“Periodically, I return to the classics for inspiration and refreshment.”
– Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Like Cecilia Dart-Thornton, we all have a book that we return to from time to time, no matter how many times we have read it before. More often than not, these books are the classics. Now, you may be wondering what makes a book a classic. Is it its popularity, longevity, literary merit, or all of this together? Well, there is no easy answer to this question. What makes a book a classic depends on its readers as every one of us has varied tastes. However, there are some books whose classic status cannot be denied, their impact is so powerful. From William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Orwell, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to Harper Lee, Virginia Wolfe, Oscar Wilde, and O’Henry, among many others, have penned books that are still life-changing, even years after their publications.
The literary canon is a vast one. With so many books on the offering, one might easily get overwhelmed. Let us turn to our experts as they each recommend to us one timeless classic that everyone should read at least once in their lifetimes.
Editor’s Note: The experiences and opinions shared reflect the personal views of the contributors. This article does not constitute legal, financial, or business advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional guidance for their specific circumstances.
Table of Contents
Reclaim Your Assets: Know Your Rights
A timeless classic that everyone should experience at least once is the empowerment of reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. As a professional in the field of asset management, I have seen countless individuals and organizations struggle with losing control over their assets due to various reasons such as financial mismanagement, legal issues, or unforeseen circumstances. It is a frustrating and disheartening experience to feel like you have lost something valuable that belongs to you.
That’s why I believe everyone should learn how to reclaim their valuable assets. This not only applies to physical possessions, but also intangible ones such as intellectual property or personal data. By understanding your rights and taking the necessary steps to protect them, you can prevent potential losses and maintain control over what is rightfully yours.
Robbert Bink, Founder, Crypto Recovery Services
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Straight Razor Shave: More Than Grooming
A straight razor shave from a trained professional is a timeless classic every man should experience. It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about standards. You sit still. You trust the hands of someone who’s spent years learning the technique. You feel the heat of the towel, the sharpness of the blade, and the quiet discipline behind every stroke. It’s an honest service that separates a grooming experience from a quick trim.
We built The Gents Place on the idea that men need more of these moments, rituals that demand your full attention and remind you to slow down. When you walk into our clubs, you’re stepping into a space where people value care and consistency. A proper straight razor shave isn’t just about the result. It’s about the pause, the presence, and the pride of doing things the right way. You won’t get that in a rushed chain haircut or a DIY mirror job.
I’ve watched men walk out of our clubs with more confidence after one shave than after a week at the gym. That tells me everything I need to know about how powerful a classic can be when it’s done with purpose and precision.
Ben Davis, CEO, The Gents Place
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Vintage Mercedes Ride Reveals Lost Art
Riding a 1960s Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL down the old Pan-American Highway with a retired chauffeur who once drove diplomats across Central America taught me more about storytelling, legacy, and timeless class than any book or movie ever could.
I found the car while sourcing vintage vehicles for a high-end private driver service in Mexico City. It was parked in a dusty garage outside Cuernavaca, untouched for years but miraculously intact. I brought it back to life not to collect it, but to let it drive again—specifically through roads where it once carried world leaders and movie stars. I paired it with Don Luis, a 76-year-old driver with silk-glove manners and memories of when Mexico’s roads had fewer potholes and more poetry.
That ride wasn’t about transportation. It was a living museum on wheels. Every curve of the wood paneling, every click of the analog dash, brought the past into the present. What struck me wasn’t the elegance, but the stillness. No phone distractions. No playlist to fill silence. Just engine hum, stories of the road, and a reminder that elegance isn’t loud—it’s felt.
We’ve since had over 120 clients book the experience, many crying at the end of the route. Not because of nostalgia, but because they realized they’d never slowed down long enough to *feel* the road beneath them. That’s the timeless classic everyone should experience: not a product, but a pace, a presence, a chance to travel like people did before algorithms chose their routes.
It reminded me why I started building a service around private drivers in the first place—not to move people faster, but to move them deeper.
Martin Weidemann, Owner, Mexico-City-Private-Driver.com
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The Little Prince: Wisdom Beyond Childhood
For me, it’s The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I first read it as a teenager, thinking it was just a children’s book. Years later, I picked it up again during a stressful time in my career, and it hit completely differently. It’s deceptively simple but deeply philosophical—about loss, love, responsibility, and how adults often miss what really matters. Every time I revisit it, I find a new layer that reflects where I am in life. It’s the kind of story that reminds me to slow down, listen more, and not lose the curiosity I had when I was younger. I think everyone, no matter their age, should experience it at least once—and then again, years later.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
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To Kill a Mockingbird: Justice Through
One timeless classic everyone should experience is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It’s a story that dives deep into themes of justice, empathy, and moral courage in a way that still resonates today. What makes it special is how it captures the complexity of human nature through the eyes of a child, making heavy topics accessible without losing their weight. Reading it challenges you to look at the world differently and question your own assumptions. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page, reminding us why standing up for what’s right matters no matter the era.
Georgi Petrov, CMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER
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The Odyssey: Blueprint for Every Hero
The Odyssey by Homer. Not just because it’s old, but because it’s the blueprint for every hero’s journey since. It’s about survival, cleverness, longing for home—all wrapped in monsters, gods, and sea storms. But beneath the myth, it’s painfully human. Even now, Odysseus feels like that scrappy, flawed person trying to find their way through chaos. It’s wild, weird, poetic, and still hits hard in all the right places. Everyone should get lost in it at least once.
Justin Belmont, Founder & CEO, Prose
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Mockingbird Teaches Courage Through Quiet Acts
”To Kill a Mockingbird” changed the way I looked at courage. It’s not flashy. It’s in quiet acts, like standing up when no one else will. I read it in high school and thought Atticus was just wise. Years later, during a legal dispute over flood response, I understood him better—doing the right thing, even when it’s unpopular.
It’s a book about justice, innocence, and perspective. But more than that, it’s about how kids learn from what we show them, not what we say. I recommend it because it teaches values without sounding like a lecture. It plants integrity through story.
David Struogano, Managing Director and Mold Remediation Expert, Mold Removal Port St. Lucie
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Of Mice and Men: Simple Words
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. It’s a short book, but it hits deep. I read it first as a teenager and didn’t fully get it. Then I reread it in my thirties, and the weight of those quiet moments—the loyalty, the hardship, the impossible dreams—landed completely differently.
What makes it timeless is how simply it speaks to struggle and dignity. We’ve all had to make hard decisions or stand by someone when it wasn’t easy. I think everyone should read it once. Let it sit with you. Books like that build empathy without preaching.
James McNally, Managing Director, SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire]
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Think and Grow Rich: Purpose Drives
“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill is a must-read for those in affiliate marketing and business development. Published in 1937, it outlines actionable steps for personal success. A vital lesson from the book is the significance of having a clear purpose, illustrated by Lisa, an affiliate marketer who excelled by defining her goal of promoting health and wellness products, transforming her initial vague aspirations into targeted success.
Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo
About ‘What Experts Read’
In our unique series, ‘What Experts Read,’ discover the literary inspirations and must-reads of thought leaders and industry experts. Each article highlights the books that have impacted the viewpoints, tactics, and success of successful entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders in their respective areas.
Discover a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, and more, as professionals share their best book suggestions and talk about the significant influence these reads have had on their careers. Discover priceless information, expand your horizons, and gain insightful knowledge from experts at the forefront of their fields.
‘What Experts Read’ is an insightful look at the relationship between knowledge, experience, and the written word, and it may be of interest to anybody looking for motivation, strategic advice, or just to learn more about the reading preferences of prominent industry figures. Join us for this insightful tour of the most important leaders’ bookshelves of today.
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