Here's a roadmap to start reading diversely.
Source: unsplash
Just like how a closet checklist tells you everything you're missing from your wardrobe, a book checklist tells you everything you're missing from your bookshelf. Here's my checklist for having a shelf aware bookcase. (Some of these overlap, but that's okay.)
Fiction
- 7 translated books (at least 1 book for each of the 7 continents)
- 3 books by Hispanic/Latino authors
- 3 books by Black/African American authors
- 3 books by European authors
- 3 books by Middle Eastern authors
- 3 books by Asian authors
- 5 books by women
- 1 Pulitzer Prize winner from the past 10 years
- 1 National Book Award winner from the past 10 years
- 5 modern classics
- 3 illustrated books and/or comic books/graphic novels
- 1 science fiction book
- 1 historical fiction book
- 1 literary fiction
- 1 classic fiction
- 1 summer read that makes you feel the sun on your back
- 2 short story collections
- 1 book of poetry in verse
- 1 book of poetry in freestyle
- 5 young adult books
- 3 children's books
- 1 book that got a lot of hype and you've been putting off reading for eons
- 3 books on your reading level in a foreign language in which you are at least semi-fluent
- 1 book series (3+ books in the series)
Non-Fiction
- 1 business book
- 1 spiritual book (can be religious or not since religious is not a synonym for spiritual)
- 1 philosophy book
- 1 science book
- 1 political book
- 1 fashion/style book
- 1 self-help book for productivity
- 1 self-help book for relationships (it's cool; no is is perfect or has it all figured out)
- 1 how-to book for a hobby you want to take up or a hobby you already have and love
- 1 book about the industry in which you work/want to work
- 3 memoirs
- 1 biography
- 1 autobiography
- 1 coffee table book
- 1 book of photography
Books that Would Make Your Grandma Sweat (and you too--in a good way)
- 1 erotica book
- 1 steamy, piping hot romance novel
- 1 scientific book about sex (hey, everyone does it, so you might as well know what you're doing)
- 1 horror/thriller book
- 1 spine-tingling mystery book
- 1 book by an author you'd totally date (or do other things with)
- 1 book with contents that totally gross you out
- 1 book you're embarrassed for people to know you've read and loved (even though you should never feel embarrassed about what you read)
Having a diverse bookshelf is a great way to expand your reading tastes and discover new worlds or ways of thinking that you didn't know existed.
You'll notice that I don't mention any specific titles. That's because your reading life is up to you--you choose your destination and the path you take to get there. I just want to help you have a diverse and fulfilling path.
Did I leave anything out? What is required reading in your book? How shelf aware is your bookcase? Tell me in the comments below!
