Subway reads: 10 books you can carry on your commute to look cooler than you are

From a pleasurable experience to a statement, we have come to an age where reading is cool and flexible. Celebrities carry it along as an accessory, as a part of their aesthetic. But they are not the only ones who can be blamed for their vanity; everyday commuters are in on it too.

They carry it for various reasons, be it to calm their social anxiety, avoid meeting eyes with people, or just try to look cool. But the phenomenon is not all for the worse; who knows, the performative reading might also inspire someone to read further. Here are a few books that will not only make you look cool but also add to your overall development.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Genre: Historical Fiction“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.”A grand epic set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, War and Peace follows five Russian aristocratic families whose personal dramas unfold alongside history. With sweeping philosophical reflections on fate, war, and identity, Tolstoy blends love stories, political intrigue, and meditations on human nature.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Genre: Literary Fiction“It is curious how sometimes the memory of death lives on for so much longer than the memory of the life that it purloined.”

Set in Kerala, India, this Booker Prize-winning novel tells the tragic story of fraternal twins Estha and Rahel, whose childhoods are shattered by caste politics, forbidden love, and generational trauma. .

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Genre: Memoir / Autobiography“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”Maya Angelou’s landmark memoir recounts her early life, growing up as a Black girl in the segregated American South.

With unflinching honesty and lyrical grace, she explores trauma, identity, racism, and the power of words in shaping her voice. It's not just a story of survival—it’s a testament to reclaiming one’s narrative.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Genre: Absurdist Fiction“I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.”One morning, traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect.

As he becomes isolated from his family and society, Kafka explores themes of alienation, guilt, and dehumanization in this surreal masterpiece. Though brief, the story’s existential weight and eerie symbolism have made it a cornerstone of modern literature.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Genre: Nonfiction / History“You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.”Harari takes readers on a sweeping journey through 70,000 years of human evolution—from prehistoric tribes to modern capitalism.

With bold insights and a knack for storytelling, Sapiens tackles everything from biology and sociology to religion and economics. It challenges conventional thinking and offers a thought-provoking narrative on who we are and how we got here.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Genre: Historical Fiction“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”Spanning three decades in war-torn Afghanistan, this moving novel tells the intertwined lives of Mariam and Laila—two women brought together by fate and suffering.

Hosseini masterfully depicts resilience, love, and sacrifice amid violence and oppression. The story is both intimate and sweeping, with characters who stay with you long after the final page.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Genre: Literary Fiction“And so I try to be kind to everything I see, and in everything I see, I see him.”This devastating modern epic follows four college friends navigating adulthood in New York City, but it’s really the harrowing story of Jude—brilliant, mysterious, and deeply wounded. Yanagihara doesn’t shy away from trauma, chronic pain, or the complexities of survival, making the book as painful as it is profound.

Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Mead

Genre: Anthropology / Nonfiction“The children must be taught how to think, not what to think. And because old errors die slowly, they must be taught tolerance, just as today they are taught intolerance.”Based on Mead’s fieldwork in 1920s Samoa, this influential work challenged Western ideas about adolescence, sexuality, and culture. She documented how social norms are not biologically fixed but shaped by culture, sparking debate across anthropology and beyond. Though some of her conclusions have been contested, the book remains a foundational text.

1984 by George Orwell

Genre: Dystopian Fiction“Big Brother is Watching You.”In Orwell’s dystopian future, individuality is crushed, surveillance is absolute, and even thoughts are policed. 1984 follows Winston Smith as he quietly rebels against the oppressive regime of Big Brother. With chilling relevance today, the novel explores propaganda, language manipulation, and totalitarian control. It's a sharp, compact statement piece. Holding it in public screams “I see through the system”—and invites nods from fellow book nerds across the train car.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Genre: Semi-Autobiographical Fiction“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.”Sylvia Plath’s only novel is a semi-autobiographical account of Esther Greenwood, a young woman whose promising life unravels under the weight of depression and societal expectations. With sharp, dark humor and poetic intensity, The Bell Jar explores mental health, gender roles, and the search for identity.