The Best Mensa Reading List of 2024

If you are looking up Mensa reading, you might already have an idea of what it is. But in case you don’t, let us explain it to you in a few words. Mensa is a worldwide community of people who passed a test and proved that their IQ level is in the top 2 percent of the population. This community helps its members discuss their ideas, do researches, run projects, exchange opinions. Mensa offers lists of age-appropriate books to gifted youth, their parents, teachers, and librarians.

The Mensa foundation will send a T-shirt and a recognition certificate to those who finish an entire list. But how do you know which one to choose? We will take a closer look at that question. We understand that reading every single book can be time-consuming. In this post, you will find some of the best Mensa books reviewed.

If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for Mensa books here

Last update: 2024-05-05

Our Favorites for Best Mensa Reading List

A lot of the recommended readings from Mensa are books which titles we recognize. If you want to read the best books on these lists, we recommend that you start with the classics.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Grades 4-6 Mensa reading list)

It was written in 1908 and is considered one of the classics. The novel is about Anne, a young orphan girl who was adopted by mistake. The family wants to adopt a boy who can help them with the farm. They decide to keep the girl, and she fills their lives with unexpected adventures.

Why Choose this Book

• It is written in a poetical, carefree, light, and fun manner. Montgomery makes the characters feel like real people.
• The main female character, Anne, is enduring, and she has a lot of deep thoughts for a young girl.

What Makes Anne of Green Gables Unique

• It is free if you have an Amazon Kindle subscription.
• Many readers find illustrations to be a significant part of the story.
• There is a series on Netflix based on this story that can ease the reading process.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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The Thurber Carnival by James Thurber (Grades 7-8 Mensa reading list)

The author is a prominent humorist of the 20th century. In it, he collected numerous stories and cartoons, most of which he previously published in The New Yorker.

 Why Choose this Book

• The author has a smooth, laid-back American writing voice, and some parts of the book are amusing and humorous.
• It teaches sympathy, lifts your spirit and gives you a feeling that you are not alone.

What Makes The Thurber Carnival Unique

• It consists of short stories that are funny, easy to read.
• Many stories are turned into movies, and that makes reading more entertaining.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque (Grades 9-12 Mensa reading list)

The book tells us about a group of young German soldiers who were sent to fight in WWI on the French front. A 19 years old Paul Baumer narrates the story. The group does not believe anymore in the ideals of patriotism and the glory of the war. They are simply trying to survive the horrors and the pain.

 Why Choose this Book

• Remarque, being a soldier himself, takes us into the real world of war. Every scene and every detail make you feel the pain of the WWI and the joy of human kindness.
• The book is excellent for those who love history.

What Makes All Quiet on the Western Front Unique

• While it takes you to the battlefield, it is also written in poetic prose that makes you relive the character’s experience.
• It is filled with anti-war sentiments that you can apply to most armed conflicts.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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Runner Ups for Best Mensa Reading List

D’Aulaire’s Book of Norse Myths by d’Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar (Grades 4-6 Mensa reading list)

A classic book to learn Norse mythology and legends that tells you mostly about gods like Thor, Odin, and Loki.

 Why Choose this Book

• The stories are written to entertain and wonderfully illustrated to keep children’s attention.
• The book teaches about Norse culture and helps better understand the people.

What Makes D’Aulaire’s Book of Norse Myths Unique

• It has a great glossary in the back.
• Kids can read it at the age of six and above as the stories are easy and fun.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Grades 7-8 Mensa reading list)

The book consists of twelve stories that were written at the end of the 19th century. The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are solving strange crime mysteries that no one else can deal with.

 Why Choose this Book

• The book is divided into short stories and full-sized novels, which makes it easy to read.
• Reading about the bizarre puzzles that only Holmes can solve is hilarious.

What Makes The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Unique

• The stories open Sherlock from a new perspective compared to what you can see on television.
• With Amazon Kindle subscription, you can find for less than a dollar.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg (Grades 9-12 Mensa reading list)

This six-volume biography describes Abraham Lincoln’s life, mostly his presidency and death. The reader is introduced to many other political figures and issues of that time.

 Why Choose this Book

• A great, though not the most accurate, source of knowledge about early American history.
• It consists of six volumes, but it is relatively easy to read.

What Makes Abraham Lincoln Unique

• The six volumes describe Lincoln’s life very detailed.
• As it was written almost a hundred years ago, it puts you is the author’s perspective of the events.

Last update: 2024-05-05

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Value Picks for Best Mensa Reading List

Buying every recommended reading from Mensa can come out pricey. But we found something that can save you money and is top-ranked by the readers.

One of these findings is The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by Lewis, and it is on the grade 4-6 Mensa reading list. It is about children that travel to a magical world of Narnia and dive into adventures with mysterious creatures. The whole set includes seven relatively thick books and can cost less than a bestseller.

Readers say that these can be read by children of all ages starting from seven. Some parents claimed they enjoyed the books themselves. It might be especially useful for those who have more than one child. People also say that the books are much better than the movies.

There are three more book series on the lists: Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander and The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper on the grade 4-6 Mensa reading list, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien on the grade 9-12 Mensa reading list. While these are smaller sets, we still want to mention them as the readers highly recommend them.

How to Choose the Best Mensa Reading List for You

You can find all the lists on this website.  There are four lists; each of them is recommended to students of certain age. But if you feel like reading a lower-level list, it is totally fine as it is not a competition. You will receive a T-shirt and a certificate for any first completed level and a certificate for any next completed level.

If you are looking to get a reward, it might be a smart idea to check if there are books on the lists that you have read. You can get credit for five previously read books.

There is a smaller list of non-fiction books that Mensa recommends. Unfortunately, you won’t be rewarded for completing that one, as it can only be used to replace five books from any other list.

Some of the books in the lists overlap with school summer reading lists. So, if you want to get ready for school at the same time as reading the best Mensa books, just check which list contains more books that your teacher recommended.

Another thing to consider when choosing a list is checking Mater Amabilis book lists. These are lists of books created by two mothers that practice home education for their children. Both mothers were inspired by Charlotte Mason, an English educator at the turn of the 20th century. The list consists of books that cover school subjects like Maths, Science, Religious Education, Art, Geography, Natural History, and many other subjects. If you want to read and learn, you can check what books are included in both Mater Amabilis book lists and Mensa reading lists.

If you are not a student anymore and are looking for a Mensa reading list for adults, unfortunately, there is no special list. But they do offer a list of books for parents and teachers of gifted youth which you can find here. Are you looking for a book to read during summer vacation? Some adults recommend reading books from children’s lists especially from the Grade 9-12 list.

Wrapping Things Up: The Best Mensa Reading List

In closing, here is a table of the best Mensa reading list we looked at today:

Last update: 2024-05-05

When choosing the best Mensa reading list, make sure that it is appropriate for your reading and knowledge level. You can start with any list regardless of your age. There is no time limit either, and you can take as long as you need to check off all titles. If reading an entire list seems overwhelming, you can pick out the best Mensa books to improve your reading skills and general knowledge. Other readers highly recommend the books we reviewed, and many of them can be on your summer reading list.

Because you read this article, you might also like our guide on the best books for gifted middle schoolers here.