The way I see it has been stated by others. The “classics” earned that reputation. However, they may not be for everyone. I once attempted to complete another literary critics of “the 100 books everyone should read,” and in the end only finished about a third of these. Not for lack of trying, it was just that some, Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Tale of Gilgamesh for example, were a painful struggle to for each of the chapters I did complete. I look upon the “classics” and lists such as this as strong suggestions that one should at least make an effort to read.

This particular article is very European in its nature that is for sure.