A story with many turns.
Written circa the 8th century BC by the renown (and debatably nonexistent) Greek poet Homer, The Odyssey is regarded as one of the greatest ancient works available to us today. Within its 24 books, we see the enduring themes of courage, fidelity, strength, and perseverance manifest themselves in the many junctures of a warrior's homecoming journey. Though Odysseus' story is one of epic storytelling, it's also one teeming with hidden meaning throughout the pages, doing so in a way few other ancient works have accomplished.
A story with many questions.
What is the relationship of a father and son? Which characteristics are present in that of a friend or enemy? What is a home and how is its value significant? The Odyssey as a text approaches these enduring human questions from the lens of a coloring book, not an encyclopedia. It elicits the reader to think critically about the text in front of them, and search for premises to draw conclusions from.
A story with many legacies.
Even 3000 years later, the voice and influence of The Odyssey reverberates through the foundations of Western Civilization, holding title as one of the sources the Founding Fathers cited when forming the foundations of the American Republic. Its implications on today's culture - such as the etymology of certain aspects of modern speech other great works of literature - are just a few of many examples how Odysseus' journey lives on throughout today.
A story with many offerings.
The question of what The Odyssey offers us as individuals is dependent on how we as readers in the present decide to traverse its pages. What makes The Odyssey a Great Book is that it presents enduring ideas in a way that could be continually examined, analyzed, and debated. A Great Book continually yields new insights even after dozens of times read, and continually conditions the mind to think critically as to the "why" - not just the "what" of the subject matter within the pages.