Over the years what books have helped shape you as a person? Two books that had a lot of influence over me as a kids were The Giver and Island of the Dolphins. Both books made me think about how society could differ in so many different ways – and what we may be capable of as humans.

Recently the Library of Congress created a list of 88 books that shaped American society. They do not intend to show this as a list of the best books ever written, but rather as the most influential books on today’s society.

Below we discuss four of the books on the list.

The Cat in the Hat (1957) by Dr. Seuss has been teaching kids to read phonically since the late 50’s. It’s one of the few books that adults now read as children and their baby boomer parents read as well. Before the Dr. Seuss, children were either learning to read from primers or through the Dick and Jane series.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain is the story of the adventure and self-discovery as Huck and Jim take a river-raft ride down the Mississippi. This is typically one of the first assigned readings that kids are given in school.

For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) by Ernest Hemingway is the story of Robert Jordan, a young American man who fights in the International Brigade during Spain’s civil war in the late 1930’s. This is the story of tragedy, loyalty, courage and defeat. Most of us read this book as a college English student.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum is the story of a young girl who is taken to a new world by a Midwestern storm. Through the unlikely friendships she bonds, she sets off to find the Wonderful Wizard of Oz who can take her home. While this book is definitely a classic, it is a great read just for fun.

Take some time to look over the list and add some more books to your own person “to-read list.” I know I did.

Did any of your favorite books make the list?