The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Set in the summer of 1922, the novel follows the life of a young and mysterious millionaire, his extravagant lifestyle in Long Island, and his obsessive love for a beautiful former debutante. As the story unfolds, the millionaire's dark secrets and the corrupt reality of the American dream during the Jazz Age are revealed. The narrative is a critique of the hedonistic excess and moral decay of the era, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
The greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
List Date Penalty Feature
In our continuous effort to provide the most accurate and fair rankings, we have introduced a new feature: the List Date Penalty. This feature aims to reduce recency bias in our rankings by applying a penalty to books based on their publication dates relative to the list's publication date.
How It Works
- Publication Date Comparison: For each book on a list, we compare its publication date to the publication date of the list.
-
Penalty Application:
- Maximum Penalty: If a book was published in the same year as the list, it receives the maximum penalty, as we believe it hasn't had enough time to stand the test of time.
- Proportional Penalty: Books that were published in the years leading up to the list's publication date receive a proportional penalty based on the number of years they have been available.
- No Penalty: Books that were published more than a specified number of years (max age for penalty) before the list's publication date do not receive any penalty, acknowledging their enduring relevance and influence.
Why This Matters
By mitigating recency bias, the List Date Penalty feature helps to ensure that books that have had more time to be evaluated by readers and critics are given their due weight. This results in a more equitable and historically balanced ranking that truly reflects the greatest books of all time.
Total Points: 7065
This book was first published in 1925
- score: 220 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time - 2007 (Weight: 200)
- score: 211 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 190)
- score: 207 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors - 2008 (Weight: 190)
- score: 201 -- 'The perfect library': the 196 books selected by 133 personalities - 2020 (Weight: 190)
- score: 200 -- For The Love of Books - 1999 (Weight: 200)
- score: 197 -- The Greatest 20th Century Novels - 1997 (Weight: 180)
- score: 185 -- "Our Readable Century", The Best Books of the 20th Century - 2000 (Weight: 180)
- score: 185 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 170 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 170)
- score: 165 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 160)
- score: 161 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 160)
- score: 160 -- The 100 Best Books of World Literature - 2018 (Weight: 160)
- score: 154 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 150)
- score: 154 -- The Guardian's Essential Library - 2002 (Weight: 150)
- score: 154 -- Best Books (Fiction, Prose) : Experts Choose Their Favourites - 1996 (Weight: 150)
- score: 154 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century - 1996 (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- What are the Goncourt Winners’ Favorite Books? - 2023 (Weight: 150)
- score: 145 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century - 1999 (Weight: 140)
- score: 143 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 130)
- score: 134 -- 50 Greatest Books of All Time - 2008 (Weight: 130)
- score: 125 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 120)
- score: 123 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 120)
- score: 123 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 120)
- score: 123 -- The Best Books of All Time, as Chosen by the Good Housekeeping Team - 2020 (Weight: 120)
- score: 123 -- The Great American Novels - 2024 (Weight: 120)
- score: 123 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 120)
- score: 120 -- Books Of The Century - 1999 (Weight: 110)
- score: 120 -- Best Books Listed for High School Students - 1984 (Weight: 120)
- score: 113 -- 100 Life-Changing Books - 2006 (Weight: 110)
- score: 110 -- Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century - 1999 (Weight: 100)
- score: 110 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 110)
- score: 103 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 - 1999 (Weight: 100)
- score: 96 -- The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians - 1999 (Weight: 89)
- score: 91 -- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time - 1993 (Weight: 89)
- score: 89 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 80)
- score: 89 -- Ezra Klein Show's Most Recommended Books - 2024 (Weight: 89)
- score: 88 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 80)
- score: 82 -- 125 Books We Love for Adults - 2020 (Weight: 80)
- score: 82 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 80)
- score: 82 -- Books that Shaped the Century - 2020 (Weight: 80)
- score: 76 -- Taking off the Reading Gloves - 1998 (Weight: 70)
- score: 72 -- The Ultimate Book Bucket List: The 75 Best Books Of All Time - 2023 (Weight: 70)
- score: 72 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century - 2000 (Weight: 70)
- score: 71 -- Big Read (Bulgarian) - 2009 (Weight: 70)
- score: 66 -- Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World - 2015 (Weight: 60)
- score: 66 -- The Celebrity Reading List - 2007 (Weight: 60)
- score: 65 -- Our Users' Top 100 Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 60)
- score: 61 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 60)
- score: 61 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 60)
- score: 60 -- TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) - 2023 (Weight: 60)
- score: 55 -- 100 Must-Read Classics, as Chosen by our Readers - 2022 (Weight: 50)
- score: 53 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 50)
- score: 51 -- The 16 Greatest Books of All Time - 2008 (Weight: 50)
- score: 51 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 50)
- score: 50 -- Top 100 Books, As Chosen By Canadians - 2005 (Weight: 50)
- score: 50 -- The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers - 2019 (Weight: 50)
- score: 43 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 40)
- score: 42 -- 100 Essential Books - 2009 (Weight: 40)
- score: 41 -- Select 100 - 2015 (Weight: 40)
- score: 41 -- Books That Shaped America - 2012 (Weight: 40)
- score: 41 -- 12 Novels Considered the Greatest Book Ever Written - 2016 (Weight: 40)
- score: 33 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 30)
- score: 33 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 30)
- score: 32 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 30)
- score: 31 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2012 (Weight: 30)
- score: 30 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 30)
- score: 21 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 20)
- score: 20 -- Bill Gate's Book Recommendations - 2024 (Weight: 20)
- score: 20 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 20)
- score: 20 -- David Bowie's Top 100 Favorite Books - 2016 (Weight: 20)
- score: 10 -- The Great American Read - 2018 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- One Hundred Best American Novels, 1770 to 1985 - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Great Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Recommended Books - 2017 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 - 2012 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Books You've Always Meant to Read - 2020 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Graphic Canon - 2012 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Great Books of the Western World - 1990 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Well-Educated Mind - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics - 2001 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Dream of the Great American Novel - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Best Classics - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List - 2003 (Weight: 1)