The Grapes of Wrath

For me, it's The Grapes of Wrath. Simultaneously raised my bar for what I consider good writing and made me much more empathetic to the plight of those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder through no fault of their own. As relevant today as when it was written.

Great book! I loved Grapes of Wrath even more, but anything by Steinbeck is a safe bet.

The Count of Monte Cristo. I rarely get this absorbed by a book. It was a very satisfying read. Grapes of Wrath stayed with me for a very long time. The Jungle too. This is how you lose the time war. It was just damn unique and pleasant. Everyone who reads it loves it. Cryptonomicon, another very entertaining read that every geek loves.

The grapes of wrath, John Steinbeck. Still feels surprisingly relevant with regards to workers organizing and how we view migrants today.

This is one of the rare books I consider required reading for everyone

Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofsteder. Barely needs any introduction here, but the depth of thought is just staggering. Lights Out in Wonderland by D.B.C. Pierre. A wonderful story with a few incidental observations about modern society. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Sure, you can read about people who've made everything, but what about people who lose everything. Absolutely everything. Shattering, tragic fiction.