I am a non-native speaker and when I was studying for GMAT, I had a really hard time with the Reading Comprehension section - it was too difficult to digest in the amount of time allotted, often had new words, and took double the processing power to understand. I tried reading scientific articles and business magazines but I read only for the sake of reading and naturally in about 3 minutes I would catch my mind wondering somewhere else and having to get back to reading. I had to force myself to read and that's a horrible situation to be in. There had to be a better way to do this, and I think I found it - reading interesting books with strong written English. Now, rather than reading myself to sleep, I would stay up till 2 or 3 am with a dictionary next to my bed, unable to put the book down. When I read these books, I wanted to know what every word meant. I also was able to remember the vocabulary a lot better since I now was much more invested into the book and my reading was now done as a fun activity. Beat that!





Also, even though I started reading fiction books to get my Reading Comprehension up, after 3-4 good sized books I found that reading also trains your "ear" and helps with Sentence Correction. More and more I was able to pick out the issue with the sentence simply because it did not sound right and not because I ran through my 13 point check-list for SC questions. Eventually I scored 42 on verbal - back then it was 96th percentile, not too shabby for a foreigner.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that reading fiction books can be very helpful for your GMAT and not only that -when I moved to the US, I found that besides good grammar, reading Hemingway, Steinbeck, and Fitzgerald books gave me insights into the culture and history that helped to blend in a bit better. (Many of the classic books listed are a required reading in the US high schools). If you are not a native speaker and serious about getting a good verbal score - I would highly recommend you pick up a reading habit.

Here is a list of fiction books I found most interesting. However, I hope that if you find any interesting books, esp. something that really impacted you, you will post them here as a recommendation and I will add them to the list (I am also looking for a recommendation for a new book to read).


Recent Classic Fiction
These are usually well known books that have some of the best style and rich vocabulary.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - One of the most romantic books on the list. Though it will capture you, leave a very warm feeling and may even make you cry, the main value of the book is its stunningly beautiful language and great history insights (Do you know who a bootlegger is?). 4 Amazon stars based on 1,223 reviews.


Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - the most well know of Steinbeck's masterpieces. Not the best value for the money with only 92 pages, but it has the most cultural value as everyone in the US read, watched, or heard of it. 4.5 Amazon stars based on 1033 reviews.


Cannery Row by John Steinbeck - a story about a group of good-natured bums living in Salinas, Northern California in the 1920's and 1930's - the book has plenty of humor to keep you cracking through all 200 pages - a quick read. A movie with the same title has been made based on this book. 4.5 Amazon stars based on 233 reviews.


Daisy Miller by Henry James - definitely one of the most romantic books by James, but he has fantastic English - 3 line sentences and more on 128 pages. No reliable Amazon rating is available for this book


A Movable Feast by Earnest Hemingway - a very inspiring book about the writer's years in Paris. Ideal book for a trip, but works well for GMAT too - great language, good sentence structure, and great useful vocabulary. 4.5 stars on Amazon and recommended by several members as well.


Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov - great language and style. Also the annotated edition will keep you much more in sync with all the references. The most famous of Nabokov's pieces and one that coined a name for itself in history. 4.5 Amazon Stars.


Sidartha by Herman Hesse - if you ever wondered about the meaning of life or how to be happy - read through a short book about an Indian boy who seeks enlightenment and satisfaction. This is one of the most famous works by Hesse. He received a Nobel prize for his life-long contribution to the world's literature.


The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - fantastic language and a very interesting book about the life of a British butler. A movie has been made based on the book, but it is not even 10% as good. 256 pages and 4.5 Amazon stars based on 196 reviews.


Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - 2,500 Amazon reviews probably speak for themselves. This was the first book I read after starting business school - good language, captivating plot that will have you read through nights and a lot to learn about early 20th century Japan and the role of a Geisha. I read it over a course of several weeks and when I was finished, I felt a part of me was missing.


To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee - this story grew with and around single family in small city Monroeville, which said to be Herper Lee's hometown. Herper Lee delineated each character through the eyes of Jean Louise who was a girl between 7-8 yrs. This story helps identify each character based on its vicinity and consequences. (Recommended by priyankur)


Men without women by Earnest Hemingway - compilation of fourteen short stories so good reading guide for them who think that reading novel could waste precious preparation time. Stories are distinct and readers have enough room to juxtapose their thoughts with those of author. (Recommended by priyankur)


Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (P.S.) - The book is meant to be read with concentration and a sound mind (which is very important in papers like GMAT). It is not only psychologically motivating (if understood), but also trains the reader's mind for complex texts. (Recommended by aknine)





Heavyweights (500+ Page Fiction Books)
Longer books but worth every page

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - a timeless classic and required high school reading, this book covers the lives of several families caught in the 1930's great depression. 464 pages of great English, interesting story, and full of cultural references. 4.5 Amazon stars based on 599 reviews.


The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - a masterpiece by a master. Though very idealistic and sometimes extreme, Ayn Rand delivers a great story with strong structure, and many themes that will force you think about your life. 752 pages will slip by too quickly - you will miss the company of this book. 4 Amazon stars based on 974 reviews.


Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - a "continuation" to the Fountainhead and the last book by Ayn Rand - her last and best masterpiece. I am reading it right now and thoroughly enjoying it. I am 150 pages through and look forward to another 1,000 for a rewarding read.


Wild Swans by Jung Chang - a fascinating journey through the 20th century history of China - may not be the best style book, but extremely captivating and educational. 544 pages and 4.5 Amazon stars based on 359 reviews.


Shogun by James Clavell - let the 1,200 pages not scare you - this will be a fast read about 17th century Japan. A TV-series was made based on this book. Good English, though language can get tough sometimes. 4.5 Amazon stars based on 309 reviews.


Guns Germs and Steel" - fascinating book for history freaks. Certainly improved my RC skills. An enjoyable book as well. (recommended by pbanavara)


Non-Fiction
Captivating and educational

The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal by Desmond Morris - if you want a new perspective on the human race, learn what makes us who we are, laughing most of the way, this book is for you. 256 pages and 4.5 Amazon stars based on 52 reviews.


The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh - the only book on this list with a flawless record of 5 Amazon stars based on 255 reviews. If you are interested in code and how cryptography works - this book is almost a step by step guide - very interesting if you are into puzzles.


Future Shock by Alvin Toffler - The book is dense and idea rich and yet just 385 pages in length. (Recommended by urchin)


Other Recommendations
1. Non Fiction and Business Business Books http://gmatclub.com/forum/mba-books-goo ... 74557.html - a collection of over 70 different book recommendations to enrich your views on Global Policy, Poverty, Leadership, Project Management, and just inspiring business books
2. The Economist Magazine (JohnLewis1980)
3. National Geographic Magazine (nitya34)
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While preparing for gmat i came across lot of passages on feminist movement and feminism in America. Now i think i know more about Women's right than my own.

I am reading Too Big to Fail. Interesting read.
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OK, I just noticed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on the list. I've been trying to understand this book for the last 10 years. It was assigned in English class during my junior year in high school by a teacher whom I believe was crazy. I remember my friends and I spending long hours almost everyday for nearly 6 months trying to figure out what on earth ZATMM is about. If one of you actually has, please PM me. Seriously, after 10 years of being flummoxed by a book that is supposedly about fixing a bike while pondering about life, I'd love some closure.
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I would recommend to everyone that he or she should read in front of the computer/smartphone etc. I think that hunting down words in a dictionary (book version) can be very exhausting and time consuming. When I started studying in English, I simply used Google to help me with translation. I did not use Google Translate because it often can create biased meaning. I think it is best to learn English in English than to learn English in another language. However, that requires a certain dose of pre-knowledge of English. So if you have a long way to go, consider the latter option first.

Simply write "define: [i.e] vivacious" and look up the definition. I recommend Merriam-Webster dictionary because it is one of the first to pop up and is very credible. Using online dictionary is easy, convenient and will save you a lot of time.

A book that I just finished that will absolutely sharpen you as a reader is Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. It's a lot of work, but if you can get through it not only will it make you a more acute and perceptive reader, but most likely will change the way you view the world around you, especially if you are living in the United States.

Not sure about any others here but I'm a fan of Goodreads. I use their site regularly to organize books I've read, and they're a great resource for keeping track of books you want to read. Adding books to your personal library is easy.

Anyhow, I went ahead and placed all of the books from the GMAT Fiction list into a list. It's friendlier than Amazon IMO, and there are plenty of ratings from well-read individuals.

--You can find the link for the recommended GMAT Fiction reading here.

Additionally, there are literally 1,000's of other types of lists, from "The best books of all time", "Best Books of 1990's", "Best Science Fiction Books", and even specifics like "Dealbreakers: If You Like This Book, We Won't Get Along."

Without getting too far off topic, there's only one more list on the site related to GMAT titled, "Vocab Building Great Fiction for GRE/GMAT/ACT Prep."

The books listed there are:
1. "Brightness Falls", by Jay McInerney
2. "The Reluctant Heiress", by Eva Ibbotson
3. "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything", by Christopher Hitchens
4. "Orlando: A Biography" by Virginia Woolf
5. "A Countess Below Stairs", by Eva Ibbotson
6. "The Grandmothers: A Family Portrait", by Glenway Wescott
7. "Sophie's Choice", by William Styron
8. "Cannery Row", by John Steinbeck (looks familiar..)
9. "The City & The City", by China Miéville

Cheers! Hope this helps someone.

Recently read Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics by Levitt & Dubner.

Fun read and some serious input for putting economics into practise - really enjoyed them.

Good idea & like for the thread! Will certainly start to tackle some of the suggested books.

a fine balance by rohinton mistry is, in my opinion, very well written (and extremely interesting to boot)

So do you guys believe that reading fiction will not help your SC score but also CR and RC scores?

For those who are interested, they can go to:

http://www.gutenberg.org/

and download free e-books. This is not an illegal website, it does not violate US copyrights law. The reason is because all of those copyrights have expired in the US. If you are not from the US, make sure you check your own country's copyright laws to make sure it is legal to download.

There are over 100,000 books that you can get for free. If you don't mind reading on your computer, check it out. You will not find any new books here but at least the books available are free

I would add The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S. Landes.

I LOVE A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry; it's huge but I finished it in one day (albeit with a sprained ankle and unable to move).

I'd like to recommend two personal favorites by Dostoevsky that I'm rereading right now: Crime & Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. Again, relatively long, but super interesting.
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the great gatsby is avaialble as ebook on following link

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzger ... index.html


share more
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Another book I love recommending to my students is 'A short history of nearly everything' by Bill Bryson.

To give a background, I will quote a reader 'Sarah' who has given a very accurate review, in my opinion:

Bryson's dead serious: this is a history of pretty much everything there is -- the planet, the solar system, the universe -- as well as a history of how we've come to know as much as we do. A book on science written by a non-scientist, this a perfect bridge between the humanities and the natural sciences. A course in the history of science should be mandatory for every teenager, and this should be the textbook.

Yes, it's a big, chunky book. No, it can't be trimmed down any further: when you're addressing cosmology, earth science, ecology and zoology, with healthy doses of chemistry and physics, plus the historical development of each, you're going to end up with a doorstop of a text, no matter how smoothly written. The wonder of Bryson's writing is that the reader doesn't get lost in these sweeping surveys. When name-dropping, Bryson always gives a short description of the person in question; if mentioned earlier in the book, he drops in a quick reminder to the reader. This is fabulously effective at giving the names some context, not to mention a little personality.

And indeed, isn't that what science education needs most: more humanity and less intimidation? Those science-phobes out there who freely admit their near-complete ignorance of the subject should do themselves a favor and buy a copy of this book. No, don't get it from your library. There's so much here you'll want to have a copy on hand to refer to later.

To those nerds in the audience -- myself included -- don't think your degrees mean you can pass this one over. As hyper-specialized as science has become, it's refreshing as hell to step back and take a look at things with new eyes. While there's not a lot here I haven't encountered before, there's a lot of information about how our current theories were developed that I didn't know.

(Also? It's heartening to read about the social ineptitude, blind spots, and how utterly incompetent many of these scientist were in other aspects of life. Makes me feel better about never finishing that PhD -- at least I have a life.)

Thorough, humorous, engaging, and educational: what's not to like?
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Subscriptions of magazines is a good proposal....

I recently finished to kill a mockingbird- loved it.

recommend :

Learn to Earn: A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business

Very good, by Peter Lynch. Basic, introductory investing.

For the Indians out there (or actually for anyone), I highly reccommend any book by Rohinton Mistry and Salman Rushdie. Two of my favorites:

1. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (Shortlisted for a Booker Prize and part of Oprah's Book Club)
2. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (this one won the "Booker of Bookers in 1993)

Both books are fine specimens of english literature that focus on the south asian diaspora.
If you really want to go all out and especially take RC to the next level read:
1. Ulysses by James Joyce
Although I warn you that this book is fairly dense.

I agree that reading should help, but my concern is the sentences like following:

The towers of Zenith aspired above the morning mist; austere towers of steel and cement and limestone, sturdy as cliffs and delicate as silver rods.

The sentence is the first sentence of Babbit, a Nobel Prize winning novel. In GMAT, however the sentence would be incorrect (what follows the semi colon should be able to stand on its own).

If you are used with these kind of sentences, shouldn't it hurt rather than help?

I wouldn't read to improve my SC skills but I definitely would to improve my RC skills as well as my general cognitive skills. In fact I read a little everyday. This week I've been reading some short stories by H.H Munro (Saki).

is Mein kemph good?