The Complete Stories of Franz Kafka, 1971

If you can get over the personal moral dilemma of whether its ethical to read Kafka without his transparent consent then this is a great read for those who-am-I, what-is-my-purpose times. Filled with heavy-duty existentialism, Kafka's stories are good studies in narrative structure and its use of language.

They are also great catalysts for introspection and leads to thought tunnels that often serve as inspirations for great personal ideas. The collection opens with The Judgment followed by The Metamorphosis, both of his most famous works.