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Books that changed the world Featured pages
P eopl e wh o m a de a di ffer en ce
A selection of over 50 books that helped to influence and change the world. These books have Hu m a n r i g h ts a cti v i sts
P eopl e wh o ch a n g ed th e wor l d
all had an impact on human society and human culture. Spor ti n g P er son a l i ti es
P eopl e wh o pr om oted pea ce
Bhagavad Gita (c. 3100 B.C) – ‘The Song of God‘ – is a classic Fa m ou s i n v en tor s
Hindu scripture which records the discourse of Sri Krishna and Gr ea t a r ti sts
Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Sri Krishna taught a

practical spirituality that could be practised in the world and did not Recent posts
require world-renunciation. The philosophy of the Gita includes Fa m ou s Fi r sts
bhakti yoga (devotion) and karma yoga (selfless action) Fa cts a bou t Moth er Ter esa
Fa m ou s r el i g i ou s fi g u r es a n d l ea der s
Ma jor per i ods i n wor l d h i stor y
Fa cts a bou t th e A m er i ca n R ev ol u ti on
The Iliad (8th Century BC) – Homer. One of the earliest surviving
classics of Western literature, the Iliad is an epic poem telling the
story and characters of the Trojan War – such as Achilles and King
Agamemnon. The Iliad also tells of ancient Greek legends.
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The Histories (c. 450 – 420s BC) – Herodotus (Greek) The

Histories was one of the first major works of history – documenting
the peoples and times of ancient Greece, Persia and Northern Africa.
It is an important source for knowledge about those times and set an
important precedent for documenting history.
The Torah (c. 600 – 400 BC) Judaism believes the Torah was
received by Moses on Mount Sinai; it incorporates five main books
(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). It is the
principal account of Jewish history, traditions and customs. It is
highly influential in Judeo-Christian culture, and the five principle
books were incorporated into the Bible.
The Dhammapada (c 3rd-1st Century BC) – Sayings of the

Buddha. The Dhammapada is a written account of Buddha’s sayings
on the spiritual life and his advice to monks. They contain the essence
of Buddhism through topics, such as meditation, detachment,
liberation and controlling the mind.
The Analects c. 475 BC–221 BC) – Confucius The Analects contain

the sayings of the Chinese sage Confucius. The Analects encourage
people to cultivate wisdom (ren) through devotion to one’s
parents/family and loyalty to their ruler. It is essentially a
conservative philosophy encouraging morally and ethically
upstanding citizens. It is the most influential book in Chinese history
and is widely read today.
The Republic (c. 4th Century BC) – Plato. The Republic is a highly
influential book on political and social philosophy. It is written in the
form of a Socratic dialogue where different participants discuss
concepts of justice, good governance, the nature of the soul, and ideas
of what constitutes happiness. Plato argues that one of the best forms
of government would be to give power to philosopher-kings –
independently minded arbiters of just rule.
Euclid’s Elements (c. 300 BC) A mathematical and geometric

treatise consisting of 13 books written by the ancient Greek
mathematician Euclid in Alexandria. Euclid combined many different
aspects of mathematics and presented them in a coherent and logical
format. His clarity meant this became the standard mathematics
textbook into the Nineteenth Century.
Geographia (c. 100- 170 AD) – Ptolemy Ptolemy created a book of

maps, atlas which summarised the Roman knowledge of world
geography. It was translated into Latin in Europe during the early
part of the Renaissance and provided an influential starting point for
European knowledge of world geography.
The Qu’ran (c. 609 AD – 632 AD). The Qu’ran, meaning

“recitation” is considered the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe the
Qu’ran contains revelations from God revealed by the Archangel
Gabriel to Muhammad. The Qu’ran teaches a monotheistic religion,
where followers are encouraged to surrender to God.
Canon of Medicine (1025AD) – Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna). The Canon of

Medicine is an encyclopaedia of medical knowledge compiled by
Persian philosopher Ibn Sīnā. It includes some of the most important
medical knowledge of the time – including Galenic medicine, Chinese
medicine and some of Aristotle’s writings. It served as a medical
textbook in Europe into the Seventeenth Century.
The Canterbury Tales (c. 1390s) – Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The

Canterbury Tales‘ are a collection of 20 books written in Middle
English, telling accounts of English life in the Middle Ages. Chaucer
was a master storyteller, also including criticism of the church and
aspects of English life. The book was an influential moment in
encouraging the use of English – as opposed to Latin.
Don Quixote (1605) – Miguel de Cervantes. Don Quixote (The

Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha) is one of the
world’s greatest novels. It is highly influential in Western literature –
and Spanish literature in particular. It explores themes of chivalry,
realism, justice and simplicity.
The Bible – King James Version (1611) Commissioned shortly

after the first English translation of the Bible by John Wycliffe. The
King James Bible was translated from Greek and Aramaic and
became the defining English translation for the Western World; it
became the most printed book in the world. It has been admired for
its quality of English and poetic descriptions.
First Folio (1623) – William Shakespeare. The first comprehensive

publication of Shakespeare’s plays. The First Folio includes 36 of
Shakespeare’s plays and is the primary source material for much of
Shakespeare’s work. Its publication began the gradual process of
making Shakespeare the most widely read author in the English
language. Shakespeare’s influence on language, literature are hard to
quantify – given the global and universal appeal of his work.
An Anatomical Study of the motion of the heart and blood

in Animals (1628) – William Harvey. A pioneering work on the
circulation of blood. Harvey also offered a revolutionary scientific
method – with hypothesis, experiments and observations. It
influenced our understanding of physiology and also set a benchmark
for scientific studies.
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632) –

Galileo Galilei – In this Italian book, Galileo compared Copernicus’
heliocentric view of the world with the contemporary view of Ptolemy
(earth centre of the universe) Galileo’s findings were influential in
shifting opinion about the nature of the universe. His book was placed
on the Catholic Church’s list of prohibited books until 1835.
Principia Mathematica (1687) – Isaac Newton Full title –

Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Latin for
“Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” This great work
formed the basis of modern physics. Newton included his theory of
gravity, the law of motion/mechanics and consolidated Kepler’s law
of planetary motion. Newton developed new modes of mathematics
and calculus to offer proof for his ideas. Widely considered to be the
most influential science book of all time.
A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) – Samuel Johnson.

Johnson did not write the first dictionary, but his was by far the most
comprehensive dictionary and became the standard for English
dictionaries until the OED in 1888. The Johnson dictionary was
commissioned by printers who wanted a better quality dictionary to
meet with the growing literacy and demand for books. Even the OED –
187 years later – used many of Johnson’s explanations.
The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)– Johann Wolfgang von

Goethe. Goethe’s novel about a sensitive and passionate young man
became a best seller and was translated into several European
languages. The book helped Goethe become one of the first
international literary celebrities. The novel and romantic ideals had a
significant impact on the burgeoning Romantic Movement of the late
Eighteenth Century.
The Wealth of Nations (1776) – Adam Smith. Smith’s work on

economics became the founding cornerstone of classical economics –
helping to define the relatively new subject, which was becoming
increasingly important with the advent of the Industrial Revolution.
Smith’s work considered free markets, free trade, the division of
labour and monopoly power.
Common Sense (1776) – Thomas Paine. Common Sense was a

political pamphlet published at the beginning of the American
Revolution. It spoke in simple and direct language about the benefits
of American Independence from Great Britain. It appealed to
ordinary people and helped to garner support for American
Independence. It was also revolutionary for ushering in a more
democratic and Republican politics.
Lyrical Ballads (1798)– William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor

Coleridge. These volumes of poetry include some of Wordsworth’s
and Coleridge’s finest poetry – such as The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner (Coleridge) and Lines written above Tintern Abbey
(Wordsworth). The poetry was influential for its simpler lyrical style.
Wordsworth wrote that the book was an experiment to see if the
language of poetry could be made more accessible to ordinary people
– as opposed to the more rigid and highly formalised styles of 18th
Century poetry. Lyrical Ballards is often considered to be the start of the English Romantic
Movement, marking a defining shift in English literature.
Pride and Prejudice (1813) – Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice is

one of the most enduringly popular novels in the English language. It
deals with issues of class, marriage, manners and morality. It’s
popularity and a lasting legacy on this romantic genre of novel. Jane
Austen’s success also made it easier for women to be taken seriously as
writers.
A Christmas Carol (1843)– Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is

one of Dicken’s most popular short stories. It deals with the
contrasting themes of the joy of Christmas and the unhappiness of
being miserly and devoted to money. It helped revitalise Christmas
traditions, while containing some classic Dickens satire of Victorian
Capitalism.
The Communist Manifesto 1848 – Karl Marx and Frederick

Engels. The Communist Manifesto is a short and succinct
revolutionary document which called for the overthrow of Capitalist
society. Unlike Marx’ denser works, the language of the Manifesto was
incendiary and inspirational for those who wanted to see the end of
Capitalism. Marxism became a driving philosophy behind the Russian
Revolution and influenced other Western states who became fearful
of a Communist Revolution.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) – Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom’s

Cabin is an anti-slavery novel, which portrayed the harsh realities of
slavery. It also offered an optimistic view of how Christian charity and
love could overcome a man-made evil such as slavery. It is considered
to be highly influential in shaping American public opinion and
turning people against slavery – which was a key issue of the civil war.
Madame Bovary (1857) – Gustave Flaubert (French). Flaubert’s

novel depicts the life of a doctor’s wife who pursues affairs and
excitement to escape the banality of life. It’s publication was
considered shocking for its depiction of adultery – the resulting
obscenity trial helped increase its profile and sales. Its gritty realism
was also very significant for the development of the modern realistic
genre of literature.
Gray’s Anatomy (1858) An English-language textbook of human

anatomy, originally written by Henry Gray. It is was the first
comprehensive analogy of human anatomy and part of the movement
to formalise and clarify medical treatment. It was so useful that it
became the classic textbook for physicians. It has been continually
revised and republished since 1858.
On the Origin of Species (1859) – Charles Darwin – On the

Origin of Species was a culmination of Darwin’s life work examining
the development of life and species. It is considered to be the
foundation of evolutionary biology and critical for overturning
mankind’s idea of where it came from. The theory of evolution was a
direct challenge to a literal interpretation of the Bible, and its
publication was met with significant controversy.
On Liberty (1859) – John Stuart Mill On Liberty is an influential

justification for personal liberty and defining the limits of state
intervention. – “The only freedom which deserves the name, is that
of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not
attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain
it.” – Mill. On Liberty was an attempt to defend the philosophy of
utilitarianism, but also defend individual rights against the ‘tyranny
of the majority’.
War and Peace (1869) – Leo Tolstoy (Russian). War and Peace is
Tolstoy’s great historical epic based on the French Napoleonic
invasion of Russia. It deals with all aspects of life – human emotion,
politics and philosophy. In many ways, the book transcended
traditional genres and brought in new literary styles, such as the
ability to offer a variety of perspectives on the same scene.
The Interpretation of Dreams (1899) – Sigmund Freud – Freud

was a pioneering psychologist. His work on the Interpretation of
Dreams was influential for advancing Freud’s theory of the
unconscious and the Oedipus Complex. Freud’s theory of psycho-
analysis has proved very controversial, but his work inspired a new
branch of medical science to either further or reject his initial work.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion – (1905) This was published

in Russia and was a fraudulent attempt to suggest there was a Jewish
conspiracy to gain control over the world through manipulation of the
press and subverting Christian ideals. Although shown to be a fraud,
it was widely distributed around the world and was used as a textbook
in Nazi Germany, fuelling anti-Semitism.
Poems (1920) – Wilfred Owen. Owen’s war poetry was highly

influential in creating a negative view of the First World War. His
biting, ironic poems highlighted the absurdity and horror of war. The
power of his poems was influential in creating a strong peace
movement in Great Britain, which opposed re-armament in the 1920s
and 30s.
Relativity: The Special and General Theory (1920) – Albert

Einstein. Einstein’s great work on relativity helped redefine concepts
of physics and our understanding of the universe. It was the most
revolutionary development in physics since Newton. Einstein’s work
showed that time and space are not linear and absolute, but could
vary depending on circumstances. Einstein also showed that energy
and mass are actually equivalent through his famous formula –
E=mc²
Ulysses (1922) James Joyce – Ulysses is a highly influential

modernist work of fiction, which used experimental techniques such
as a stream of consciousness writing, combined with an offbeat sense
of humour – based on puns, allusions and parodies. It was
unprecedented in length, scope and style, and influenced many other
modernist writers.
Mein Kampf (1925) – Adolf Hitler. Mein Kampf was written by

Hitler when he was in prison for the failed Munich Putsch attempt. It
expresses Hitler’s desire for a new world order – based on his anti-
Semitism and desire for expanding Germany into Eastern territories.
After his rise to power in 1933, it was widely disseminated in Nazi
Germany. It was also used by many who feared Hitler’s rise to power
as evidence of his intent.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928) – D.H. Lawrence. The book was

highly controversial for its depiction of a love affair between a
working-class man and an upper-class women. It was prohibited in
the UK for many decades because of its explicit sexual content. In
1960, Penguin wished to publish the book, leading to a trial about
whether it contravened the obscenity act. Penguin won and it was
published in 1961.
The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money

(1936) John Maynard Keynes – Keynes wrote his classic economic
theory against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Keynes argued
the persistence of mass unemployment was unnecessary and effective
government action could overcome a prolonged slump. His book was
the founding work of a new branch of economics – macro-economics.
Keynesian economics continues to be highly influential both
theoretically and practically for dealing with recessions.
The Diary of Anne Frank (1947) – Anne Frank (Dutch) –

Originally published as a “Diary of a Young Girl”. The magnitude of
the holocaust, with six million Jews killed, was hard for many to
comprehend. The Diary of Anne Frank gave readers a personal link
behind the numbers killed and helped put the holocaust into human
terms.
If This is a Man (1947) – Primo Levi (Italian) Levi wrote this

personal account of his 12-month incarceration in Auschwitz
concentration camp. It is considered one of the most intimate and
direct accounts of life under the degrading and dehumanising
conditions of a concentration camp. It was one of the earlier personal
accounts of surviving the holocaust to be published and is considered
a pre-eminent first-hand account.
Animal Farm (1945) – George Orwell. Orwell was a democratic

socialist who fought in the Spanish civil war. Animal Farm is a
dystopian fairy-tale, which gives a biting and immediate allegory of a
revolution betrayed. It was written as a satirical tale against Stalin’s
Soviet Union and became part of the literary Cold War Propaganda
against Communism.
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946) –

Dr Spock. Spock was an American paediatrician who wrote a manual
for child care, which emphasised the importance of parents relying on
their natural instincts in pursuing a balanced and empathetic
approach to discipline and bringing up children. He has been blamed
for encouraging a decline in discipline and respect for authority,
though this was partly due to his active opposition to the Vietnam
War.
Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell – 1949. Orwell’s classic

dystopian novel. 1984 is a stark warning against the dangers of
totalitarianism. It forewarns against the over-reaching power of the
state and the desire to control the lives of individuals. Many phrases
and ideas from 1984, such as ‘Big Brother’ and the ‘thought police’
have become part of the English language.
The Second Sex (1949) – Simone De Beauvoir The Second Sex was
written by De Beauvoir, a French existentialist philosopher. It is
considered an important work in the second wave of feminism, which
sought to address feminist issues, such as sexual violence,
discrimination against women and equal opportunities. She also
rejected the theories of Freud.
The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger – 1951. Salinger’s novel

became an iconic work for teenage rebellion, dealing with issues of
identity, alienation and respect for authority. It is considered
influential for the ‘beat generation’ of the 1960s, which saw a
widespread challenging of authority and conventional customs.
Lord of the Rings (1954) – J.R.R.Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is

an epic three-part fantasy novel based in mythological Middle-earth.
It became one of the best selling works of the Twentieth Century and
was influential for the 1960s beat generation. It also spawned a
renewed interest in the fantasy genre.
Silent Spring (1962) – Rachel Carson. Silent Spring documented

the danger to the environment from chemical pesticides. It is
considered a seminal work in the new environmental movement
which evolved from the early 1960s and which sought to give priority
to protecting the environment.
Quotations from Chairman Mao (1964) – Mao Zedong Between

1964 and Mao’s death in 1976, ‘Quotations from Chairman Mao’ or
the ‘Little Red Book’ became one of the most widely published books
in the world. It was distributed to nearly every Chinese person and
helped cement the personality cult of Mao and the Cultural
Revolution of the 1960s / 70s.
Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone (1997) – J.K.Rowling.

One of the greatest publishing sensations of all time. This was the first
book in the seven-part Harry Potter series. It has become the best
selling series of books in the world, credited with revitalising interest
in reading by children. It has encouraged more books from a similar
genre.
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Books that changed the world”, Oxford,

UK www.biographyonline.net 4 April 2015.
100 Most influential books ever written at Amazon
Related pages
People who changed the world. Famous people who changed the course of
history.
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including Sappho, Marie Curie, Queen Victoria, and Catherine the Great.
Ideas that changed the world – Scientific, political, religious and technological
ideas that transformed the world. Including – democracy, feminism, human
rights and relativity.
Quotes that changed the world – Inspiring Quotes that changed the world
from some of the world’ leading minds, such as Einstein, Buddha, Darwin,
Galileo.
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ideas that transformed the world. Including – democracy, feminism, human
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5 Comments
February 22, 2019 H.G Wells : War of The Worlds?
11:31 PM
By Landon
Novem ber 26, 2015 What about Secrets of the Heart by Khalil Gibran
9:09 AM
By Bongani Goodman M.
July 18, 2015 Only Quran is The book that hav e changed the world in a complete sense. Other
3:42 PM books hav e their impacts but to limited fields. ..Quran the only book hav e done
ev ery field Greatly y y y y ….thankx
By Naseer Ahmad Najar
April 19, 2017 that Book is a copy past of other 3 things. bible, hindu ideealogy and some of
5:50 PM his idees.what he did, is not realy his ideeas…just copy ing …
By aminao
April 04, 2015 What about the “Meaning of Liff” by Monty Py thon ?
1:52 PM
By Tom
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1/13/2020 Books that changed the world | Biography Online

Custom Search Search

Is Jesus Really God?

Discover the Evidence From

Books that changed the world Featured pages

Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Sri Krishna taught a

require world-renunciation. The philosophy of the Gita includes Fa m ou s Fi r sts

The Histories (c. 450 – 420s BC) – Herodotus (Greek) The

The Dhammapada (c 3rd-1st Century BC) – Sayings of the

The Analects c. 475 BC–221 BC) – Confucius The Analects contain

Euclid’s Elements (c. 300 BC) A mathematical and geometric

Geographia (c. 100- 170 AD) – Ptolemy Ptolemy created a book of

The Qu’ran (c. 609 AD – 632 AD). The Qu’ran, meaning

Canon of Medicine (1025AD) – Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna). The Canon of

The Canterbury Tales (c. 1390s) – Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The

Don Quixote (1605) – Miguel de Cervantes. Don Quixote (The

The Bible – King James Version (1611) Commissioned shortly

First Folio (1623) – William Shakespeare. The first comprehensive

An Anatomical Study of the motion of the heart and blood

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632) –

Principia Mathematica (1687) – Isaac Newton Full title –

A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) – Samuel Johnson.

The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)– Johann Wolfgang von

The Wealth of Nations (1776) – Adam Smith. Smith’s work on

Common Sense (1776) – Thomas Paine. Common Sense was a

Lyrical Ballads (1798)– William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor

Pride and Prejudice (1813) – Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice is

A Christmas Carol (1843)– Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is

The Communist Manifesto 1848 – Karl Marx and Frederick

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) – Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom’s

Madame Bovary (1857) – Gustave Flaubert (French). Flaubert’s

Gray’s Anatomy (1858) An English-language textbook of human

On the Origin of Species (1859) – Charles Darwin – On the

On Liberty (1859) – John Stuart Mill On Liberty is an influential

The Interpretation of Dreams (1899) – Sigmund Freud – Freud

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion – (1905) This was published

Poems (1920) – Wilfred Owen. Owen’s war poetry was highly

Relativity: The Special and General Theory (1920) – Albert

Ulysses (1922) James Joyce – Ulysses is a highly influential

Mein Kampf (1925) – Adolf Hitler. Mein Kampf was written by

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928) – D.H. Lawrence. The book was

The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money

The Diary of Anne Frank (1947) – Anne Frank (Dutch) –

If This is a Man (1947) – Primo Levi (Italian) Levi wrote this

Animal Farm (1945) – George Orwell. Orwell was a democratic

The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946) –

Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell – 1949. Orwell’s classic

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger – 1951. Salinger’s novel

Lord of the Rings (1954) – J.R.R.Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings is

Silent Spring (1962) – Rachel Carson. Silent Spring documented

Quotations from Chairman Mao (1964) – Mao Zedong Between

Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone (1997) – J.K.Rowling.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Books that changed the world”, Oxford,

100 Most influential books ever written at Amazon

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