Photo credit to Chris Lawton via Unsplash (@chrislawton)

*Sigh* It’s getting to be that time of the year everybody. The time where we add yet another extra layer and begrudgingly switch to ordering hot coffees instead of iced. So if you plan on hiding from the chilly weather by wrapping yourself in a blanket and listening to the rain, you might as well add a book to the picture!

Sure, reading might not sound as fun as aimlessly scrolling through TikTok or binge watching your favorite comfort show, but nothing beats the feeling of being hooked on a page turner. Reading the ‘classics’ doesn’t sound super exciting, we know. However, knowing the cultural and social significance of books that have influenced society won’t only expand your knowledge and world perspective, but it will also make you sound smart as fuck.

Disclaimer: A ‘classic’ book does not fit a specific description. It’s not only subjective to the person you're asking but typically ‘classic’ books have been chosen through an elitist and white-washed lens.

Whether you happen to be someone who used to read but not as much anymore, or you just have never been the bookworm type and you want to try diving into reading, here's a few classic picks that are easy to get into. We promise:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Photo credit to Laura Chouette via Unsplash (@laurachouette)

This may have seemed boring in your highschool English class, but this short book packs a punch. If you like science fiction, or themes of social responsibility in relation to power/religion, this is your book.

Pro tip: take your time with it and try to get with the flow of the sentences so they don’t sound like gibberish.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Photo credit to Synne Rustad via Flickr (@synnecinnamon)

Between the World and Me by Ta- Nehisi Coates

Photo credit to Pesky Librarians via Flickr (@peskylibrary)

Through specific diction and moving prose, Ta-Nehisi describes the experience of growing up as a black man in the format of a letter to his son. In the time of racially motivated police violence as well as #NotAgainSU, it is crucial for every Syracuse student to educate themselves on the Black experience. Take this as your first step

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Photo credit to Wendy via Flickr (@wenzday01)

Yes. Harry Potter is a classic. At least we at Jerk think so. You know you have probably put off reading the series, so hop to it.. Cut to: the movies versus book series debate.

1984 by George Orwell

Photo credit to Abdul Ahad Sheikh via Flickr (@iamsheikhabdulahad)

You knew we had to put a George Orwell book in this list somewhere. Read it and you’ll get all of those Big Brother references, along with insights on psychological manipulation and totalitarianism. Nothing like some light reading before bed.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

If you want to take a trip sober, enter wonderland. Everyone knows it for the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, but it’s also a mystical and abstract book about growing out of adolescence. Double the experience by actually smoking beforehand…

The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson

A good book of poems is an easy and accessible way to get into iconic authors. Bonus points if you can quote a poem or two - that’s one way to impress a Tinder date.

Happy reading, book worms.

How to Get into Reading the Classics Without Being Pretentious