The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written: The History of Thought from Ancient Times to Today (1998) is a book of intellectual history written by Martin Seymour-Smith, a British poet, critic, and biographer.

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233 books · 358 voters · list created May 3rd, 2013 by Hector Torres (votes) .
205 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Hector 291 books
27 friends
Hannah 2223 books
96 friends
Jessica 4424 books
47 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
851 friends
Carlos 5108 books
63 friends
Armina 642 books
63 friends
Joan 585 books
69 friends
Haley 0 books
71 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads Why is the Book of Mormon on here? I don't see it in the original list.


message 2: by Hector (new)

Hector Torres Good question. The list is not even in the order originally I made it, like someone's been messing with it. I'm new to this so I don't know how to make a list "non-editable", do you know how to do that? That would be nice. Cheers.


message 3: by Ivan (new)

Ivan Well I have to admit that it was really quite difficult to decide / vote! but it is an absolutely very positive thing! and thank god because it means that we have had so many great people / writers in history, with a great talent / knowledge! to express themselves / write! (And to be as an inspiration for everyone of us) I apologize if I made some mistakes of chronological priorities, but what is absolutely sure and without any shadow of doubt, is to give the absolute number 1 to the Holy Bible!!! of our divine/almighty creator!!!! Thanks/god!!


message 4: by howard (new)

howard I agree with Susanna: Why is the book of mormon on this list? I belongs on a worst fiction of all time list.


message 5: by Vangel (new)

Vangel Vesovski Where is Ayn Rand on this list? Tolkien? Thomas Payne? Mises?


message 6: by Sourav (new)

Sourav Bhattacharya Don't you think Mahatma Gandhi's MY EXPERIMENT WITH TRUTH can be considered in this list?


message 7: by Savior (new)

Savior Dianetics by L.Ron Hubbard should be on this list as well.


message 8: by Phox (new)

Phox grimm Thats a list? second most important book would be by ...GRIMMS FAIRY TALES by THE BROTHERS GRIMM...whereby being a grimm tale in itself being bludgened and torn apart until the authors ..masterpiece.. is the color of the d...mn rainbow and lost the real meaning,,oh and here's another kick in the pantaloons, every religious ( book ) has been written by humans..not some divine entity..or burning bush... (*J*)_;


message 9: by K (new)

K VALIS Some of the entries and comments appear to be based on the belief that this is another 'What's your favorite...' list.
My understanding, based on on the title of the list, is that this is a list of the Most Influential Books in history - that would be world history, as opposed to your own, personal one. Nor is it asking if you like or agree with the content or message of the books - it is merely asking for our suggestions for the most influential books. I, personally, have no religious beliefs whatever, but only an idiot would deny the importance and influence (positive or negative) of the Bible and the Koran on world history. Like they say before exams, always read the question.


message 10: by Raymond (new)

Raymond Sanchez In what world is the Principia not considered a top 5 most influential book? It literally is the influence and foundation for all of modern science and understanding of the world.


message 11: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 07, 2017 07:02AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) It is clear people have been adding to this list, not just from the number of books, which well exceeds 100, but also when one looks at the publication date of some, as they weren't even written when The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written was published....


message 12: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 07, 2017 07:05AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) @Hector Torres
I'm willing to clean up this Listopia, if there is a list with the original 100 titles?

By the way, the order of titles changes the moment people start voting for them :-)


message 13: by Favio (new)

Favio Villaseñor why is the fucking hobbit and book of mormon here? and ranked higher than Newton's principia?


message 14: by Sorento62 (new)

Sorento62 http://www.sonic.net/~rteeter/grtinfl...
That link has a very nice succinct list of all the 100 books Seymour-Smith wrote about in his book.


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