My last ever post on Reddit

Hello internet friends and reading aficionados!

I come to you today with a humble request. This will be my last ever post on Reddit. In one week, I will be permanently disabling my account.

However, my hope is to create the ultimate reading list. The list to end all lists.

You see, my life was once full of letters and lines, of stories and poems. Then, as time went by, I let these endlessly scrolling universes take over my attention and dominate my free time.

I don't want to live that way any more.

This community has provided me with innumerable wonderful recommendations as I have lurked at the edges. Now I'm asking for your help directly.

Give me one book. Any genre, fiction or nonfiction, long or short, it doesn't matter. Give me a book that has touched your soul, made you question what you thought to be true, caused a shift in your world view.

One book that you wish some other person in this wide world would read.

In a week, I will compile the ultimate reading list, and I will take my leave from this last vestige of social media that keeps such a strong hold on me. One week, and I will go off on what I hope will be a lifetime's worth of literary adventures.

[Edit] I am absolutely astounded by the number if responses! In all honesty, I though I might get 20 or so, but at last check there were 610 individual comments!

Humbled is the proper word. I am humbled that you would share your favorite books with me.

Many of you have asked me to compile the list and put it here for everyone to share. I will ABSOLUTELY be doing this! I promise you there will be a full list before I step away.

Again, thank you to everyone. I have loved watching the recommendations roll in, and can't wait to start reading. I just wish that there was a way I could share what looks like it will be an amazing literary journey with all of you some how.

Thanks, all!

[Edit 2]

It is 5:30 in the morning on the East Coast of the United States, and I am sitting in the silence of my living room vibrating with a sense of contentment.

When I fell asleep last night, around 600 people had commented and left recommendations. That was already beyond what I had thought would happen.

This morning, that number has tripled.

I imagine each of you, taking a few seconds out of your day to recommend a book you love. I imagine a small smile on your face as you decide which book (or books!) to send along.

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

When I was in high school, I read a biography of the Harvard economist, Alexander Gerschenkron, written by his grandson, Nicholas Dawidoff. In it, it was said that a well-read person would only read about 5000 books in their lifetime.

My hope is to take this list and push past that number. Thanks to you all, that looks absolutely possible.

Keep the recommendations coming! I will take a snapshot of this post on 5/12 and start the task of compiling the full list to share with this community.

And I am going to add the following: my reading languages are actually English, French, and German. If you have any recommendations that are originally in those languages, please send along the original titles!

You are all beautiful, and if I could I would share this morning cup of coffee with each and every one of you.

[Edit 3]

Again, I am blown away by you all. I don't know why this post was removed from the subreddit. I was under the impression that all of my formatting was correct and in line with the rules, as well as the actual content of the post.

If I broke a rule unknowingly, I am sorry! I will still be compiling the final list, however, and I will find a way to share it in some format. Thank you, friends.

[Final Edit]

Hello again, internet friends. This will be my last update for what has been an amazing final experience on this site.

As many of you know, the post was removed. I reached out to the (awesome) mods who got everything righted around.

Unfortunately, they informed me that posting the final list would go against the rules of the sub. As such, I will not be doing the full compile as I had initially promised. My desire is to respect the rules of the sub.

However, I have printed out a hard copy of this entire thread. This is my list, and I cannot thank you enough for all of the wonderful suggestions. I hope you scroll through here and look at some of the amazing pieces of writing that have been suggested!

Thanks again!