Best Books of the 20th Century

The best books published during the 20th century (January 1st, 1901 through December 31st 2000)

See also
Most Rated Book By Year
Best Twentieth Century American Novels
Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century
Best Fantasy of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Fantasy of the 20th Century
Best Romance Novels of the Twentieth Century
Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century

Best Books By Millennium:
1000-1999

Best Books by Century:
21st, 20th,
19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, 15th,14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 10th,
9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th

Best Books by Decade:
2020–2029, 2010–2019, 2000–2009,
1990–1999, 1980–1989, 1970–1979, 1960–1969, 1950–1959,
1940–1949, 1930–1939, 1920–1929, 1910–1919, 1900–1909,
1890–1899, 1880–1889, 1870–1879, 1860–1869, 1850–1859,
1840–1849, 1830–1839, 1820–1829, 1810–1819, 1800–1809

Lists for all books by Number of Ratings:
10,000 to 15,000, 15,000 to 20,000, 20,000 to 25,000, 25,000 to 30,000,
30,000 to 40,000, 40,000 to 50,000, 50,000 to 60,000, 60,000 to 70,000,
70,000 to 80,000, 80,000 to 89,999, 90,000 to 99,999, 100,000 to 149,999,
150,000 to 199,999, 200,000 to 499,999, 500,000 to 999,999, 1,000,000 and more

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.26 avg rating — 6,557,250 ratings score: 1,001,910, and 10,149 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 10,819,904 ratings score: 725,592, and 7,426 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 5,596,450 ratings score: 712,041, and 7,309 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,055,302 ratings score: 542,575, and 5,534 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Animal Farm by George Orwell really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,221,504 ratings score: 518,607, and 5,433 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.29 avg rating — 4,266,014 ratings score: 480,172, and 5,023 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 4.33 avg rating — 2,299,093 ratings score: 454,351, and 4,712 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,631,713 ratings score: 419,217, and 4,393 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 3,730,800 ratings score: 413,500, and 4,244 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	1984 by George Orwell 4.20 avg rating — 5,055,302 ratings score: 389,324, and 3,976 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 4.24 avg rating — 2,985,464 ratings score: 373,571, and 3,916 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 4.02 avg rating — 953,933 ratings score: 368,235, and 3,852 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 4.12 avg rating — 1,042,660 ratings score: 364,119, and 3,768 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.99 avg rating — 1,969,563 ratings score: 351,120, and 3,714 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.89 avg rating — 2,698,131 ratings score: 314,539, and 3,371 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,247,358 ratings score: 314,177, and 3,288 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) by J.K. Rowling 4.58 avg rating — 4,557,240 ratings score: 301,321, and 3,198 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 2,671,371 ratings score: 297,992, and 3,120 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Lord of the Flies by William Golding 3.70 avg rating — 3,062,756 ratings score: 289,374, and 3,128 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.10 avg rating — 1,426,454 ratings score: 279,106, and 2,973 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.87 avg rating — 898,728 ratings score: 271,242, and 2,853 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	East of Eden by John Steinbeck 4.42 avg rating — 581,384 ratings score: 243,671, and 2,559 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,232,229 ratings score: 242,146, and 2,594 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.40 avg rating — 2,978,727 ratings score: 238,779, and 2,583 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey 4.20 avg rating — 757,879 ratings score: 228,708, and 2,474 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Stranger by Albert Camus 4.03 avg rating — 1,255,273 ratings score: 225,203, and 2,413 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,061,504 ratings score: 223,356, and 2,375 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) by Douglas Adams 4.38 avg rating — 332,015 ratings score: 221,840, and 2,357 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 4.20 avg rating — 1,955,008 ratings score: 213,042, and 2,332 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling 4.43 avg rating — 4,248,604 ratings score: 210,992, and 2,314 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Chronicles of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.28 avg rating — 685,116 ratings score: 203,326, and 2,209 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.98 avg rating — 1,245,712 ratings score: 200,903, and 2,157 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 3.81 avg rating — 1,234,971 ratings score: 200,524, and 2,203 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,430,683 ratings score: 185,082, and 1,971 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 4.38 avg rating — 1,189,412 ratings score: 184,018, and 2,009 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.57 avg rating — 978,192 ratings score: 183,821, and 2,034 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.49 avg rating — 1,054,044 ratings score: 179,651, and 2,008 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Night by Elie Wiesel 4.38 avg rating — 1,310,443 ratings score: 174,988, and 1,900 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 4.06 avg rating — 1,098,075 ratings score: 171,736, and 1,857 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.30 avg rating — 488,580 ratings score: 169,410, and 1,797 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 3,332,746 ratings score: 160,918, and 1,745 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Watership Down (Watership Down, #1) by Richard Adams 4.09 avg rating — 493,921 ratings score: 159,681, and 1,732 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4.32 avg rating — 1,052,912 ratings score: 157,796, and 1,739 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 697,475 ratings score: 152,505, and 1,681 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 4.31 avg rating — 816,335 ratings score: 149,786, and 1,672 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.27 avg rating — 724,066 ratings score: 149,217, and 1,682 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 399,586 ratings score: 146,662, and 1,547 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 3.89 avg rating — 1,275,809 ratings score: 146,253, and 1,646 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.94 avg rating — 527,249 ratings score: 143,315, and 1,568 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 4.10 avg rating — 769,283 ratings score: 143,140, and 1,539 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.16 avg rating — 1,237,877 ratings score: 141,714, and 1,629 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4.50 avg rating — 212,549 ratings score: 141,450, and 1,572 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.08 avg rating — 826,376 ratings score: 141,191, and 1,565 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 4.25 avg rating — 677,501 ratings score: 139,983, and 1,563 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.14 avg rating — 381,143 ratings score: 137,732, and 1,525 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 4.11 avg rating — 510,539 ratings score: 137,333, and 1,497 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.28 avg rating — 1,525,246 ratings score: 136,103, and 1,520 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 799,862 ratings score: 135,675, and 1,478 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 329,089 ratings score: 135,161, and 1,443 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 4.25 avg rating — 1,033,882 ratings score: 133,929, and 1,535 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 4.35 avg rating — 358,579 ratings score: 131,115, and 1,442 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1) by Roald Dahl 4.16 avg rating — 891,411 ratings score: 130,547, and 1,474 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 796,867 ratings score: 127,165, and 1,388 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 4.29 avg rating — 387,983 ratings score: 125,675, and 1,361 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 1,485,094 ratings score: 123,162, and 1,384 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.23 avg rating — 1,936,658 ratings score: 121,496, and 1,387 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	On the Road by Jack Kerouac 3.61 avg rating — 430,695 ratings score: 118,924, and 1,328 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway 3.79 avg rating — 470,587 ratings score: 117,836, and 1,314 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Ulysses by James Joyce 3.77 avg rating — 136,371 ratings score: 117,740, and 1,280 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque 4.09 avg rating — 490,036 ratings score: 113,792, and 1,311 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) by Toni Morrison 3.97 avg rating — 464,484 ratings score: 113,363, and 1,255 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1) by Pearl S. Buck 4.01 avg rating — 255,438 ratings score: 108,610, and 1,219 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole 3.89 avg rating — 287,420 ratings score: 103,233, and 1,115 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt, #1) by Frank McCourt 4.15 avg rating — 645,363 ratings score: 99,838, and 1,152 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 696,610 ratings score: 98,827, and 1,126 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway 3.98 avg rating — 306,440 ratings score: 97,078, and 1,127 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand 3.89 avg rating — 330,988 ratings score: 96,987, and 1,061 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner 3.86 avg rating — 189,210 ratings score: 95,831, and 1,070 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The World According to Garp by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 234,042 ratings score: 92,889, and 1,062 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 743,419 ratings score: 92,465, and 1,063 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 296,915 ratings score: 92,141, and 1,058 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.99 avg rating — 368,503 ratings score: 88,909, and 998 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 3.82 avg rating — 338,021 ratings score: 88,770, and 1,039 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 3.92 avg rating — 195,377 ratings score: 87,254, and 985 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4.22 avg rating — 738,517 ratings score: 85,656, and 987 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 4.12 avg rating — 426,509 ratings score: 84,039, and 957 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 4.36 avg rating — 440,007 ratings score: 80,223, and 893 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 3.84 avg rating — 213,169 ratings score: 78,644, and 904 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin 4.45 avg rating — 2,629,212 ratings score: 76,963, and 867 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.55 avg rating — 211,313 ratings score: 76,762, and 860 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 4.14 avg rating — 331,058 ratings score: 74,881, and 842 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 617,143 ratings score: 71,654, and 807 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Sophie’s Choice by William Styron 4.17 avg rating — 92,902 ratings score: 70,792, and 835 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf 3.80 avg rating — 200,582 ratings score: 70,313, and 816 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson 4.07 avg rating — 364,603 ratings score: 69,907, and 795 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger 3.96 avg rating — 231,559 ratings score: 68,802, and 789 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.15 avg rating — 421,556 ratings score: 68,671, and 790 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce 3.64 avg rating — 158,449 ratings score: 67,762, and 794 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Blindness by José Saramago 4.18 avg rating — 315,206 ratings score: 67,746, and 749 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1) by A.A. Milne 4.38 avg rating — 386,743 ratings score: 64,986, and 797 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 78 79 Next →

7,823 books · 49,736 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.

Tags: 20th, 20th-century, best-by-century, by-century, earliest-list, twentieth

6775 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (49736)

The Crimson Fucker 426 books
227 friends

Michael 713 books
285 friends

Joro 3691 books
53 friends

Jessica 8935 books
1444 friends

MBP 7454 books
158 friends

Ruth 2643 books
381 friends

Sherry 1441 books
356 friends

Maria 3872 books
228 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-50 of 511 (511 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Gary (new)

Jun 14, 2008 08:30PM

Jane Austen? Oscar Wilde? Louisa May Alcott? Charles Dickens? William Shakespeare? Alexandre Dumas? Bram Stoker's Dracula?

None of those are 20th century.

reply | flag

message 2: by Laura (new)

Jun 17, 2008 02:49PM

Uh, yeah, what Gary said. Hello?

reply | flag

message 3: by Dottie (last edited Jun 20, 2008 08:13PM) (new)

Jun 20, 2008 08:07PM

Picture of Dorian Gray first published 1891 doesn't belong in 20th century books. 19th century

Oops -- you guys already caught these. Another one -- Bronte.

reply | flag

message 4: by Mark (last edited Feb 25, 2009 03:38AM) (new)

Jun 23, 2008 06:32PM

Similarly, Three Cups of Tea was published in 2006... is there an easy way to delete these? Or should this list take a Braudelian view of the "long 20th century"? ;)

reply | flag

message 5: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 24, 2008 04:04AM

Some of those definitely aren't 20th century

reply | flag

message 6: by Ashley (new)

Jun 24, 2008 08:31AM

There are a lot of those 19th century books, but now there are also many that are 21st century as well i.e. The Host and the most recent Harry Potter books. Is there any way to delete them?

reply | flag

message 7: by Laura (new)

Jun 25, 2008 08:38AM

I was getting all annoyed because they had a couple books that were published after 2000, but then I realized that I had just voted for Pride and Prejudice....I wish that there was a way to delete books that didn't fit the critieria...or maybe if the list was programmed to automatically check the publication date and tell you whether or not you could add it to the list...

reply | flag

message 8: by Wifey (last edited Jun 25, 2008 08:48AM) (new)

Jun 25, 2008 08:46AM

Why isn't Celine or Saint Exupéry or Borges on this list? I call bullshit. Or i don't know... Vonnegut?

reply | flag

message 9: by Kelly (new)

Jun 25, 2008 10:49AM

Um, people? Jane Austen novels and/or Jane Eyre are in NO WAY 20th century novels, whatever thousandth reprinting that they're on right now that happens to have taken place in that century.

reply | flag

message 10: by Bryan (new)

Jun 25, 2008 11:09AM

It's called the "best books" of the 20th century, so why does everyone seem to be restricting themselves to novels?

reply | flag

message 11: by jessica juniper (new)

Jun 25, 2008 12:39PM

There are several books on here that are not from the 20th Century...Jane Austen, The Brontes, and Joyce plus many more...can someone fix this please!

reply | flag

message 12: by Bebe (new)

Jun 25, 2008 09:09PM

Um, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not 20th c reads. Come on guys!

reply | flag

message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 26, 2008 04:00AM

Dracula was written on 1897, not in 20th century for sure.

reply | flag

message 14: by bup (new)

Jun 27, 2008 11:37AM

THE KING JAMES BIBLE!?

THE BOOK OF MORMON!?

And it's amazing how many votes Pride and Prejudice has gotten - 30!

reply | flag

message 15: by Lexi (last edited Feb 25, 2009 02:51AM) (new)

Jun 28, 2008 12:09PM

Several books not written in the 20th century:

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I think)

Don't get me wrong, these are all great books but they don't belong on this list! Please check dates (or at least use common sense) before adding books to a date-specific list!

reply | flag

message 16: by Matthew (new)

Jun 28, 2008 10:52PM

you couldn't be more right, throw in Kafka, as well. then the non-20th century books, along with the pop fiction books on the list?

reply | flag

message 17: by Megan (new)

Jun 30, 2008 10:22PM

Vonnegut should definetly be on this list.

reply | flag

message 18: by Laura (new)

Jul 01, 2008 07:37AM

If you think so, why not add Vonnegut to the list? Seems simpler than complaining about it.

reply | flag

message 19: by Stacy (new)

Jul 01, 2008 09:06AM

The 20th century seems to have lasted for more than two hundred years. I have to agree with the poster who commented on the lack of nonfiction. What about Backlash by Susan Faludi? Something by John Krakauer or David Sedaris?

reply | flag

message 20: by Laura (new)

Jul 01, 2008 09:27AM

Guys. You are aware that you can, you know, add any book you want to this list, right? If you think something belongs on the list yet is not there, ADD IT YOURSELF.

reply | flag

message 21: by Todd (new)

Jul 04, 2008 11:17AM

This list appears to be restricting books based on the "published" date for some random (default?) edition, rather than the often-available "first published" date. This would explain why Pride & Prejudice (1813) can make the list, but it doesn't want me to add To the Lighthouse (1927).

reply | flag

message 22: by Sarah (new)

Jul 12, 2008 09:18PM

Gah!! The books on this list that were not written in the 20th century are hurting my OCD. Is there any way to edit? To remove books from the list that others have added?

reply | flag

message 23: by Mommy (new)

Jul 17, 2008 10:11AM

where is THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving?

reply | flag

message 24: by Ashley (new)

Jul 18, 2008 09:06AM

It's there (page 2), but if there's anything you think should be on any list, add it yourself.

reply | flag

message 25: by Kenneth (new)

Jul 29, 2008 10:45AM

oh boy some real chestnuts. C'mon Where's your Henry Miller. He is only the greatest American author of that century. and seriously, what's up with the book of Mormon?

reply | flag

message 26: by Nathanimal (new)

Jul 29, 2008 10:48AM

The Book of Mormon? #4? Really guys?

It's not even very well written! Despite being published in 1830 (and written, allegedly, mosty in the B.C.E)

reply | flag

message 27: by Sunil (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:11AM) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:09AM

Hmmm,,,, No Bellow in first hundred. And you have Harry Potter.Shame.

reply | flag

message 28: by Matt (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:10AM

Ok, this is nuts. There are 19th century books appearing here, and there are 20th century books I can't add because there isn't a 20th century edition in the database.

reply | flag

message 29: by Alex (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:55AM) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:14AM

Though it's a disputed point, the Book of Mormon was written sometime between 2,000 B.C. and 1830 A.D. As beloved and influential as it may be, one thing it isn't is a book of the 20th Century. Putting it on this list just makes you look dumb.

Also: Holy Bible.

reply | flag

message 30: by Matt (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:16AM

And another thing, the Lord of the Ring's score is getting killed by the fact that two different versions of the book (as a single epic, and as a trilogy) are appearing on the list.

reply | flag

message 31: by Donitello (new)

Jul 29, 2008 04:19PM

I presume we're supposed to vote ONLY for the book that we think should occupy #1 spot?

That'll be easy, of course -- it's The Book of Mormon. (JOKING!!!!)

reply | flag

message 32: by Emily (new)

Jul 29, 2008 04:36PM

I cannot believe Sometimes A Great Notion, Ken Kesey, is not in the top 100. I didnt even see it in the top 200.

reply | flag

message 33: by Giovany (last edited Jul 29, 2008 08:44PM) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 08:43PM

apoyen a Proust!!!!!!
lets stand for proust!!!!
aller Marcel, il est fantastique

reply | flag

message 34: by Layce (new)

Jul 30, 2008 10:17AM

An interesting assortment of books. One I could refer to for future reference.

reply | flag

message 35: by Jane (new)

Jul 30, 2008 01:26PM

Henry James is missing, sorely. Too much JK Rowling and CS Lewis.

reply | flag

message 36: by Roxanne (new)

Jul 30, 2008 04:00PM

The Tin Drum must be among the top 100...BB

reply | flag

message 37: by Michael (new)

Jul 30, 2008 05:09PM

It speaks to my heart and soul. It reaffirms that good can win out over evils. I have read it over 120 times since Thanksgiving, 1970.
And people... please remember, it is actually one book, not three, an a trilogy; that aspect was a business/publishing choice not a creative (the author's) choice.

reply | flag

message 38: by David (last edited Jul 30, 2008 06:17PM) (new)

Jul 30, 2008 05:29PM

Sometimes a Great Notion is a Masterpiece.

The Harry Potter books are entertaining enough, but hardly in the same league.

reply | flag

message 39: by David (new)

Jul 30, 2008 06:15PM

That's what I get for being a bookworm, I guess. Zero friends! Maybe I should wash more often.

reply | flag

message 40: by Paula (new)

Jul 30, 2008 08:18PM

I'm not really thrilled that the Harry Potter books made this list....they really don't belong here !

What about : The Red Tent by Diamont ??

: The Celestine Prophies ??

: The Kite Runner ??

: A Thousand Splendid Suns ??

?????????????????????

reply | flag

message 41: by Rebecca (new)

Jul 31, 2008 11:18AM

Seems like the Lord of the Rings series shouldn't be listed as a separate option with each of the 3 books also on the list.

reply | flag

message 42: by Lisa (new)

Aug 04, 2008 06:14PM

Did I miss something? I didn't see Le Miserables on the list???

reply | flag

message 43: by Ashley (new)

Aug 05, 2008 06:25PM

If something isn't on the list anywhere that you think should be, add it. That's the point.

reply | flag

message 44: by Gary (new)

Aug 11, 2008 09:36AM

_Les misérables_ was published in the 19th Century.

reply | flag

message 45: by Laura (new)

Aug 11, 2008 12:17PM

Les Miserables was on the list, and was removed for the reason Gary states. If it's put back on, it will be removed again.

reply | flag

message 46: by Elizabeth (new)

Aug 17, 2008 02:22AM

I saw so many of my all time favorites! Mists of Avelon, Rebecca, Diary of Anne Frank, James and the Giant Peach even The Witching Hour! WOW! I guess as much as I read I consider something really great if after a couple of years and thousands of books later I still remember it then its pretty good.

reply | flag

message 47: by Marcus (new)

Aug 20, 2008 12:19PM

Did I miss Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture?

Pretty big book of the 90's...it, ya know, coined the name ofr an entire generation...

There's a lot of books on this list, I could have missed it.

reply | flag

message 48: by Cindy (new)

Sep 01, 2008 11:44AM

The Harry Potter books enticed countless numbers of kids, who would never normally pick up a book when they could be playing a video game, to read. In my opinion, any book or series of books, that can do this deserves to be this list.

reply | flag

message 49: by [deleted user] (last edited Sep 06, 2008 12:57PM) (new)

Sep 06, 2008 12:56PM

Paula, it's the 21st century. The Kite Runner and it's sequel were released in THIS century, not eight years ago. I AM annoyed by The Pillars of the Earth, though.

reply | flag

message 50: by Sally (new)

Sep 09, 2008 12:03PM

I would like to vote for The Kite Runner

reply | flag