Amazon recently came out with its ` ` 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime '' Jay Parini : I was more than a little shocked by the list , which crudely mixes genres . If you 're going to read soon , he suggests ' ` ` Walden '' by Henry David Smith . Parini : Only about a quarter of the books on the Amazon list are in any way must - reads .
Amazon recently came out with its `` 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime '' Jay Parini : I was more than a little shocked by the list , which crudely mixes categories . If you 're going to die soon , he suggests reading `` Walden '' by Henry David Thoreau . Parini : Only about a third of the books on the Amazon list are in any way must-reads .