Need a few books to read about Ancient Rome | AskHistorians Archive Observer

It is a bit dated, and I apologise for not working as hard as I could be to keep it updated! I can't get you too much on Rome post-Caesar, but in that time frame, there's so much to learn about! Seeing as you really want to understand Rome, it's always good to pick up a couple of the primary sources - texts that were written at the time by the individuals of the day. I'll list a few of the really good ones here for you :)

The Golden Ass - Originally titled as Metamorphoses, it was renamed because it shared the same title as Ovid's most famous work (I'll discuss that one in a sec!). Well, that and because Augustine was a bit of a dick, but we're getting off track here. The book is the only complete, surviving novel that we have from the Greco-Roman period, and it's absolutely worth the read. It honestly reads like something that would be written in the modern day - it's got plenty of sex, plenty of drama, fighting, stereotypes, and it's ridiculously hilarious. It was written in the 2nd century CE, so it's right in the middle of the time frame you specified, and it gives a WONDERFUL glimpse into the way the world was seen. Hint: People were people ;) Interestingly enough, it portrays women in a totally different way to the modern mindset of women in the ancient world. Apuleius' women are relatively strong, definitely strong-minded, often extremely cunning, and are not shown as mere objects. But I'm getting away from myself. Seriously though, if you get a chance, pick this one up. Sarah Rudden's translation is the best I've found, so if you can get that one, do it :)
Gallic Wars - Caesar's most famous work by FAR, and probably one of the most famous works of the 1st Century BCE. These are one of the greatest examples of a brilliant mind writing brilliant propaganda to support his brilliant campaign. Sounds dull, I know - but honestly, the work is incredibly vivid. If you're a fan of a good TV series, it reads extremely similarly - it's divided into different sections, each part filled with suspense, ups and downs, and it's extraordinarily riveting if you're able to look past some of the language that's used in translations. If you're an aspiring Latin student, it's also one of the easiest texts to read! There's a reason why it's required reading in many colleges around the world - even today, it's a masterful work. If you want to understand more about Caesar's world and how he was able to make Rome dance to his fiddle, look no further. Actually, I'll recommend a secondary source to go with this one - but later! For now, let's keep with the primary sources, moving on to...
Metamorphoses - Ovid's work is nominally poetry. I probably just lost you on that one, so let's go ahead and back up for just a moment! It's not poetry in the sense of modern poetry or haiku. It's narrative poetry - honestly, it's on the level of the Aeneid, which I also highly recommend, but I don't want to make this book list TOO long. Ovid's work is basically THE work on Roman mythology - if you've read of a "Roman myth" (And oftentimes, Greek mythology is just tossed into that pot), chances are that the source is Ovid. Well, except for Cupid and Psyche, but that's in The Golden Ass. Ovid's work essentially details the history of the world, merging it with mythology and the story of the gods, all while showing how that history leads straight to Rome and Rome's glory. One fun exercise is trying to catch exactly how much subtext Ovid puts into things - remember while reading that Metamorphoses was published in the first decade CE. Augustus, while having consolidated his power, was still an anomaly in the Roman world, with the memory of a tumultuous 1st century BCE still fresh in their minds. Oh right, and there's the whole "free speech" thing that wasn't exactly allowed anymore. Ovid was exiled in the same year that Metamorphoses was published - and all we have to go on is his lament. In his own words, he was punished for "a poem and a mistake." Trying to figure out what he was talking about is a fascinating endeavour. This is my preferred translation.

I could honestly include another half dozen sources for you to read (Plutarch, Livy, Suetonius, Tacitus, Dio, Aurelius, Augustus' own works, Celsus, etc.), but I don't want to overload you - the ones I've listed are honestly really easy reads and they flow extremely well, even in translation. On to a couple of secondary sources that you might enjoy!

Caesar: Life of a Colossus - This is basically my "bible" of sorts to all things 1st century BCE. While it's nominally a biography, this tome is an absolutely BRILLIANT window into the workings of the 1st century as a whole, and, while Caesar is most certainly the focus, it goes into detail on the world in which he lived. The context is absolutely phenomenal, and I absolutely recommend the book to everyone who's looking to learn more about Rome. There's a reason Adrian Goldsworthy is hands down one of my favourite authours - and this book is that reason.
In the Name of Rome - I know you're looking for a larger focus on the daily life of Roman citizens, but I did want to highlight this book for you as well. It focuses on the great generals throughout Roman history, beginning with the Second Punic War and ending with the early Byzantines. For someone looking into the evolution of Rome's history, this book is a must-have - it's beautifully written, incredibly detailed, and will help you to understand the names that you hear tossed around. Who WAS Scipio Africanus? How about Marcellus and Fabius? Why were they called the Sword and Shield of Rome? How about Sertorius, one of the greatest generals that no one's ever heard of? Or Aemelius Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia? The list goes on, but I highly recommend this book for broadening your understanding of Rome.
Education in Ancient Rome - This book's one that I recommend looking at a library to take out when you'd like a solid read. The kindle version is heavily discounted (yay!), but other than that.... shrug Depends on which format you prefer. Either way, the book is absolutely incredible, and it's honestly packed to the gills with information that you never would have known that you didn't know. Want to know about how education worked in the Roman world? What their schools were like? What was the curriculum? This book answers it all - and it's something that you probably didn't even know that you didn't know :D

Sorry about the relatively short list - and I'll see about updating the booklist as soon as I can :) For more on daily life in Ancient Rome, feel free to check out a few of my other responses on this topic! If you have any further questions, I'm always here to be asked. Best of luck!