I am drawn to lists, especially to lists of books. Usually 85-95% of the titles on a 'must read' list are present on other 'must read' books, but it is always interesting to see which ones receive special attention, who is left off, and how the list makers explain their preferences.

This list hit most of the standard classics, and included some titles that are not so much in the public eye. I liked that similar reads were suggested, although often I did not understand or agree with that classification.

Bonus (!) Georgette Heyer is included for her shockingly descriptive account of the Battle of Waterloo in An Infamous Army.

The author's goal was to make this book "expansive in its tastes, encompassing revered classics and commercial favorites, flights of escapist entertainment and enlightening works of erudition." I think he succeeded, in that his list of 1000 books is much more eclectic than similar lists I have seen. I loved that about this book, because I am always looking for books about which I have never heard. The book covers both fiction and nonfiction, and a wide range of genres, including: children's , adventure, travel, poetry, gardens, diaries and letters, art, nature and history.

I have a PDF ARC of this book which, unfortunately, will vanish into the ether in a few days, but I'd like to own a copy of this book. It has over 900 pages and is beautifully illustrated with covers, pictures of the authors and illustrations from some editions of the books. In addition to the main 1000 books, it also references over 6000 additional titles and 3000 authors. Each book is accompanied by a brief section that lists other books by that author, further reading on the topic, similar books to try, and TV and film adaptations.

Each book is introduced by a brief essay. For example: The Collected Essays by James Baldwin "...are, and will remain, acute inquiries into the moral and political quandaries of our being, regardless of the age in which they are read." About Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac "In the portent of things to come, Goriot's private tragedy is given greater resonance by the reverberations of the teeming milieu that surrounds it." About Simone de Beauvoir "She possessed a prodigious ability to synthesize matter and meaning across disciplines in ways that prove revelatory and profound." The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin "If you can imagine a plot that has imbibed too much champagne, you'll have some idea of the giddy pleasures of this classic 1946 mystery...." Philip K. Dick "A fellow with one foot in the pulp literature that he loved and the other in esoteric tracts from the great savants and seekers of Western and Eastern traditions." Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis "In fluent prose enlivened by his splendid eye for the physical characteristics of his protagonists, Ellis renders each episode with a dramatic flair and keen insight into the characters of the players." and
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton "... it stands among the best novels ever written about the unraveling of individual destinies in the seductive—and enduring— bear pit of New York society."

At the end of the book is a complete checklist of the main 1000. There are also shorter specialized lists with titles that tend to be too cute and often not descriptive enough like: Animal World, Mind Expanding, Soul Food, War Stories, A Long Climb, But What a View, and Offbeat Escapes.

I really liked this book a lot.

What I liked most about this book was the eclectic nature of the selections, which encompassed everything from classic fiction to non-fiction to graphic novels. Many of the titles you'd expect to see were present, but there were also a number of books and authors of whom I'd never heard. Perhaps there was a slight slant towards American history on the non-fiction side of things, but that aside, it was a broad selection of literature from around the world, and I would defy anyone not to find something that interests them within the picks. I came away with a list of around 55 books I would like to read in the future. Although the title is 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die, there are actually more than 1000 recommendations when you factor in the additional notes attached to each book. There is even a handy checklist at the back, so you can tick off the books as you read them. All in all, this is a thought-provoking selection I would recommend to anyone looking for their next great read. A solid 4.5 stars from me.

Anyone who loves lists, books about books, essays about books - ANYTHING about books will not want to miss 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die. Excellent for your nightstand, and for your family and friends' birthday gift.

Do you ever struggle to find the perfect book to read? Overwhelmed with all the wonderful reads out there? If so, this is the book for you.

Arranged in an easy to access format, with a short entry introducing each suggested title, this book is the ultimate guide for bibliophiles. Also makes a great gift!!

Even-Handed and Nicely Annotated

If you're a sucker for lists, and especially book lists, this strikes me as a very nice choice. It passed my first two tests - the foreword wasn't a Little Jack Horner what-a-good-boy-am-I celebration by the author of his admirable bookishness. It was modest, informative, and rather amiable. So already I was willing to trust this curator, (who wrote the "A Common Reader" mail-order book catalogue for decades, so was already sort of pre-approved).

The next test was to read one of his descriptive essays. (Each listed book comes with a brief essay and a load of background information about the book, including date of publication, other books by the author, similar books, and so on.) The first book on the list is Abbey's "Desert Solitaire". (The list is alphabetical by author.) I think Abbey is a great nature writer, but also a condescending sourpuss with a NIMBY problem and dismissiveness of anyone who doesn't fit his idea of an eco-warrior. Most reviews of "Desert Solitaire" rhapsodize about Arches National Park and overlook Abbey's kvetching. Mustich's essay, though, notes Abbey's "crankiness... and mordant quirky vehemence", while still giving him full marks as a nature writer and observer. O.K., I thought, Mustich isn't just a sugar coated sycophant, and appears to be trustworthy.

The next books on the list are Abbott's "Flatland", Achebe's "Things Fall Apart", Ackerley's "My Dog Tulip", Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", and Henry Adams' "Education of Henry Adams". This tells you that the net here has been spread wide indeed, and it practically invites readers to argue about how this particular thousand was chosen. Since that's all part of the fun of books like this, that's all fine with me. (For what it's worth, I think these life list things should be organized on an ages of man theme, listing books in the order in which they should be read as the reader ages. A book that's just right for a teen might not tickle the fancy of an octogenarian, and I amused myself by trying to plot the books here into where and when I should have read them, if ever.)

The selection is about evenly split between fiction and nonfiction, which is a bit unusual, but welcome. And there are certainly some unexpected choices. I would challenge any reader to skim through this book and not find at least a few enticing and previously unknown volumes. (Reginald Arkell's "Old Herbaceous" anyone?) As you might expect, the Western canon is heavily represented, but Mustich makes a credible attempt to cover what is available in translation.

Anyway, this is a game and fair effort; the author is above board regarding his methods and his predilections, and the essays are enough to give the reader at least a brief taste of those books with which he is not familiar. Mustich is witty in an unforced way and enthusiastic, and as surveys and lists go, this one struck me as fun and engaging.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I really enjoyed this book. I had read many of the books mentioned but found many more to add to my list to get.

A must have for bibilophiles everywhere, this listing of books with brief descriptions of plot and author appealed to me more than other books of the same type because books are grouped alphabetically by author instead of chronologically by copyright. A handy and fascinating reference tool

I was unable to download this book, which was disappointing. I was really looking forward to reading it, But the Adobe doesn't work for me.

I loved that this book had in-depth descriptions of the books listed. I was surprised at the number of books I'd not heard of, but added many more of those to my "to be read" list. I'd love a copy of this book, and to give it as a gift with a few personal additions for my friends.