Do you remember filling out your college applications? Along with your GPA and essays there were questions about your extracurricular activities. The emphasis was on finding out whether you were a well-rounded person.

But being “well-rounded” is much more than participating in the Glee Club or volunteering at your local pet shelter.

It includes adopting an open mindset, having diverse experiences, and nurturing your traits and personality to be flexible, forward-thinking, and forgiving. There’s a lot more to “well-rounded” than stated above, and yes, it’s often subjective. But one question you’ll find on any college application or asked at your next cocktail party is, “What’s the most interesting book you’ve read?” Often your answer is a clue to your, uh, “well-roundedness.”

When it comes to books it’s more than your taste in genres, it’s what you’ve learned through the books you’ve read and how that has helped shape your view of the world. This may include stretching beyond your comfort zone, learning about marginalized communities, historical events, different cultures, unique voices, hardships and heartbreaks, and champions of change. All the above and more will help broaden your views and open your mind. That my friend, is what makes a well-rounded person.

I asked around and did a little digging and produced a short (and dynamic) list to kick things off. The following are the most popular tomes that resulted from my “well-rounded reading” survey:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• The Art of War by Sun Tzu
• An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson

I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve only read half of the books above. I have a lot of learning to do. And, dear reader, since this is such a subjective topic, I implore you to offer your sage opinion on the topic. What books do you believe make you a well-rounded person?

Please add your recommendations below.