The 10 books that changed us (and still do)

Accepting death as part of life, that growing up is painful, and that love is often what saves us are just a few of the lessons these stories bring, through tears and laughter. For those of you who have been lucky enough to read these gems, this is a chance to rediscover them. For those of you who have yet to encounter some of these books, here are the powerful lessons they offer.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic 1960 novel by American writer Harper Lee. It is a coming-of-age story set in Alabama during the Great Depression. The plot follows a young girl named Scout, as her lawyer father, Atticus, defends a Black man who is falsely accused of a crime.

The book has many powerful lessons, and moral courage is key. The story shows how racism and unfair judgment can hurt innocent people. The mockingbird is the symbol of innocence, since Atticus teaches his children that they must never kill one because these birds don’t harm anyone; they only make beautiful music.

"The Catcher in the Rye" is a 1951 novel by American writer J.D. Salinger. It follows Holden Caulfield, a troubled 16-year-old who is expelled from boarding school just before the Christmas holidays. During this time, he wanders the streets of New York alone, searching for a real connection as he deals with growing up.

The core message centers on how teenagers really think, through everyday slang, while reflecting on the adult world, which Holden considers full of "phonies" who fake it to fit in. The angst of feeling lonely and like an outsider is central. Holden also wants to protect the innocence of children and imagines being the "catcher in the rye" who saves children from falling off a cliff while they play in a rye field.

"The Outsiders" is a 1967 novel by American author S.E. Hinton that defined the young adult (YA) literary genre. It is a story about a group of teens divided by class. It follows two different groups: the "Greasers" (poor kids) and the "Socs" (rich kids) living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the 1960s.

The plot centers around Ponyboy Curtis, who is 14 years old and discovers that people are much more than their social labels. The story is an iconic representation of the raw emotional challenges, social divides, and search for identity that occurs during adolescence.

"1984" is a 1949 dystopian novel by English writer George Orwell. It is set in a totalitarian regime where the Party is led by the omnipresent figure known as Big Brother, who exercises extreme control over everyday life, including "thoughtcrime" (questioning those in power is already a crime) and "newspeak" (the destruction of old words so rebellious ideas are impossible).

It remains one of the most important novels of human history. It is a horrifying warning about what happens when a government has too much power, including control of truth, language, and even privacy. Its message is considered by many a crucial reminder to stay vigilant and protect our personal freedoms.

"Animal Farm" is another novel written by British author George Orwell in 1945. It is an allegorical novella that puts farm animals center stage, as they seek to overthrow their tyrannical human farmer. The aim was to create an equal society, but the revolution ended up being betrayed by the pigs that led a dictatorship as ruthless as the humans'.

It is a satire of the 1917 Russian Revolution, alongside the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union. Each animal represents different leaders and groups, such as the Pigs who signify Stalin and Trotsky, the loyal, hard-working Horse who symbolizes the working class, and Mr. Jones, who represents the dethroned monarch, Tsar Nicholas Romanov II.

"The Great Gatsby" is a 1925 novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is set in the 1920s in New York, and it's told by Nick Carraway, who moves next door to an intriguing, newly rich man named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is completely obsessed with reclaiming his long-lost love, Daisy Buchanan, who is trapped in a marriage to Tom, by throwing lavish parties to win her back; this pursuit ends in betrayal and death.

Throughout the story, themes such as love and greed are explored, exposing the dark side of the Roaring Twenties and the pursuit of wealth. To this day, it remains a warning that the limitless desire for money can corrupt even our deepest dreams.

"Pride and Prejudice" is a novel first published in 1813 by British author Jane Austen. This romantic story follows sharp Elizabeth Bennet and wealthy, quiet Mr. Darcy. Each of them must overcome their personal flaws of pride and prejudice to stand a chance at falling in love and getting married.

It has become a cultural touchstone by showcasing something that affects us all: how people misjudge others based on first impressions, wealth, and social status. As each character faces family drama, social rules, and personal mistakes, they learn to look past their flaws to find true love.

"Little Women" is a novel by American writer Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. Set in the 1860s in Massachusetts during the Civil War, it follows the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March, as they learn about love, loss, poverty, and the importance of family.

It’s considered a timeless coming-of-age classic because, for many readers, it is a realistic portrayal of what growing up is about. The March sisters are far from perfect, and each one makes mistakes that they then learn from. It is also a foundational text on female ambition, giving a voice to young women and showing that their daily lives, feelings, and dreams matter too.

"Jane Eyre" is a classic 1847 novel by British author Charlotte Brontë, written under the pen name Currer Bell. This story centers on an orphan named Jane and her experiences. The school she goes to is harsh, and she faces a cruel childhood. Later on, she begins to work as a governess (teacher) at a mysterious estate known as "Thornfield Hall", where she falls in love with her moody boss, Mr. Rochester.

This story revolutionized literature as it is the first novel to focus on the moral and spiritual growth of a young woman who wasn’t rich, passive, or traditionally beautiful. The main character, Jane, finds purpose in becoming a governess after all the hardships she endured and fights for her dignity and independence, refusing to settle for anyone who doesn’t see her as an equal, prioritizing herself over love.

"Charlotte’s Web" is a 1952 children’s novel by American author E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams. It tells the story of a sweet pig named Wilbur who is saved from slaughter and befriends clever Charlotte, a spider who writes words in her web to save his life. In doing so, this book explores universal themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the inevitable cycle of life.

It is a timeless masterpiece that stands out for its simple prose, offering deep lessons about life and loss, including how simple acts can save the world, and Charlotte's words show how the way we speak about others matters. Wilbur once asked Charlotte why she did all of this for him, and she replied: "By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a bit of that."

Everyday phrases

Did you know the military & maritime origins of these 10 idioms?

Image: Filip Andrejevic

It’s fairly reasonable to think that the military and maritime worlds are both pretty guarded environments, right? Don’t get us wrong, we are saying this with the utmost respect for both institutions. What we mean by "guarded" is that some things from these fields might be incomprehensible for any outsiders, "civilians" and "landlubbers" alike. However, it might come as a shock to learn about how many of the idioms that we say every single day come from military and maritime history. With that in mind, here’s our pick of the 10 idioms that come straight from the mouths of soldiers and sailors. Enjoy!

Image: National Library of Scotland

We’ll start with one that defined the lives of countless soldiers throughout history. The first use of trenches in warfare can be traced to the 7th century, but they became truly essential after the advent of firearms. Trenches became synonymous with wars fought in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the American Civil War and WWI.

In that sense, the phrase "in the trenches" refers to being in a difficult or demanding situation. This idiom is usually used to describe people on the frontline of a particular environment, like those working at ground level on a job or project.

Image: Boston Public Library

This one goes to any organized parent who might be reading this: We salute you and your ability to maintain order in a household filled with the chaos that children bring. In that sense, this idiom describes you perfectly: Someone who "runs a tight ship" is someone who keeps a keen eye on every small detail, with the sole purpose of preserving peace and order.

As you might have guessed, this idiom comes straight from the nautical world: A "tight ship" would be one running efficiently, with every bit of rope and sail accounted for. However, it is safe to say that its origins come from a firm and uncompromising captain and not from a loving yet strict parent.

Image: Roberto Catarinicchia

Swords and plowshares might not seem that similar, but according to this idiom, they are two sides of the same coin. The expression "to beat swords into plowshares" is actually more of a concept or a philosophy, which involves turning military weapons into peaceful civilian tools. In that sense, a deadly and grim sword once used for warfare can now become a symbol of progress and hard labor.

This idiom comes straight from the Bible, mentioned in the second chapter of the Book of Isaiah. It was famously referenced by President Eisenhower in his farewell speech and by President Reagan in the United Nations General Assembly.

Image: Amy Syiek

For a phrase with such a heavy meaning, the idiom "show your true colors" seems a little too colorful (no pun intended). After all, it conveys the betrayal of someone who pretended to be a close ally, only to double-cross you when the winds change. However, a little digging into its origins proves that this idiom perfectly represents this treachery, since it comes from particularly deceitful and colorful characters: Pirates.

The "colors" described by this phrase are actually the colorful flags flown by ships during the Golden Age of Piracy. During this time, it was common practice for pirates to show false flags to trick a would-be victim into approaching, only showing the true colors on their "Jolly Roger" flags when escaping was impossible.

Image: Mario La Pergola

Any babysitter tasked with "holding down the fort" doesn’t have it easy: Maintaining order in a household filled with children energized by sugar and late-night snacks is a challenge that only the bravest dare to take. In that sense, this idiom seems perfectly appropriate to such an important activity, as military history has shown again and again that forts tend to be strategically essential points during wartime.

Basically, anyone "holding the fort" is temporarily in charge of a household or job. Other prime examples of these unsung heroes are substitute teachers or assistant managers. In that sense, the origins of the idiom are pretty clear: One can almost imagine the struggling forces defending their fort from an enemy attack, eagerly awaiting the arrival of reinforcements.

Image: Nick Diamantidis

It sometimes takes the help and proficiency of someone more experienced to truly learn a skill. Think back on your first day at a new job: Did you have someone who took you under their wing and helped you learn whatever you needed to be more comfortable with your new responsibilities? In that sense, this next idiom can be a perfect description of those kind souls who helped us with their tutelage.

Someone who "knows the ropes" is someone who is particularly familiar with a certain situation or skill, and who has vast knowledge gained solely from experience. This idiom comes straight from sailors: As you might have guessed, the ropes described by the idioms are the many ropes used in sailing ships. Anyone familiar with the miles of ropes intertwined in this type of ship is definitively a sailor worth their salt.

Image: Todd Diemer

This one is slightly controversial since the origins of this idiom aren’t really from the military world. However, this phrase is so ingrained in military history that it felt weird not to include it. To "fight fire with fire" means to respond to an attack with an equal force, usually involving hostility.

Unsurprisingly, this idiom comes from firefighters, people known for their ability to fight fire. The origins of this phrase can be traced back to 19th century America, and from a firefighting practice that involved raising small fires to deprive larger and more dangerous fires of fuel.

Image: Jarrett Fifield

The meaning of the idiom "down in the Doldrums" is remarkably similar to "feeling blue" another maritime idiom: They both relate to a lethargic mood, usually associated with depression. Interestingly, while the word "doldrums" seems to describe an old-fashioned term for a ship section, it actually refers to an actual geographical region.

The Doldrums is a sailing region north of the Equator, characterized by its calm winds produced by the clash of two opposing wind belts. In that sense, sailing this area would represent a sudden halt to an exciting journey, that would understandably put any sealoving sailor in a gloomy mood.

Image: WEB AGENCY

This idiom is remarkably versatile: for example, you can be left "high and dry" by both a friend who doesn’t show up to an appointment, and by a demanding boss that leaves you to fend off a difficult project all by yourself. In any case, this idiom comes from seafaring sailors, desperately stranded whenever their ship was literally left "high and dry".

The origins of this phrase refer to ships stuck in dry land. If the ship was above the tide line and there was not enough water to move it back, then it would remain there until the tide rose, since the ship could be seriously damaged if it was removed without water.

Image: Bermix Studio

We’ll end with what’s probably the most uplifting idiom on this list. Anyone who fights the good fight is doing things right: Although this phrase is commonly used by the military, it applies to everyone doing their part in making their workplace, their home, or even the entire planet a better place.

Like other entries in this article, this idiom was first used in the Bible: This verse in particular calls all believers to "fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life". It became an everyday saying during the 19th century when it was first used in patriotic speeches and songs.