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The 12 Book Plan to Become Seriously Well-Read

Randy Ray

13,650 views

If you’ve ever wanted to become seriously well-read—but didn’t know where to start—this is the plan.

Here's the membership area. Keep in mind that I'm still working on it, but it will be fully launched on April 1:

Patreon: RandyRay

In this video, I’m laying out a 12-month reading curriculum built around 12 essential books. No, 12 books won’t make you fully well-read—but if you read these, you’ll be far more well-read than most people, because each one represents a major pillar of literature. This isn’t just a list. It’s a path.

📬 Contact & Collaboration
Voxer: rlray1584
Email: randyray@gmail.com

I want to thank ‪@booksimnotreading‬ for her incredible supportive. friendship, and advice.

I also want to thank my friend Dallas for much invaluable feedback. I appreciate you more than you know.

📚 The 12-Month Reading Plan

April – The Hobbit

May – Pride and Prejudice

June – The Great Gatsby

July – Jane Eyre

August – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

September – The Odyssey

October – Dracula

November – The Count of Monte Cristo

December – A Christmas Carol

January – To Kill a Mockingbird

February – Crime and Punishment

March – 1984

📖 How This Works

1 book per month

Weekly reading breakdowns

Monthly discussion

If you just want to follow along, grab the books and read with us.

If you want to go deeper, I’ve created a space where we can actually talk about these books together.

📌 Get Involved

👍 Comment below: Which book are you most excited to read?

📅 We start in April—now is the time to jump in.

#BookTube #ReadingPlan #ClassicBooks #WellRead #ReadingChallenge #Literature #BooksToRead

20 Comments

@malachiconstant26 6 months ago

When I was around 10 or 11 years old we had a substitute schoolteacher for a couple of weeks. I can't even remember her name but I owe her my eternal gratitude as she spent most of the time in class reading us The Hobbit which enthralled me and led me to a life of reading pleasure which - I'm happy to say - continues to this day thanks to the likes of a certain literate Texan!😊

@AndreaRivera-k7m 6 months ago

Your channel is one of the best on BookTube. Keep the goodness coming!

@karin4993 6 months ago

I have read all but Huck Finn, Count of Monte Cristo and Crime & Punishment! Great selections!

@davidnovakreadspoetry 6 months ago

Sounds like a syllabus to me—but a good one! I haven’t read The Hobbit or A Christmas Carol but otherwise I think I’m up to speed. 😂

@BibliophileDragonJi-Li 3 months ago (edited)

Read so many on this list, but I would love to reread them as an adult vs when I read them as a child/teen ❤

@GlennsBookshelf 6 months ago

Might just have to sign up for this, love the idea

@YzurSpeaks 6 months ago

Great picks. It feels "just ambitious enough" without feeling like a reading prison. 10 to 20 pages a day seems like what it would take to meet the goal. Great idea.

@karanchettri9248 2 months ago

In today's world where there's a heap of information being forced onto one , the person feels overwhelmed not to know where to start, knowing what information is relevant for them , and what not ,will keep them on their track , this I am saying with my own experience. English is not my first language , not I am that good in English, from my childhood I have longed for learning it well that never happened . Nobody was there to guide me ,even I was afraid to share my feelings. Recently with the start with year , I have discovered that literature was my call and after watching some of your videos it gives me immense pleasure to say that , I am convinced of my calling . The 12 books that you mentioned , I already have read the first , hundreds of words which I dt know , have to look for the meaning, it may be a child's play for someone but for me it's a tiresome work. But as I have already said it's worth it. Thank you For your guidance .

@langbavibo333 6 months ago

thank you i will follow this guide of your

@meliinthemargins 6 months ago

This is such a cool project! I’m sure there are so many people who will really appreciate being guided through these great works that might otherwise feel intimidating. I’ve read all the books on this list and can only say that as of this year since I hadn’t read Dracula or A Christmas Carol until 2025.

@LauraBCReyna 6 months ago

Last Dec I decided I needed to read some classic books that I'd missed which means a lot of reading bc I've missed almost all of them. I've made a huge TBR list of pre-20th cent classics, 20th cent classics &, 21st cent soon-to-be classics. All the books on your list are on my list. I will try to join you for a few of them. 💙

@PersonallyOptimistic 5 months ago

Turns out I am well read. Nice😅

Enjoyed the video!

@ReadSomethingDaily 6 months ago (edited)

Solid choices, I read all but two. But these are books that reward rereading. I read Mortimer yearly alongside isaac watts improvement of the mind. Excited to participate in some of those discussions.

@mamabear10 6 months ago

Looks like good start! I see some I’ve loved and some I dragged myself kicking and screaming to get through, and a few on my TBR. I had already decided I need to revisit The Great Gatsby and at least a few short stories by Hemingway. They, like some others here were read for high school English. In a way, this will be like my honors English classes, where class discussions were encouraged, and not to be missed-they were fun.

@Pyrohjordis 4 months ago

Wow, I've already read half the books on the list (some even twice!) Im halfway to being well read!

@paulmonahawk4921 5 months ago (edited)

Glad to have found your channel great video and choices, I have read most of these and looking forward to catching up on the rest! At the moment I am reading the Iliad and King Lear.

@killer11843 4 months ago

Great recommendation. Love the video on how to read

@cwallswriter 6 months ago

Great list of books!

@kristiecolon542 5 months ago

I just found your channel. That's so crazy, I just decided I must read more and read well read books! Before seeing your video, I chose to start April off with The Hobbit.