The world of books can seem like a trackless forest stretching to the horizon in all directions, full of wrong turns, dead ends, and pitfalls. But it is in fact full of treasure, and Indispensable Reading is a map to books that can provide a lifetime of reading that is thoughtful, provocative, pleasurable, and, above all, memorable—for at a minimum, a book worth reading should linger in the mind.

The selections are informed by Wm. Roger Louis’s lifetime of reading and 56 years of university teaching. The range of titles is vast. Almost 50 countries are represented in the literature category, and in history the scope is equally broad. A highlight of the book is the carefully curated section on politics. Extensive chapters cover biographies and memoirs, ancient and modern philosophy, and religion. Smaller groupings take account of the social and natural sciences, ethnic and gender studies, and the arts.

Indispensable Reading is not meant to be a prescribed course of study. It is not a standardized list of “best books” or “great books” or “read before you die” books. Many of its choices are quirky, surprising. Ultimately, its goal is to stimulate a reader into making a personal list of titles that he or she finds indispensable, another unique map of the way through the forest of books.