A valuable resource for those interested in reader’s advisory or anyone interested in exploring a wide variety of books. I have definitely increased my ever-growing TBR! The book is organized very well with some helpful lists.

I finally got around to this book, and I found it quite interesting. As an avid book lover and reader, I love seeing what others consider to be pivotal or essential reads. This book is exactly that - a list of 1000 books the author considers essential to be read. Each entry contains a summary (with some analysis) of the work, along with some information such as genre, publication year, and other notes on adaptations, edition differences and similar books to read if enjoyed (this was my favorite section). If you are someone looking for new books to try (and your tastes leans towards the classics) then this is the book you need!

This is such a great resource, it covers a wide variety of books for readers with many different preferences and tastes. Fun to flip through and discover new or forgotten titles and contains just enough info on authors and other stats related to each title.

While I did not read this entire book, I did enjoy flipping through to see what these 1000 books are that I need to be reading!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for an honest review. This book is a great resource for everyone!! I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed looking through this and comparing it to books I've already read. I would recommend if you are looking to expand outside of your reading comfort zone.

I finally read this. Well, I didn't read it straight through, I sort of randomly selected pages to read, or looked for specific pages to fit my interest at the time. That is how I would suggest reading this book. For that purpose, it was great! I definitely added some titles that I would not have otherwise thought to read.

A must have for any librarian, this books contained both classics and hard to find gems that can serve as a starting grounds for those new to library science and reader's advisory or for the seasoned veteran. Highly recommend!!!

This book a massive endeavor that encompasses more than 6,000 titles, not just the 1,000 to get through before you croak. Of the making of many book lists, there is no end....

Sure, Mustich hits the classics that you could find in the <a href="http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/">Modern Library 100 list</a>, or <a href="https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/">The Great American Read</a>. He also digs up some gems that I had never heard of, which is something I love in a good list of books. Like Lincoln said, my best friend is one who gives me a book I ain't read. Also my friend - someone who will praise a book I <i>already love</i>, which he does.

Since we're all fans of lists, here are my reading stats for this book:
2 months to read from cover to cover
200+ new titles added to my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/13229544-erin-boyington?shelf=1000-books-mustich">1000-books-mustich</a> shelf
229 titles of the 1,000 which I've read
15 books read or re-read (before I managed to finish his book - others are on hold at the library)
I gave 68 of those titles I've read 5 stars
12 of those titles got a 1- or 2-star rating from me

I quibble at some of the selections, especially in the fantasy/science fiction genres. I wish there was less creepy old white guy stuff (screw you, Niven and Heinlein!) and more of the fabulous new authors (Martha Wells, Ted Chiang, Sue Burke, Ann Leckie, Susanna Clarke, TERRY EFFING PRATCHETT). I didn't bother tracking author or genre diversity, though I'd love to see an infographic from some dedicated person out there. (Not me. I've done my part.)

To his credit, Mustich includes a surprising number of newer books that aren't sanctified by the ages. Gutsy. But how the HELL did <i>The Da Vinci Code</i> make it on the list? Surely there have been better blockbusters. Or maybe just swap those picks out with a graphic novel or two, like Jeff Smith's <i>Bone: The Complete Edition</i> or Alan Moore's <i>Watchmen</i>.

Boy, this list-making thing is addictive. I'd better watch out.

Out of a possible 1,000, I added 571 to my to-read shelf. You're never going to make me read dreary literary novels about being depressed or Freud's collected works - life is TOO. SHORT. I already had over 5,000 on my to-read list before adding 200+ from Mustich. I needed this book like I needed a hole in my head.

I gave it 5 stars instead of 4 because making a list like this - much less publishing it - is such a quixotic act these days, one only a madman would take 14 years of his life doing. Also, he does some really wonderful, helpful things like recommending specific translations, audiobooks, and methods of wading through the challenging ones. I anticipate revisiting this book to see if he can sway me toward some of those un-added 429. Maybe in another 20 years or so.

To conclude, I suggest we all listen to Virginia Woolf, quoted at the very beginning of Mustich's book: "The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions."

I love books about books, and I'm always looking for book recommendations, so this ticks both of those boxes for me.

I found this to be a good book but really subjective on whatever the personal taste is. I was glad to see the old classics on there but even my daughter who just graduated high school had never read or read of some of the classic books which surprised me. There is still Charles Dickson, Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, the book The Secret Garden, Agatha Christa to name a few. New books, of course, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Alexander Hamilton which helped for the idea for the play. I was glad to see Good night Moon which we read to are daughter, also The Big Sleep, Red Badge of Courage, Sherlock Holmes, Hunt for Red October to name a few. There are science fiction, religion, books about the Underground Railroad, Native Americans and other subjects so you can make your own list. Overall an okay book.

This is a great reference source for patrons looking for their next book to read. I appreciate that the author includes multiple genres and non-fiction plus the fact that it’s multicultural.

I am a sucker for lists of books to read. Most copies sold, celebrity recommendations, online and in person book clubs- I am ALWAYS looking for book ideas. I believe it is important to read many different types of books. This book will help suggest all different types. Great book to give as a gift for a high school/college grad.

So many books, so little time!
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing for the opportunity to read and review 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich! This book is organized alphabetically by authors’ last names. Some titles are used to organize the book alphabetically, such as the Qur’an which is a work of scripture. Many poets, historians and classics are listed and their books reviewed, as well as newer literary works and popular reads. Each author/work is summarized and evaluated, giving enough information for readers to be able to decide whether or not they want to read the book that’s being discussed. At the end of the book, lists can be found organizing the books differently, such as books to read before 12 years of age. A general index lists the titles and authors alphabetically for ease. A 1,000 books checklist is also included. 5 stars!

I was sent a link to download this book but it wasn't compatible with the Kindle reading App and I wasn't able to read it on my tablets. However, I have read it at the library and the bookstore and it is a great resource. Lots of wonderful suggestions for all kinds of genres. I love books about books but now I have way too many books added to my TBR list.!

Every so often one will come across a list such as this one and feel what every reader has felt at some point or another in their lives: So many books, so little time. Even though it made me feel like an underachiever, I enjoyed Mustich's book because it felt more accessible than other books with the same title. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I bought a copy for my classroom. This way my students can discover the plots of many classic books as well as a few lesser known titles.

This is a reader's advisory gem for any librarian and I am excited that there is a diversity within the books suggested. Often volumes like this are not as inclusive. My TBR (to be read) list is much longer as a result of this book, it is well organized by genre and author, and a wonderful tool to help others in finding new favorites. I would recommend this reference guide for anyone!

I love book lists. Even though Virginia Woolf advises that its best to trust your instincts and take no advice from anyone when it comes to reading, I’m a total sucker for a thoughtfully compiled list of reading recommendations. And I’m not talking about NYT bestseller lists, I’m talking about the more fun lists I find on Goodreads and other literary sites. Like lists of children’s books with strong female characters, books to heal the broken heart, and so on. For that reason, I was super excited when I found 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die was available as a digital advance reader copy on NetGalley. Unfortunately I only made it to “Bradbury, Ray” before I decided that I could no longer slog through the morass that is this book.

With few exceptions, the books are organized in alphabetical order by author’s last name. The main entry for the book is up to a page length entry about the book and the author, including what the book is about, who the author is, and why one or the other or both are significant. After the entry are end notes that summarize the who, what, when, and where of the book, as well as additional books by the author, additional similar books, adaptations, and additional information about the book.

The selection of books strikes me as esoteric, as there were so many authors (up until Bradbury) that I had never heard of and would never have any interest in reading. I’m talking about 16th century historians and the like, who would be almost impossible to find in the local library. I will give him credit including some of my favorite books. Among my favorites included in the selection we re Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy, all of Jane Austen’s canon, and the insanely beautiful Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf. Curiously, he included Aristophanes’s Clouds rather than Lysistrata, which really should be read in our current geopolitical climate. Likewise, Margaret Atwood is represented by Cat’s Eye, without even a mention of The Handmaid’s Tale. And completely missing from the selection is Thomas Aquinas, whose writing I find to be life changing. If that gives you any idea of where I’m coming from.

It wasn’t the questionable selections that caused this book to end up in my dustbin. Rather, the super dense writing and obscure vocabulary in the entries was what turned me off. There seemed to be no joy or excitement in the entries, especially from an author who professed to love books in the Introduction. The energy was completely missing from the entries, which definitely did not entice me to read the book or author being highlighted.

After the individual entries for the 1,000 highlighted books come a “Miscellany of Special Lists,” which provides smaller subsets of the books tailored by subject or style each with a particular audience in mind. Unfortunately, I lost patience with the book before I even reached these lists.

I had hoped to that this book would help me discover new material for my to be read list, as well as highlight books that I could give as gifts at Christmas. It completely failed. Pretty much the only take away from the book that stuck with me is that the first line of Fahrenheit 451 is “It was a pleasure to burn,” because book burning is a major plot line in the novel.

Great book! There was a good mix of book I’ve actually heard of and others I haven’t. Where other books like this seem to try and find the most obscure books possible this one gave a good mix. This isn’t just a list of books. At the end of each entry it tells you what kind of book it is, when it was written, other books you may like if you enjoy the current entry.

There are many other great features and would be a fun book just to flip through from time to time.

*I received this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must have for every book lover! While I perused the kindle version, I would highly recommend getting a hard copy of this book for your home. To have this type of reference book in your home would be amazing, especially if you have someone in your house that's not crazy about reading or just getting into reading. Also would make a great coffee table book to show off your bookish vibes!