This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. The Adventures of Augie March

   

   "The Adventures of Augie March" is a novel set in Chicago during the Great Depression. The story follows the life of Augie March, a poor but spirited boy growing up in a broken home, as he navigates his way through life. The narrative explores his various jobs, relationships, and adventures, as he constantly seeks his identity and place in the world. His journey is marked by a series of encounters with different people and experiences, each shaping him in unique ways.

   The 280th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. Herzog

   

   The novel centers around Moses Herzog, a middle-aged, intelligent yet distressed man who is going through a mid-life crisis. After his second marriage fails, he falls into a state of emotional turmoil and begins writing letters to friends, family, and even famous figures, expressing his philosophical thoughts and personal feelings. His journey of self-discovery and understanding forms the crux of the story. It's a profound exploration of a man's struggle with the complexities of life and his quest for meaning.

   The 298th Greatest Book of All Time

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3. 3. Humboldt's Gift

   

   This novel explores the friendship between a successful writer and his mentor, a once-celebrated poet now living in poverty and mental instability. As the protagonist navigates his own existential crisis amidst a life of material success, he reflects on the ideals of his mentor and the nature of art and personal ambition. The narrative grapples with themes of materialism, the purpose of art, and the spiritual emptiness of modern life.

   The 666th Greatest Book of All Time

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4. 4. Henderson The Rain King

   

   "Henderson The Rain King" is a novel about a wealthy, middle-aged American named Eugene Henderson who, unsatisfied with his life, travels to Africa in search of a deeper meaning. He becomes integrated into a tribe and is mistakenly thought to be the Rain King, a figure of great power and respect. Throughout the novel, Henderson grapples with his own personal growth, the meaning of life, and the clash of different cultures.

   The 753rd Greatest Book of All Time

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5. 5. Dangling Man

   

   Set in Chicago during World War II, the novel follows the life of a young man waiting to be drafted into the army. As he waits, he grapples with his feelings of isolation, frustration, and anxiety, which are exacerbated by his joblessness and the uncertainty of his future. His diary entries reveal his philosophical reflections on life, his struggles in his relationships, and his increasing mental instability as he feels more and more trapped by his circumstances.

   The 2555th Greatest Book of All Time

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6. 6. Seize The Day

   

   The novel follows a single day in the life of a failed middle-aged man named Tommy Wilhelm who is estranged from his wife and children, and at odds with his father. As he grapples with his personal and financial failures, he seeks solace and a way out of his troubles through the advice of a dubious mentor, Dr. Tamkin. Throughout the day, Wilhelm experiences a series of humiliations and reflections on his life, leading to a moment of epiphany during a stranger's funeral. The story is a deep exploration of the human condition, the search for meaning, and the struggle for redemption in the face of despair.

   The 2732nd Greatest Book of All Time

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7. 7. More Die Of Heartbreak

   

   This novel delves into the complex relationship between an uncle, a renowned botanist, and his nephew, a reflective and somewhat aimless academic. Through their intertwined lives, the narrative explores themes of love, intellectualism, and the pursuit of happiness in a modern world that often seems at odds with the desires of the heart. The uncle's disastrous romantic entanglements and the nephew's philosophical musings on civilization and its discontents serve as a backdrop to a story that examines the human condition, the quest for meaningful connections, and the irony that, despite advances in society, individuals still suffer from emotional turmoil and dissatisfaction.

   The 4369th Greatest Book of All Time

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8. 8. Ravelstein

   

   The novel explores the life of a charismatic and larger-than-life intellectual, who is a professor at a prestigious university. Through the eyes of his close friend and confidant, the story delves into themes of friendship, mortality, and the pursuit of truth and meaning. The protagonist's extravagant lifestyle and profound insights into culture and politics are juxtaposed with his vulnerability and eventual decline, offering a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the legacy one leaves behind.

   The 6686th Greatest Book of All Time

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9. 9. The Dean's December

   

   Set against the backdrop of a cold, bleak winter, the narrative follows a university dean who travels to Eastern Europe with his wife to visit her dying mother. As he navigates the cultural and political tensions of a post-Communist society, he is forced to confront his own existential dilemmas and the moral decay he perceives in his homeland. Through introspective reflections and encounters with diverse characters, the story delves into themes of alienation, the search for meaning, and the complexities of human relationships, ultimately painting a vivid portrait of a man grappling with the dissonance between his ideals and the realities of the world around him.

   The 8970th Greatest Book of All Time

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10. 10. Him With His Foot In His Mouth And Other Stories

    

    This collection of stories delves into the lives of various protagonists, each grappling with their personal dilemmas and the absurdities of human relationships. Through a blend of humor and pathos, the narratives explore themes of redemption, the complexities of social and familial ties, and the struggle to find meaning in contemporary life. The titular story features a retired professor who seeks forgiveness from a former colleague to whom he had spoken harshly, highlighting the theme of reconciliation and the impact of words left unchecked. Each story in the collection offers a rich, character-driven examination of life's philosophical and existential quandaries.

    The 11660th Greatest Book of All Time

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11. 11. The Victim

    

    The novel centers on Asa Leventhal, a magazine editor in New York City, who encounters an old acquaintance, Kirby Allbee, who blames him for his misfortunes. As Allbee's accusations and demands intensify, Leventhal becomes increasingly entangled in a psychological struggle, questioning his own sense of guilt and responsibility. The story delves into themes of identity, morality, and the complexities of human relationships, exploring how external pressures and internal conflicts shape one's actions and self-perception.

    The 12219th Greatest Book of All Time

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12. 12. Mr. Sammler's Planet

    

    "Mr. Sammler's Planet" is a novel that centers around Artur Sammler, a Holocaust survivor living in New York City. Sammler, an intellectual, attempts to reconcile his experiences during the war with the realities of 1960s America, which he views as a society consumed by materialism and lacking in moral clarity. The novel explores themes of survival, the human condition, and the struggle to maintain dignity and integrity in a world that often seems devoid of both.

    The 13542nd Greatest Book of All Time

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13. 13. Ne Propusti Dan

    

    The narrative unfolds around a day in the life of a middle-aged man grappling with the complexities of modern existence. As he navigates through the bustling city, he reflects on his past choices, relationships, and the relentless passage of time. The story delves into themes of existential angst, the search for meaning, and the fleeting nature of human connections, all while painting a vivid picture of urban life and the internal struggles that accompany it.

14. 14. The Bellarosa Connection

    

    A self-made memory expert from New Jersey recounts how a Jewish refugee he befriended was saved from the Nazis by a powerful Broadway showman, then spent years trying to offer thanks, only to be repeatedly rebuffed. Drawn into their long aftermath—from postwar America to later meetings in Florida and Israel—he grapples with the uneasy ethics of rescue, celebrity, and gratitude, and the corrosive effects of pride, humiliation, and forgetting on both the saved and the bystanders.
15. 15. Novels 1944–1953

    

    A compact collection of early novels that trace articulate, restless protagonists wrestling with identity, alienation, and moral ambiguity in mid-20th-century America. Moving from a claustrophobic psychological stasis through a tense moral drama to a wide-ranging picaresque bildungsroman, the works blend sharp social observation, dark humor, and lyrical prose to probe selfhood, community, and the search for meaning amid postwar change.

16. 16. Novels 1970–1982

    

    A curated set of novels from 1970–1982 follows varied protagonists—a Holocaust survivor in New York, a once-celebrated writer wrestling with artistic integrity and loss, and a university dean confronting political and moral collapse abroad—as they confront aging, exile, cultural dislocation, and the tensions between private conscience and public life. Through sharp, ironic prose and philosophical reflection, the works probe American society, artistic ambition, memory, and the possibility of spiritual renewal amid social fragmentation.

17. 17. Leaving The Yellow House

    A Memoir

    

    A posthumous collection of short fiction that showcases the evolution of a major literary voice through tales of displacement, ambition, and intimate moral conflict. The stories—ranging from early sketches to later, polished pieces—blend autobiographical detail, sharp social observation, and comic yet poignant character studies, following men and women negotiating exile, aging, creative restlessness, and fraught relationships. Across varied settings and tones, the work probes identity, artistic striving, and the compromises of modern life with incisive language and psychological acuity.