Game collections with annotations by the players themselves are often enjoyable and always useful learning tools.

Seek out game collections by players with an Opening repertoire that you are interested in.

For instance I blame my addiction to the KID on Bobby Fischer: The Games of Robert J. Fischer by Robert G. Wade and Kevin J. O'Connell and Garry Kasparov: My Games 1979 - 1982 .

Toppy

The books I learned from aren't the ones I would recommend today.  Well, with at least one major exception.   

Here's the old-timer's list:

My System by Aron Nimzovich

My Sixty Memorable Games  Bobby Fischer

My Best Games of Chess, 1908-1937  Alexander Alekhine

Chess World Championship, 1972 Ken Smith and John Hall (It incorporated the analysis of Gligoric and Soviet chess players.  This was my very first chess book, and it had a diagram after every move so that I could read it on the bus without a set!)

Rubinstein's Chess Masterpieces By Hans Kmoch

Capablanca's 100 Best Games of Chess by Hans Kmoch

Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein

I know, you asked for a short list.  These books formed the foundation of my chess education.  I also read older books such as The Fireside Book of Chess &1001 Chess Combinations by Horowitz & Chernev.

While each of the above hold a special place in my heart, I recognise that they aren't the ideal books for learning and enjoying chess.   

I once read an article by Alex Fishbein in which he said that whatever books you like to read are the best books for you. I agree with that. You will not find an Instruction Book in this list! (Except for the sole endgame book.) Having said that, here's my modern list of books everyone should have read, or at least skimmed:



My Great Predecessors (Every single volume) by Garry Kasparov

My Sixty Memorable Games 

If you can't find this, then...

Garry Kasparov's Greatest Games of Chess by Igor Stohl  (MAKE SURE IT'S BY STOHL!)

Anthology of Chess Combinations/Encyclopaedia of Chess Combinations  (Same books by the people who brought you the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings)

Improve Your Endgame Play by Glenn Flear.

You really do need at least one endgame book.  Mark Dvoretsky's book is probably the best out there in terms of content, and I even like how it's organised.  There's just something inherently dry in his writing that I can't recommend to a new chess player.  Flear's book is not comprehensive, but should light some fires for you. 

A great chess book should be entertaining first.  It should leave you wanting more, not feeling swamped.  These books fit that description.  I hope this list helps, at least a bit.

Bellin & Ponzetto : Test Your Positional Play
David LeMoir : Essential Chess Sacrifices

Ok I like to hear everyone's opion on this. What are the must read chess books out there that a up and coming chess player has to read to help his game. Oh as few as possible, I wish I had more time to read my chess books, but I dont unfortunetly. Oh, not counting openings, lol, I am thinking more about middle game and endings. Thanks.