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Ranking the best novels and non-fiction books of every genre.

Popular Opinion

Don Quixote

Need a good read? Take a look at this&nbsp;list of the best must-read books of all time, suitable for every one of all ages, creeds and color. Featuring the newest YA novels reviewed by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-book-review-youtube-channels/youtuber" target="_blank">popular literary channels on YouTube</a>, these are the novels, autobiographies, and short books that you should consider when you ask yourself, &quot;What book should I read next?&quot; If you somehow made it through school without reading the classic - or you're still in school - be sure to check them out to expand your literary horizons.An eclectic mix that does not cater solely to the sensibilities of the literati, culturati, illuminati or even paparazzi. With some hidden gems in here, it's a great list to consider when looking for something to read next. &nbsp;&quot;Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are&quot; is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread' - Fran&ccedil;ois Mauriac. Give fellow voters the best tips you can on the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-books-of-all-time-_fiction_?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top books of all time</a> that they must read by voting on your personal favorites and downvoting those you didn't enjoy.&nbsp;

Non-Fiction

A list of the 1001 books you must read before you die. This list has been used by book lovers for years. Featuring classics and newer books alike, this list is a fantastic resource for bibliophiles (and if you're checking out this list, that probably includes you). This is considered by many to be the authoritative list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-books-of-all-time-_fiction_?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best books of all time</a>. The list includes both fiction and non-fiction, and all genres have been included as well. Whether you're new to reading, or a long time reader just looking to fill in the gaps, this is the list for you.What are the books you need to read before you die? Look and see.Source: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/1001-Books-Must-Read-Before/dp/0789313707/?tag=rankercom-20">1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die</a> by Peter Boxall

The Lord of the Rings

This is the ultimate list of the best novels of all time, which is based on influence, originality, popularity, and personal affections. You can make the case for many books to be on this list, but only a few can be considered the best novel ever written. For as long as books have been around, there has been debate amongst book enthusiasts over what truly is the best book ever. The one criteria on this list is that we are only taking fiction books into account. Anything should not be on here.Classics like Victor Hugo's Les Mis&eacute;rables, Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath are all on here and deservedly so as they've stood the test of the time and have become important pieces of literature. That's not to say that modern books are neglected, in fact, they're well represented as well. Recent classics like J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, Thomas Pynchon's Gravity Rainbow and Stephen King's The Waste Lands are on here.It's up to you to vote on or even add a book that isn't on this list. Otherwise, decide what the best book of all time is by voting up&nbsp;what you think is a worthy choice.

This list of bad books not to read is ranked by literature fans worldwide. Anyone can vote on this list of the worst books, which makes it a trustworthy resource for finding out which books just don't live up to their hype. You can even add your own list of bad books to these rankings, and save other people from the pain of having to read them. From the over-hyped to the just plain overexposed, these overrated books prove that you can't judge a book by its cover...or its reputation.What are the worst books that people think are great? <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-overrated-movies-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The most overrated</a> books on this list have received&nbsp;a lot of praise, so don't feel bad voting for them! What are the most overrated novels? Vote on them here.

On the Road

As you slide comfortably into being an adult, one fact quickly becomes evident: everyone is a big fat liar, especially when it comes to discussing impressive books to read. Avid readers should definitely check out these <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-book-review-youtube-channels/youtuber" target="_blank">popular book reviewers on YouTube</a>.&nbsp;Not only are there too many life-affirming books out in the world to read in one lifetime, but there are also a bunch of books that become a part of the social zeitgeist, and if you don’t read them you’ll be left out of the cultural conversation. The books people lie about reading tend to be considered classics, but they’re also <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/books-youll-never-finish/amylindorff">massive tomes</a> that are responsible for destroying an entire forest. Some books people claim to have read would make better doorstops than they would entertainment, but you should still act as if you’ve devoured every page. If you don’t lie about some of these books, what are you going to have to talk about?There are so many intelligent&nbsp;and cool people out in the world, and every single one of them&nbsp;says they have read all of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-books-of-all-time-_fiction_">most important books</a>. You know how you lie about what you scored on your SATs? Well you should also do that with literature. This list of books you should say you've read makes it easy for you to fool your friends and strangers alike. Because if you do come across someone who has actually read all of these books they’re not going to be able to keep the plot points separated in their heads long enough to call you on your BS. Keep reading to see all the books people pretend to have read – and then maybe actually read one of them.&nbsp;

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The Bible

As Emily Dickinson famously said, &quot;There is no Frigate like a Book / To take us Lands away,&quot; but sometimes you get halfway there and are all &quot;Frigate, WTF, where are we even going?&quot; There are some books that you will just never finish, no matter how many times you try. Maybe the authors of these hardest books to read are laughing at all of us right now, or maybe they didn't even mean to make the book so tough, but here we all are, slogging through these book swamps, trying to figure out what the hell James Joyce is even on about with Ulysses.Hard books to read run the gamut. Some are just too long, like War and Peace. Others are just perplexing and no one will ever know what's really going on in them, even that kid in your Honors College literature class who thinks he is so cool. Still others of the most difficult books ever written aren't even really that complicated, they just happen to be as boring as listening to anyone, anywhere, at anytime, talking about traffic.What books have you put down after just one chapter? What books sit proudly on your shelves, 90% unread because life is more than sticking it out with a book that is just too much? Sure, a lot of these books you are never going to actually read are classics, written by famous authors and some of the most influential <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-writers-of-all-time/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">writers of all time</a>, but let's get real, Jonathan Franzen, there aren't enough hours in the day to wade through The Corrections.Upvote the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/novels-based-on-comic-books/walter-graves?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">books and novels</a> below that you have sidelined for whatever reason and be sure to add any great books you have started, and then immediately been like, &quot;NOPE.&quot;

Neuromancer

This list ranks the best science fiction novels ever written, as voted on by sci-fi readers. Anyone can add their picks to this list of sci-fi books, making it an accurate, real-time ranking of the best sci-fi&nbsp;books of all time by the people who live and breathe Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, and Clarke.

Vote up the novels that you think best represent the greatest science fiction books ever written in order to determine the most popular science fiction books on the shelves. It doesn&#39;t much matter they&#39;re classic or modern, utopian or dystopian; if they&#39;re popular sci-fi books, this list is the place to rank them.

If you see a good book that&#39;s missing, add it whether it be a lesser-known classic or a new sci-fi book fellow readers need to try. Vote up your favorite literary slices of sci-fi. And for maximum impact, make your own list by reranking this one your own way, so that everyone can see whether your top rated sci-fi novels take place on Arrakis, Mars, or even Earth. Then, check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-science-fiction-books-2019/ranker-books" target="_blank">best new science fiction books</a>, many of which will become the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sci-fi-books-you-have-to-read-to-have-nerd-cred/zack-howe" target="_blank">next generation&#39;s classics</a>.

Perfume

List of the best absurdist fiction novels from various time periods with the title and the author's name listed next to images of the novel's jacket sleeve. Absurdist fiction began in the late 19th and early 20th century out of modernist literature with authors spanning this period such as Joseph Heller, Franz Kafka, Samuel Beckett and Albert Camus, plus many more of the best novelists.The list asks the question, &quot;What is the best absurdist fiction novel?&quot; and gives a list of the best novels with room to add more if what your idea of the best novel is not on the list already so that other readers can vote on your selection.Absurdist fiction novels let the reader judge the characters and these novels do not have a set moral of the story, which is left up to the reader's interpretation, as well. There usually is not a set plot or theme is these type of novels and are used to study human behavior than understand it. Absurd fiction novels use the techniques of satire, dark humor and incongruity to make them the best in their genre. Novels include The Stranger by Albert Camus, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut and many more absurd fiction picks.

The Little Prince

The most life changing books, ranked by the wisdom of the crowd of hundreds of people. If you are looking for books that will change your life, these have the themes, characters and story-arcs to do it. From the courage and determination of Frodo as he ventures into Mordor to the conviction of Atticus as he defends a man a whole town has already condemned, there are countless books to add to your list of books to read to change your life. From teens to adults, anyone can add their picks to this list of life changing novels, making it an accurate, real-time ranking of the best life changing books, as picked by the people who love them. Ask yourself the question "what are the most life-changing books?" and "which books have affected my life the most" and then vote for the books that you read cover to cover (maybe even multiple times), the novels that changed the way you see the world, and the stories you still can't stop thinking about. Share your favorites and see how your taste stacks up against other readers.

Books

When you're twenty-something, you're constantly changing, growing, and learning. You're setting a foundation for your life, and books are a great way to expand your horizons and learn even more about the world. The books on this list are great ways to experience different perspectives and learn about other cultures and history. These are books that will make you think. These are 20 good books that will open your mind and change you during your 20s. There's something for everyone on this list, but first and foremost, an honorable mention goes to The Complete Works of Shakespeare&nbsp;– which didn't make the list because you all should be smart enough to read that without being told. I can't do everything for you guys! So, take a look at the 20 best books you should read in your twenties, then start reading! Time's a wastin'!

In case you need a new read, here&#39;s a&nbsp;list of the best selling books of all time, including fiction and nonfiction best sellers. What are the best selling books of all time? Since religious and political books, such as The Holy Bible, are often given away for free, they have not been included on this list. These top selling books of all time span multiple centuries, covering many genres (like <a href="https://commaful.com/tags/horror/" target="_blank">horror</a> and <a href="https://commaful.com/tags/romantic/" target="_blank">romance</a>), writers, and original languages. And if you think Harry Potter or Twilight top this list, think again, they&#39;re not even close. What books sell the most? That said, the most popular books are indeed novels, with the most popular published volumes going through multiple editions and reprints. What are the best selling books in history? A few nonfiction texts can also be found, but they are few and far between. If one enjoys reading, these are the best sellers of all bestsellers, as well as the answer to the question &quot;what are the best selling books of all time?&quot;

If you like this best seller book list, be sure to check out Ranker&#39;s other lists like the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/100-famous-novels-with-catchy-first-lines/info-lists">100 Books with the Catchiest First Lines</a>.

The Trial

This is a list about the greatest experimental literature; it answers the question, “What are the top experimental novels of all time?” Experimental literature is usually fiction or poetry that emphasizes innovations, especially in technique. The easiest way to understand it is by comparing traditional artwork: an artist is typically trained to follow a certain set of rules, such as color blending, staying within certain lines and using proper balance within details. Traditional literary works of art usually follow similar guidelines that pertain to their use of structure. Within the world of art, impressionistic pieces and abstract artwork defied the most common rules of painting, causing them to stand out in unusual ways. It was the same within the literary arena; authors such as Earnest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein defied these basic styles on purpose to see what people’s responses would be. Such works of art are referred to as “experimental” since the outcome is undetermined at the time. Perhaps the most famous experimental story is “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. This experimental book defied common rules of language and grammar by the author’s liberal use of profanity and portrayal of sexuality. The novel was a tremendous success, selling more than 65 million copies worldwide. 

Miguel de Cervantes

List of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-writers-of-all-time/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best authors of all time</a> as voted on by normal, book-loving people. For this list, we will consider writers who are mainly novelists.&nbsp;Many of the people included on this list are famous authors who wrote popular books; others may not be as well-known, but are masters of their craft.&nbsp; The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-living-writers/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular authors</a> are ones that have somehow enriched our lives. J.D. Salinger gave us Holden Caulfield and the term &quot;phony,&quot; James Joyce introduced us to stream-of-consciousness prose and Carson McCullers immortalized the misfits and outcasts of the U.S. South in the first half of the 20th century.The best writers are ones that changed the literary landscape in some way, introduced an iconic character, experimented with form and style and captured our imagination with their language.While lists of &quot;best novelists&quot; are often attempted by individuals, they can be easily disputed because they often amount to no more than one person's opinion. Since this Ranker list is crowdsourced and open to voting, it benefits from the collective wisdom of many rather than the whims of a few.&nbsp;Feel free to vote on this list of top authors, add some that may have been left off, or ReRank this list entirely.&nbsp;

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

List of some of the best American novels from classic writers, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, to more modern names, like Stephen King, with room for the list to grow. There is an option to add your favorite American novels to the list if yours is not already on there. The list asks the question, &quot;What is the best American novel?&quot; with novels from William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Philip Roth and Nathaniel Hawthorne, plus many more that have written great American novels since then. More modern American novels are included, such as The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Stand by Stephen King, which may be more familiar. American novels can represent the spirit of the age in the United States during the time it was written or the time it was set in. The American novel is written by those who are knowledgeable about the state, culture and even the perspective of those during that time. Some of these best American novels may have also been on the reading curriculum in school, like Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Be sure to vote not just on your favorite authors, but on your favorite novel of all time, as some authors may be listed twice for other novels that are considered the best.

Horror

Misery

What are the scariest novels of all time? Not surprisingly, a lot of the books listed here are from the horror genre, but there are other, just as terrifying books to read as well. Can anyone argue that Cormac McCarthy's The Road wasn't terrifying in its own way? Exactly. We're all scared by different things and subjects, and our reading choices reflect this quite often. So vote for the scariest books you've ever read (or really want to read) and vote down any you didn't like. And please, definitely add any scary novels that might be missing from the list!Some of the scariest novels of all time involve monsters. After all, readers have been obsessed with the supernatural for hundreds of years. There is a reason that Bram Stoker's Dracula consistently winds up at or near the top of lists like this one. Ghosts also make for frightening novels: Hell House, anyone? If you haven't read it, make sure you do so - but not at night. And not if you are alone. Ever. It is without a doubt deserving of a place among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-horror-books-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest horror books of all time.</a>Not surprisingly, a lot of the books on this list of scary novels were made into <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-horror-films-ever-made" target="_blank">excellent horror movies</a>. Some also have heavy elements of science fiction - I Am Legend is a great example, though nearly all of Richard Matheson's novels and stories would certainly qualify for a place on this list. Some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-science-fiction-authors-v1" target="_blank">best science fiction authors</a> wrote some seriously creepy stuff.And yes, no list of anything involving the scariest books of all time would be complete without a hefty dose of Stephen King. King is a master. In doubt? Check out this list of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-of-stephen-king" target="_blank">greatest all-time Stephen King works</a>. It's impressive.

Fantasy

A votable list of the all-time best fantasy book series, ranked by readers of fantasy fiction. Of fantasy books, readers can expect an intricately-created <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-of-the-fantasy-worlds">imaginary world</a> with its own culture, history and rules of engagement.&nbsp;The setting of most popular fantasy book series is internally consistent or self-coherent, where inspiration from mythology or folklore remains a consistent theme. 
 
Most <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-fantasy-authors">authors of the top fantasy books</a> use magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. In the structure of a good fantasy book, the fantastical element of the story can be anywhere: the story may occur entirely in a fantasy world (like J.R.R. Tolkien&#39;s Lord of the Rings series) or fantastic elements like magic can exist alongside an apparently real world setting (as in the seven Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling). Fantasy follows rules of its own making, but the great fantasy books are consistent with the rules that they lay out for themselves. In the best fantasy books, the reader suspends disbelief and loses himself in the imaginary world of the book.

Some of the fantasy book series included in this list are of the grand epic fantasy genre, some are more character-driven fantasy or coming of age tales, some may be simply fantasy that&#39;s part of a series. Vote up your favorites to determine the best fantasy series of all time. And if we missed any epic tales you love, be sure to add them to this list of the best fantasy book series. Then, check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-fantasy-books-2019/ranker-books" target="_blank">best new fantasy books</a> - many the start of series that may soon be new favorites.

High School

Romeo and Juliet

The start of each school year brings a new round of required reading for students. Not every book speaks to everyone, but at one point over the course of your schooling, the stars align and you&#39;re assigned great books that were required reading. We all had weeks in middle school or high school when we primarily relied on Cliff&rsquo;s Notes to prep us for our reading quizzes, but every once in a while you would actually have time to read the assigned books and maybe you found yourself completely engrossed.

For instance, you may have grumbled about cracking open your copy of The Great Gatsby, but after those first few chapters, you found yourself captivated by the destructive decadence of the era and the mystery surrounding Jay Gatsby and his past.

You knew To Kill a Mockingbird was an important book, but until you read it, you never realized how culturally relevant it was - not until you read words like, &ldquo;You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.&rdquo;

While The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird might not be a the top of your list of required reading books you enjoyed, one of the many books listed below might.

You can also find movies based on these book on this list of the best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-based-on-8th-grade-books/ranker-film" target="_blank">8th-grade book adaptations</a>.

The Reivers (1963)

Next on your reading list: something from this list of the best Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. These are essentially the greatest books of fiction in the history of literature. Are you looking to buy a collection of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-books-of-all-time-_fiction_?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best novels of all time</a>? According to the most prestigious prize out there, this list contains every single book deserving of such a title. Men and women can read these Pulitzer Prize winners to bed every night. Some of them are even appropriate for young adults or even younger, such as Harper Lee's famed To Kill A Mockingbird.Speaking of Mockingbird, you will notice something interesting as you peruse this list of the best Pulitzer Prize-winning novels of all time. So many of these winners for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction have been turned, or are currently being turned into, major motion pictures. It is clear that movie producers in Hollywood know when there is a good story that could garner critical claim with an adapted screenplay.This list of all novels that won the Pulitzer Prize includes beloved classes like The Color Purple, The Old Man and the Sea, and Lonesome Dove. Other newer titles on the list, like Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier &amp; Clay and Jerry Eugenides's Middlesex are prime examples of modern literature that you should add to your book collection - if you haven't already. This Pulitzer Prize fiction list is guaranteed to keep your turning pages all day long.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

There&rsquo;s nothing that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, hooked on a book, quite like a great suspense novel does. The suspense genre is one of the most popular categories in the world of books. What are the best suspense novels? Vote up the best books below and see where they rank. 
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The novels on this list have been voted on and ranked by the community. These are not only some of the greatest literary works of all time, but many of these great suspense novels have been turned into movies as well.&nbsp; 
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This list features the best suspense novels of all time including, Tell No One, The Bourne Identity, The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/silence-of-the-lambs-is-hilarious/erin-mccann?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Silence of the Lambs</a>, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Kiss the Girls, The Da Vinci Code, And Then There Were None, The Shining, The Bone Collector, A Time to Kill, and The Andromeda Strain. Vote up the best, most suspenseful novels below or add one you love that isn&#39;t already on the list. Then, see <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-suspense-audiobooks/ranker-books" target="_blank">what suspense novels are available as audiobooks</a>.

Never Let Me Go

Dystopias have become a fascinating genre over the last century as disillusioned writers witnessed and reacted against imperialism, two world wars, including the Nazi and Stalin regime and the treacherous Holocaust. These writers played with the darkest sides of humanity, unearthed by war and technology and used satiric irony to present a destructive vision of the future. Dystopian novels are characterized by a lack of individual freedom, heroes that know something is wrong and contain many WTF moments that make you rethink the current status quo and become aware of the constructed nature of our values and standards.This dystopian novel list is nowhere near a complete list of all dystopian books, but on it are some of the greatest dystopian works of literature of all time (though most is from the 20th and 21st centuries). If you&#39;re a fan of H.G. Wells or George Orwell but are looking for more recent content, the best dystopian books list is the place to be.

If you want dystopia without the reading, check out the greatest dystopian and near-future movies or get some synopses on the 13 <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-best-dystopian-novels/ivana-wynn?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best dystopian novels</a>.

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List of the best John Muir books, ranked by voracious readers in the Ranker community. With commercial success and critical acclaim, there's no doubt that John Muir is one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-living-writers/ranker-books?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular authors</a> of the last 100 years. Muir was one of the most important naturalist authors of his era and is credited with helping to establish America's National Park system. If you're a huge fan of his work, then vote on your favorite bookls below and make your opinion count. This poll is also a great resource for new fans of John Muir who want to know which books they should start reading first. With memorable characters and excellent storytelling, there's no reason why you shouldn't check out his work if you're a big reader.The Mountains of California and Our National Parks are a great starting point for your to rank your favorites on this list What are John Muir's best books? Vote on this list and help us definitively answer that question.

Best John Muir Books | List of Popular John Muir Books, Ranked

The Best John Muir Books

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Age 30 and over

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Women

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AMAZON

Thousand-mile Walk to the Gulf

Alaska

America's Wilderness

The Yosemite

Steep Trails

The story of my boyhood and youth

Our National Parks

The cruise of the Corwin

My first summer in the Sierra

Stickeen

The Mountains of California

List of the best John Muir books, ranked by voracious readers in the Ranker community. With commercial success and critical acclaim, there's no doubt that ...