

This is a book to markup, date, highlight, and to fully participate with. There are 1,000 books with really good, thoughtful information about the books and authors that were chosen to be included, much the way Turner Classic Movies (TCM) gives introductions before each movie on television. I'm impressed with the variety and choice of books, with exception of only a few. But who knows, maybe I will read those as well, one day...when there is nothing left in this world for me to read.

The best part about this book, my favorite part, is "the list". I'm all about lists, and there is a checkoff list at the back of the book. Upon receiving the book, I've read 22 books of the 1,000, which means I also now have read 22 reviews in this big, big book and the info on the authors.

As of 5/17/2021, I've read the following books:

- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- The Arabian Nights
- Pride and Prejudice
- A Walk in the Woods
- The Good Earth
- Silent Spring
- Rebecca
- Absalom, Absalom!
- The Great Gatsby
- The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank)
- One Hundred Years of Solitude
- Lord of the Flies
- Theie Eyes Were Watching God
-To Kill a Mockingbird
- Angela's Ashes
- Lonesome Dove
- Gone with the Wind
- Lolita
- 1984
- Where the Wild Things Are (children's)
- Walden
- The Color Purple
( )

1000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich is a 2018 Workman Publishing Company publication.

I didn’t immediately grab this book when it was originally published- but I was curious about which books would make it onto the list. Knowing the books I tend to navigate towards, I figured this list probably wouldn’t appeal- or maybe apply to me, is a better way to say it, because I knew that no matter how badly someone tries to shame me, I'm not going to read books I know I will not understand or will bore me to tears.

But each year this book tends to make its way onto a library ‘suggestion’ board somewhere, as the new year often prompts people to make the standard resolution to ‘read more classics’ or branch out more.

Reading the blurb, this book promises to mingle in some popular books, some lighter fare, and would cover a wide range of subjects and genres, including poetry, plays, etc.

I was skeptical- but there was only one way to find out…

So, was the list as stuffy and highbrow as I feared?

Well, there were precious few mainstream or modern mysteries- only ONE Agatha Christie- and I’m struggling to remember ANY modern romances- at least not what I call romance, at any rate, and yes, it was heavy on ‘classics'.

To be fair, though, there was an interesting mix of genres, children’s books, poetry, and yes, a smattering of the dreaded ‘pleasure’ reads.

For me, personally, this book was like browsing through a gourmet cookbook. I love looking at all the fancy recipes, and the lovely presentation of the food, and respecting the time and energy it took to complete such a task. But I know that once I’ve finished flipping through the glossy pages and oohing and awing over those delectable, mouthwatering main courses and rich desserts, that I’m going to head straight to the kitchen and whip up some loaded cheese nachos- and those nachos are going to be heavenly!!

And that’s pretty much what happened with this book. I flipped through the alphabetical list- by author- not by book title, by the way, and enjoyed learning about these books, the authors, the plays and movies that were adapted from them, etc.

But, once I’d finished browsing through the book, I found that I’d added exactly one book to my TBR pile from this list-( I actually had read more of these books that I would have thought- though many of them were the children’s books- or required high school reading- but still), and then I’d promptly returned to my book in progress, which happened to be a tawdry psychological thriller that would have made a good Lifetime movie- but, like those heavenly nachos- it was absolutely delicious!!

Empty calories? Perhaps- but remember gourmet foods and rich desserts are often laden with calories, fat, salt and sugar- so- not necessarily healthy or nutricious... just sayin'.

Okay- while I’m being a little cheeky- the truth is- this is a very good reference book. It is well-organized, and thoughtful… and more than a little addictive. I was often surprised by how long I’d been browsing through it sometimes.

It is never a bad thing to broaden one’s reading experiences, to occasionally step outside one’s comfort zone, to take on a book you know will challenge you- and it is never too late to start. I do that from time to time- and read more serious books than I used to- I just didn't find many books listed here I felt an urgent need to read right away.

So- while the book did not change my life, as promised, and I did not feel the obligatory need to begin working my way through this list- instead preferring to spend my remaining days reading books I know I’ll enjoy- I will certainly refer to it again, over time.

I do feel Mustich was sincere and put a great deal of thought and work into this book. It sounded like a monumental task- and he did an amazing job putting the list together.

3.5 stars ( )

I obviously didn't "actually" finish the book. But I've spent enough time going through it to recommend it as a a great reference book! I had a lot of fun going through the list and picking out books I want to read. And for the majority of the books the author listed, he also recommends two or three other books (by other authors) similar to that book, so that if I finish a book on the list and like it, I can look into his recommendation for other books similar to it. I love this option.

I thought I am reasonably familiar with what famous volumes are out there. But he recommended many classics and books published in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, that I've never heard of. I felt I learned a lot. It was interesting reading his description and summary of the books, even if I never get around to actually reading them. ( )

I select titles for the Dewey 00's at the library, and when I saw 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die, by James Mustich (Workman), I knew I had to have it for our collection. It's a door-stopper at 960 pages and there are already multiple holds on the book at the library (which will allow us to purchase another copy)! For the most part, the author has listed the books in alphabetical order, by author, and there are a wide variety of historical authors as well as more contemporary ones, e.g. Douglas Adams, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Asimov, and Austen, just to mention a few from the "A's." There are about an equal number of titles of fiction and non-fiction listed. I did not, of course, read the entire book, but browsed through it, and I believe this is the intent. One can take a look to see what books have already been read, then find new, different and unusual books and authors to expand one's breadth of knowledge and interest. The book tends to skew toward more classic titles, which were, in large part, written by white male authors due to the era in which they were written, and I can see this book appealing to the Boomer generation more than the current one; but if you are looking for a well-curated list of books that will provide you with a lifetime challenge to become extremely well-read, this book is for you. I think it will have huge appeal to readers and bibliophiles everywhere! ( )

Excellent variety. I look forward to delighting in many of these books. ( )