Reading books can be overwhelming. Let’s face it, there are too many books out there to read them all. There are also long books that you can spend months of time on. But there are short books you can read within a single day. What is great about these type of books (and what makes it popular with highly productive people) is it gives you time to finish something you start working on before jumping to the next thing.
The Great Gatsby
This book is about a man named Jay Gatsby, and most of it takes place within his multi-million dollar home that he inherited from his family. People can’t say he’s not a hard-worker, but he is without a doubt one heck of a party thrower. It is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, who is a bond salesman from Minnesota. He moves to New York to discover more about the profession, and he meets Jay Gatsby because they are neighbors. The party is what brings these two unlikely people together.
I could go on and on about this book. But I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say that it displays some of the best themes in literature, and is one of the best books of all time. Set in the 1920s, The Great Gatsby showcases the corruption of the American dream.
Of Mice And Men
Two ranch workers, who are forced away from their home and have to find a different profession, find work in Soledad, California. It takes place during The Great Depression where many people experienced similar problems in the midwest and western regions of the United States. This plot focuses on George and Lennie. It highlights the near impossibility of working hard and enjoying life during this time period.
Doesn’t this sound very similar to the American dream, or lack thereof? You’re right! It does. It’s differently displayed in this book due to the circumstances that these people are in. But this book doesn’t just focus on the American dream. It’s about friendship, loneliness, isolation, and fear.
It is actually even shorter than The Great Gatsby – which makes it possible that you can finish this book in not only a single day, but a single setting!
Animal Farm
Ah, a satirical classic. We can’t forget about this one. What makes this book so fascinating is the way George Orwell uses farm animals to dramatize his political viewpoints. He goes a little too far with his beliefs than he would be willing to admit, but this plot shows the downsides to totalitarianism. Not only is it an informative piece of literature for politics, it’s also just a whirlwind of a story! It’s about farm animals who take over their human masters to become their own. However, they realize that their control over the farm is not as freeing as it may seem.
Its dystopian style makes for a delightful read, despite the fact that it is depressing. This dystopian theme recurs in 1984, which barely misses this list because it is slightly longer than I think most people would be comfortable with for a day’s read.
I loved Animal Farm in high school. It’s not a childhood classic by any means, but younger people would enjoy it because it’s more relatable and engaging.
The Outsiders
These four books listed proves my point that you do not need a long book to tell a wonderful story. You don’t even need a mid-sized book! You can tell it in, say 192 pages?
This plot is about two different rival gangs that exist in the 1950s – the Socs and the Greasers. The Socs are known as the richer and more privileged society while the Greasers are from the working class. It is told from the perspective of characters that belong in the Greasers. The book focuses on the conflict between these two societies. The point-of-view is a boy named Ponyboy. He feels he does not belong in either the Greasers (even though he is labelled a Greaser) or the Socs, and he wants the a world where these two classes do not exist.
It honestly reminds me of the show Outer Banks. Outer Banks is a modern-day Outsiders. The only difference is that all the characters in the show take more pride in their class.
The Alchemist
The premise of this book is about finding a purpose in life. I enjoyed it a lot. It takes place between Spain and North Africa sometime in the 18th century (this timeframe is not confirmed). It tells of the story of a man named Santiago who is looking for something more out of life. His path was laid out for him when he was to become a priest. However, he didn’t want this. He especially doesn’t want this when he has a recurring dream about treasure that lies at the base of the pyramids in Egypt. He is inspired by this dream to find this treasure.
This book was a fun read. It has lessons to learn and themes to take away, but it is also just an enjoyable adventure story.
The House on Mango Street
I read this book in college. It’s the shortest book on this list – clocking in at around 101 pages. This book is about a girl who grows up in Chicago who has to find meaning in life and decide who she wants to become. It’s great to see her development and what lengths she goes to for discovering herself. Again, you could probably read this in one setting with the short number of pages. Give it a go!
Treasure Island
If you want another adventure story that involves famous pirates who everyone has at least heard of, this is the book for you. Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins are two of the best characters in the 19th century. I channeled my inner kid here, even though I read this as an adult. It felt like something I made up in my head when I used to play with action figures in my living room!
So, there it is. I just gave you seven books for seven days. Read seven books in a week, and I can assure you – you will be out of your reading slump!
