If you ran a digital library that the entire world had access to, what 5 books would you put on the “Top Shelf”?

Hi all, I’m building a digital library and I’m curious: If you could force the world to see 5 specific books immediately upon entering your library, what are you picking?

Here’s my “Top Shelf”:

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: Short, weird, and uncomfortable. It captures the feeling of isolation better than anything else.

2. East of Eden by John Steinbeck: The characters feel more real than actual people. It’s a massive book about good and evil, but it reads fast.

3. Zero to One by Peter Thiel: Love him or hate him, this book destroys the idea of just "copying" what works. It changed how I look at ambition.

4. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry: I usually avoid "crowd pleasers," but this is the exception. It defines what friendship and stoicism actually look like.

5. Sun and Steel by Yukio Mishima: This one is unique. It’s a manifesto on why you can’t have a strong mind without a strong body. It makes you want to train harder.

What’s on your shelf?