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

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.26 avg rating — 6,133,752 ratings score: 999,180, and 10,121 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 — 4,609,335 ratings score: 926,370, and 9,451 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	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 10,071,199 ratings score: 726,542, and 7,434 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	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 5,248,240 ratings score: 726,480, and 7,453 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 3.99 avg rating — 3,891,903 ratings score: 513,908, and 5,384 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
6	The Hobbit (The Lord of the Rings, #0) by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.29 avg rating — 3,981,293 ratings score: 478,596, and 5,007 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 — 2,115,593 ratings score: 453,062, and 4,698 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 — 2,421,817 ratings score: 416,386, and 4,363 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
9	The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 3,528,739 ratings score: 411,394, and 4,221 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 4.24 avg rating — 2,803,028 ratings score: 371,707, and 3,896 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 4.01 avg rating — 907,602 ratings score: 368,241, and 3,850 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 — 972,718 ratings score: 363,330, and 3,760 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 — 1,858,278 ratings score: 351,020, and 3,712 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
14	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,208,643 ratings score: 313,330, and 3,278 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 — 2,550,958 ratings score: 312,652, and 3,346 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 — 4,194,243 ratings score: 302,154, and 3,207 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) 4.12 avg rating — 2,482,997 ratings score: 297,839, and 3,117 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 — 2,908,070 ratings score: 287,476, and 3,107 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. 4.10 avg rating — 1,371,016 ratings score: 278,783, and 2,970 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 — 851,374 ratings score: 270,936, and 2,848 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 4.41 avg rating — 539,868 ratings score: 243,023, and 2,551 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) 4.14 avg rating — 2,050,914 ratings score: 240,592, and 2,577 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 4.39 avg rating — 2,811,577 ratings score: 236,984, and 2,564 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 — 733,117 ratings score: 228,874, and 2,475 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 4.02 avg rating — 1,097,912 ratings score: 225,445, and 2,414 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 4.15 avg rating — 2,002,700 ratings score: 223,444, and 2,376 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 — 323,345 ratings score: 222,241, and 2,361 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
28	Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 4.20 avg rating — 1,837,966 ratings score: 211,980, and 2,321 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	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) by J.K. Rowling 4.43 avg rating — 3,935,998 ratings score: 211,332, and 2,318 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 (The Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7) by C.S. Lewis 4.27 avg rating — 651,699 ratings score: 203,385, and 2,211 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 3.98 avg rating — 1,203,610 ratings score: 201,240, and 2,160 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 — 1,150,527 ratings score: 199,408, and 2,190 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 — 1,375,661 ratings score: 185,399, 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
34	The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 4.38 avg rating — 1,128,223 ratings score: 183,628, and 2,007 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 4.56 avg rating — 905,684 ratings score: 182,585, and 2,020 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 4.48 avg rating — 970,818 ratings score: 178,288, and 1,993 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 4.37 avg rating — 1,246,599 ratings score: 174,517, and 1,894 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 — 466,281 ratings score: 170,163, and 1,802 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 4.05 avg rating — 963,345 ratings score: 169,738, and 1,834 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 — 481,267 ratings score: 160,089, and 1,735 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) 3.91 avg rating — 3,063,075 ratings score: 159,643, and 1,731 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 4.31 avg rating — 980,774 ratings score: 157,258, 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	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 660,393 ratings score: 151,417, and 1,668 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
44	Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 4.31 avg rating — 776,660 ratings score: 149,420, and 1,667 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 4.27 avg rating — 686,708 ratings score: 148,355, 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	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 390,402 ratings score: 146,527, and 1,546 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 Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 3.86 avg rating — 1,061,543 ratings score: 144,848, and 1,631 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 Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 4.10 avg rating — 744,503 ratings score: 143,267, 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
49	Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.94 avg rating — 505,346 ratings score: 142,894, 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
50	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.16 avg rating — 1,172,619 ratings score: 142,122, and 1,633 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 — 198,365 ratings score: 141,436, 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
52	Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse 4.07 avg rating — 772,529 ratings score: 141,276, and 1,566 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	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 4.24 avg rating — 630,116 ratings score: 139,647, and 1,559 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
54	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 761,621 ratings score: 138,698, and 1,508 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 — 470,593 ratings score: 137,487, 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
56	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.14 avg rating — 365,068 ratings score: 137,363, and 1,519 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 — 321,154 ratings score: 135,173, 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
58	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.27 avg rating — 1,364,981 ratings score: 134,996, and 1,506 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	Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 4.24 avg rating — 1,004,565 ratings score: 133,902, 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
60	The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 4.35 avg rating — 344,082 ratings score: 131,321, and 1,444 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 4.16 avg rating — 852,357 ratings score: 130,337, and 1,469 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) 4.34 avg rating — 764,694 ratings score: 126,475, and 1,380 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
63	The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 4.29 avg rating — 354,294 ratings score: 124,961, and 1,353 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) 4.13 avg rating — 1,340,795 ratings score: 122,334, 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
65	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.23 avg rating — 1,843,498 ratings score: 121,065, and 1,381 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 3.61 avg rating — 411,668 ratings score: 119,357, and 1,332 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
67	The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway 3.79 avg rating — 445,483 ratings score: 117,928, 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
68	Ulysses by James Joyce 3.75 avg rating — 128,112 ratings score: 117,110, and 1,273 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 3.95 avg rating — 436,271 ratings score: 113,435, 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
70	All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque 4.07 avg rating — 460,834 ratings score: 112,546, and 1,294 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 — 249,888 ratings score: 108,641, and 1,217 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 3.89 avg rating — 275,764 ratings score: 103,055, and 1,112 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 — 629,714 ratings score: 99,514, and 1,148 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) 3.97 avg rating — 683,613 ratings score: 98,919, 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
75	For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway 3.98 avg rating — 293,892 ratings score: 96,905, and 1,124 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	The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand 3.88 avg rating — 323,590 ratings score: 96,831, and 1,059 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 3.85 avg rating — 182,263 ratings score: 96,103, and 1,072 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 — 228,760 ratings score: 92,408, and 1,057 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	A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 712,870 ratings score: 92,332, 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
80	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 290,914 ratings score: 91,427, and 1,047 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	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.98 avg rating — 347,810 ratings score: 88,980, 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
82	A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 3.82 avg rating — 322,220 ratings score: 88,917, and 1,040 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 3.91 avg rating — 188,080 ratings score: 87,060, and 982 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	Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4.21 avg rating — 672,851 ratings score: 83,713, and 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
85	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 4.11 avg rating — 407,216 ratings score: 83,535, and 950 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 — 413,733 ratings score: 79,850, and 889 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 — 201,969 ratings score: 78,422, and 901 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 4.53 avg rating — 191,307 ratings score: 75,652, and 848 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 — 2,493,225 ratings score: 75,466, and 851 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 — 314,058 ratings score: 74,507, and 837 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) 4.20 avg rating — 599,318 ratings score: 71,634, and 805 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 4.17 avg rating — 91,107 ratings score: 70,626, and 832 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 — 183,742 ratings score: 70,363, 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
94	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson 4.07 avg rating — 349,553 ratings score: 69,649, and 792 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 3.96 avg rating — 222,458 ratings score: 68,921, 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
96	Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.16 avg rating — 403,386 ratings score: 68,306, and 785 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	Blindness by José Saramago 4.17 avg rating — 290,349 ratings score: 67,996, and 751 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 — 152,058 ratings score: 67,770, 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
99	And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.28 avg rating — 1,359,241 ratings score: 59,647, and 691 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 4.36 avg rating — 327,744 ratings score: 58,596, and 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

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7,860 books · 50,993 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.

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

64 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (50993)

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Sherry 1442 books
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Maria 3793 books
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 510 (510 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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