We all probably have that book that’s stuck with us ever since we read it. The “Harry Potter” series is a common top pick for many who have and still refer to the Harry, Ron and Hermione as their first literary heroes to look up to. Books like “Roots” and “The Joy Luck Club,” on the other hand, paved the way for diversity in literature and helped inspire other authors who continued to write novels based on their experiences. These are only a few examples of books that made a difference in our individual lives.

The amazing thing about books is that they have the power to not only impact our own lives, but society as a whole. Some famous novels have done things like inspiring new legislation and shedding new perspectives on historical events. “The Diary of a Young Girl” is a classic example of this. Anne Frank’s diary gave us an inside look into a historical event that we otherwise never would have known or understood.

Largest.org put together this list of books that had a huge impact on society to break down what exactly some books have done to change and evolve the world we live in. Check out this list and see where one of your favorites might stack up and how your current favorite may change the world!

Photo credit: Largest.org