The Odyssey by Homer
This epic poem follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his journey home after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters many obstacles including mythical creatures, divine beings, and natural disasters. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus fend off suitors vying for Penelope's hand in marriage, believing Odysseus to be dead. The story concludes with Odysseus's return, his slaughter of the suitors, and his reunion with his family.
The 28th 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.
Total Points: 4256
Since this book was first published in -740, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 4256.0.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
- score: 160 -- The 25 Favorite Books of 100 Francophone Writers (Weight: 138)
- score: 157 -- For The Love of Books (Weight: 150)
- score: 155 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Weight: 150)
- score: 144 -- The 100 Best Books of World Literature (Weight: 138)
- score: 143 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles (Weight: 138)
- score: 142 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (Weight: 138)
- score: 138 -- Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) (Weight: 138)
- score: 129 -- Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale (Weight: 126)
- score: 126 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (Weight: 126)
- score: 114 -- 50 Greatest Books of All Time (Weight: 114)
- score: 114 -- The Great Books Reader (Weight: 114)
- score: 111 -- Six Professors from "Esteemed" Universities Favorite Books (Weight: 102)
- score: 108 -- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher (Weight: 108)
- score: 104 -- The 16 Greatest Books of All Time (Weight: 99)
- score: 102 -- The Bigger Read List (Weight: 102)
- score: 102 -- What Harvard Professors Think Greatest Books Ever: Top 20 List (1977) (Weight: 102)
- score: 102 -- Best Books Listed for High School Students (Weight: 102)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (Weight: 99)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Select 100 (Weight: 90)
- score: 87 -- 100 Best Books (Weight: 84)
- score: 84 -- 100 Essential Books (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- Masterpieces of World Literature (Weight: 81)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Weight: 78)
- score: 69 -- The Best Classics (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- Great Books (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The 50 Most Influential Books of All Time (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- One Hundred Best Books (1916) (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The Graphic Canon (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- Great Books (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- Books That Changed the World (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library (Weight: 69)
- score: 63 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (Weight: 63)
- score: 57 -- The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written (Weight: 57)
- score: 57 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers (Weight: 57)
- score: 57 -- The Well-Educated Mind (Weight: 57)
- score: 51 -- Great Books of the Western World (Weight: 51)
- score: 45 -- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written (Weight: 45)