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
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:
80,000 to 99,999 - 100,000 to 199,999 - 200,000 to 499,999 - 500,000 to 999,999
1,000,000 and more

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.27 avg rating — 5,647,526 ratings score: 990,955, and 10,037 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	1984 by George Orwell 4.19 avg rating — 4,157,464 ratings score: 919,195, and 9,380 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 — 4,797,722 ratings score: 723,946, 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
4	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 9,201,412 ratings score: 721,032, and 7,377 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 3.98 avg rating — 3,540,382 ratings score: 506,676, and 5,311 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
6	The Hobbit (The Lord of the Rings, #0) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.28 avg rating — 3,630,116 ratings score: 472,509, and 4,944 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 4.32 avg rating — 1,901,991 ratings score: 450,002, and 4,668 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 — 2,193,978 ratings score: 412,445, and 4,322 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 3.81 avg rating — 3,293,859 ratings score: 407,781, and 4,183 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	The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1) by C.S. Lewis 4.23 avg rating — 2,602,824 ratings score: 369,580, and 3,873 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 Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 859,468 ratings score: 365,436, and 3,822 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	One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 4.11 avg rating — 904,482 ratings score: 360,213, and 3,728 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	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.99 avg rating — 1,729,758 ratings score: 348,100, and 3,681 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
14	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.30 avg rating — 1,175,567 ratings score: 311,257, and 3,256 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 3.88 avg rating — 2,377,951 ratings score: 310,621, and 3,324 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	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) by J.K. Rowling 4.58 avg rating — 3,768,165 ratings score: 299,496, and 3,180 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	The Giver (The Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 2,266,024 ratings score: 295,320, and 3,091 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	Lord of the Flies by William Golding 3.69 avg rating — 2,719,782 ratings score: 283,671, and 3,067 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	Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.09 avg rating — 1,295,076 ratings score: 275,729, and 2,940 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	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.88 avg rating — 788,392 ratings score: 269,695, and 2,836 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	East of Eden by John Steinbeck 4.40 avg rating — 500,433 ratings score: 241,142, and 2,532 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	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 1,874,951 ratings score: 237,172, and 2,540 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 Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.38 avg rating — 2,673,317 ratings score: 232,091, and 2,512 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	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey 4.20 avg rating — 701,917 ratings score: 227,625, and 2,463 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	The Stranger by Albert Camus 4.01 avg rating — 946,197 ratings score: 222,759, and 2,387 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
26	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.14 avg rating — 1,921,710 ratings score: 221,740, and 2,359 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	The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1-5) by Douglas Adams 4.38 avg rating — 312,552 ratings score: 221,084, and 2,349 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	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling 4.43 avg rating — 3,562,833 ratings score: 210,496, and 2,309 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
29	Charlotte's Web by E.B. White 4.19 avg rating — 1,714,309 ratings score: 209,486, and 2,290 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	The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.27 avg rating — 613,213 ratings score: 202,546, and 2,201 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	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.99 avg rating — 1,148,010 ratings score: 200,477, and 2,152 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
32	The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 3.80 avg rating — 1,051,050 ratings score: 197,806, and 2,172 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	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,302,176 ratings score: 183,916, and 1,955 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	The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 4.38 avg rating — 1,062,129 ratings score: 182,354, and 1,994 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 Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.55 avg rating — 822,640 ratings score: 179,457, and 1,986 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 Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.47 avg rating — 881,633 ratings score: 175,769, and 1,965 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	Night (The Night Trilogy, #1) by Elie Wiesel 4.36 avg rating — 1,162,109 ratings score: 172,333, and 1,871 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	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.29 avg rating — 440,294 ratings score: 168,869, and 1,788 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 4.04 avg rating — 816,883 ratings score: 167,869, and 1,815 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	Watership Down (Watership Down, #1) by Richard Adams 4.08 avg rating — 466,120 ratings score: 159,654, and 1,730 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) 3.90 avg rating — 2,763,916 ratings score: 158,225, and 1,717 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	Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery 4.30 avg rating — 911,232 ratings score: 154,761, and 1,706 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	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.08 avg rating — 618,473 ratings score: 150,531, and 1,659 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	Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 4.30 avg rating — 731,658 ratings score: 148,552, and 1,658 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	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.26 avg rating — 629,229 ratings score: 146,852, and 1,656 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	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 379,354 ratings score: 146,138, and 1,542 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	The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 4.08 avg rating — 714,223 ratings score: 142,944, and 1,536 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	Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.93 avg rating — 477,358 ratings score: 142,714, and 1,562 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	The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 3.85 avg rating — 904,332 ratings score: 142,397, and 1,606 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	Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.06 avg rating — 714,655 ratings score: 140,496, and 1,558 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 Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4.50 avg rating — 193,159 ratings score: 140,433, and 1,562 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 Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.15 avg rating — 1,089,852 ratings score: 139,984, and 1,610 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	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 718,224 ratings score: 138,016, and 1,501 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 4.24 avg rating — 578,227 ratings score: 137,025, and 1,531 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 Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 4.11 avg rating — 423,953 ratings score: 136,052, and 1,483 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 Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.13 avg rating — 346,043 ratings score: 135,435, and 1,498 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	A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 310,064 ratings score: 134,545, and 1,435 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	Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 4.24 avg rating — 958,498 ratings score: 133,457, and 1,531 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	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.26 avg rating — 1,188,169 ratings score: 132,091, 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
60	The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 4.34 avg rating — 327,999 ratings score: 130,715, and 1,439 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	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1) by Roald Dahl 4.15 avg rating — 798,897 ratings score: 129,492, and 1,459 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	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 727,767 ratings score: 125,846, and 1,374 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 Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 4.29 avg rating — 315,065 ratings score: 123,850, and 1,341 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 Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,209,543 ratings score: 121,369, and 1,363 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 Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.23 avg rating — 1,728,275 ratings score: 119,813, and 1,368 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	On the Road by Jack Kerouac 3.62 avg rating — 390,378 ratings score: 119,070, 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
67	The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway 3.80 avg rating — 417,087 ratings score: 117,511, and 1,310 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	Ulysses by James Joyce 3.75 avg rating — 122,178 ratings score: 116,463, and 1,267 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	Beloved by Toni Morrison 3.93 avg rating — 401,058 ratings score: 111,972, and 1,239 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 4.05 avg rating — 422,185 ratings score: 111,577, and 1,284 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	The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1) by Pearl S. Buck really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 241,897 ratings score: 108,495, and 1,216 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	A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole 3.88 avg rating — 262,431 ratings score: 102,560, and 1,106 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	Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt, #1) by Frank McCourt 4.14 avg rating — 606,106 ratings score: 98,788, and 1,141 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	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 651,792 ratings score: 98,771, and 1,125 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 Fountainhead by Ayn Rand 3.88 avg rating — 315,224 ratings score: 96,499, and 1,055 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 — 279,092 ratings score: 96,473, and 1,120 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
77	The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner 3.86 avg rating — 174,326 ratings score: 96,293, and 1,075 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 World According to Garp by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 221,492 ratings score: 91,905, and 1,052 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	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 282,100 ratings score: 91,040, and 1,042 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 — 678,101 ratings score: 90,859, and 1,046 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	A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 3.81 avg rating — 303,106 ratings score: 88,468, and 1,035 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 3.97 avg rating — 321,086 ratings score: 88,341, and 991 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	Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 3.90 avg rating — 178,590 ratings score: 86,141, and 972 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	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 4.10 avg rating — 386,659 ratings score: 82,985, and 944 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 4.19 avg rating — 607,076 ratings score: 82,693, and 954 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	Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 4.35 avg rating — 375,508 ratings score: 78,963, and 879 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	Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 3.84 avg rating — 189,092 ratings score: 77,650, 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	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.51 avg rating — 175,195 ratings score: 73,964, and 830 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 4.44 avg rating — 2,341,737 ratings score: 73,733, and 831 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	The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 4.14 avg rating — 292,746 ratings score: 73,333, and 824 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 Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 575,981 ratings score: 71,280, and 801 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	Sophie's Choice by William Styron 4.18 avg rating — 88,293 ratings score: 70,560, and 831 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	To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf 3.80 avg rating — 166,023 ratings score: 69,826, and 811 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	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson 4.07 avg rating — 332,999 ratings score: 69,242, and 788 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	Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger 3.97 avg rating — 209,990 ratings score: 68,714, and 787 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	Blindness by José Saramago 4.16 avg rating — 262,312 ratings score: 68,277, and 754 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	A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce 3.63 avg rating — 144,242 ratings score: 67,677, and 793 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	Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.16 avg rating — 381,868 ratings score: 67,612, and 777 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	Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1) by A.A. Milne 4.35 avg rating — 312,206 ratings score: 57,235, and 697 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	And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.28 avg rating — 1,195,327 ratings score: 56,015, and 652 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

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7,806 books · 50,560 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.

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

6571 likes · Like

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People Who Voted On This List (50560)

The Crimson Fucker 424 books
203 friends

Michael 707 books
286 friends

Joro 3689 books
53 friends

Jessica 7492 books
1197 friends

MBP 6796 books
157 friends

Ruth 2586 books
364 friends

Sherry 1436 books
359 friends

Maria 3606 books
231 friends

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 512 (512 new)

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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.

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message 2: by Laura (new)

Jun 17, 2008 02:49PM

Uh, yeah, what Gary said. Hello?

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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.

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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"? ;)

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message 5: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 24, 2008 04:04AM

Some of those definitely aren't 20th century

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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?

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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...

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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!

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message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 26, 2008 04:00AM

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

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message 14: by Bluestem (new)

Jun 26, 2008 08:47AM

Could we move Time Traveler's Wife to the 21st Century list?

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message 15: 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!

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message 16: 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!

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message 17: 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?

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message 18: by Megan (new)

Jun 30, 2008 10:22PM

Vonnegut should definetly be on this list.

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message 19: 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.

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message 20: 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?

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message 21: 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.

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message 22: 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).

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message 23: 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?

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message 24: by Mommy (new)

Jul 17, 2008 10:11AM

where is THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving?

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message 25: 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.

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message 26: 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?

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message 27: 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)

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message 28: 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.

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message 29: 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.

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message 30: 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.

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message 31: 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.

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message 32: 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!!!!)

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message 33: 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.

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message 34: 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

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message 35: by Layce (new)

Jul 30, 2008 10:17AM

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

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message 36: by Jane (new)

Jul 30, 2008 01:26PM

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

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message 37: by Roxanne (new)

Jul 30, 2008 04:00PM

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

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message 38: 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.

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message 39: 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.

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message 40: 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.

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message 41: 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 ??

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

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message 42: 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.

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message 43: by Lisa (new)

Aug 04, 2008 06:14PM

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

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message 44: 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.

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message 45: by Gary (new)

Aug 11, 2008 09:36AM

_Les misérables_ was published in the 19th Century.

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message 46: 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.

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message 47: 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.

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message 48: 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.

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message 49: 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.

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message 50: 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.

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