Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the greatest Jedi who ever lived, which is even more apparent in his essential stories outside the Star Wars movies. These tales expand on Obi-Wan's character at each stage of his life and particularly expand on his relationships with other important Star Wars characters. From his time as an overly strict Padawan to guiding Luke Skywalker as a Force Ghost, Star Wars has no shortage of great stories for Obi-Wan.
The new Star Wars canon has amassed a large catalog of Obi-Wan stories, but several stories from the Legends timeline are just as crucial to understanding the legendary Jedi Master. Many stories from the old Expanded Universe filled in Obi-Wan's past before there were new movies or TV shows, and some of them greatly influenced later canon stories. Even so, the official Star Wars canon has plenty of great content to enjoy, and 10 Obi-Wan Kenobi stories from both timelines are the most essential in the entire franchise.
10 Star Wars: Padawan Conveyed How Similar Obi-Wan And Anakin Really Were 
Although Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker were polar opposites at times, Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White showed that they were more similar than either would admit. Obi-Wan is eager for action but finds few opportunities under Qui-Gon Jinn, so he decides to go off on a dangerous mission alone. This exposes Obi-Wan to a level of freedom and excitement that makes him question whether he is meant to be a Jedi, something that Anakin would struggle with later in the timeline. Padawan also highlights Obi-Wan's struggle to connect with the Living Force, something Qui-Gon said he had much to learn about in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
9 Star Wars: Master & Apprentice Developed Obi-Wan's Relationship With Qui-Gon 
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were two very different Jedi, and this was explored brilliantly in Star Wars: Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray. When Qui-Gon is offered a seat on the Jedi High Council, Obi-Wan has to face the possibility of a new master, driving a greater wedge between the two. However, one final mission drives the two to work together and embrace their role as master and apprentice, tying in nicely with The Phantom Menace. The book makes their relationship in the movies more enjoyable by exploring what motivates them and how they overcame their differences.
8 Star Wars: Obi-Wan And Anakin Revealed That Obi-Wan Almost Left The Jedi Order For Anakin 
While Obi-Wan was tempted to leave the Jedi Order as a Padawan, it wasn't until he trained Anakin that it almost happened. Three years into his Jedi training, Anakin was manipulated by Palpatine into leaving the Jedi Order and temporarily surrendered his lightsaber to Obi-Wan. While a mission postponed this and later convinced Anakin to stay with the Jedi, Obi-Wan told Yoda that he was fully prepared to leave with Anakin if it meant completing his training. This perfectly highlights the dichotomy of Obi-Wan, that he'll always adhere to the Jedi Code but will also do what he thinks is best for those he cares about.
