The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
"The Right Stuff" is a non-fiction novel that explores the lives and experiences of the first Project Mercury astronauts selected for the NASA space program in the 1960s. The book delves into the personal and professional lives of these astronauts, highlighting their courage, competitiveness, and the immense pressure they faced. It also provides a detailed account of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.
The 715th 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.
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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: 400
This book was first published in 1979
12 Lists
- score: 115 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 130)
- score: 67 -- 50 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 70)
- score: 58 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Nonfiction - 1999 (Weight: 110)
- score: 55 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 70)
- score: 46 -- 100 All-Time Greatest Popular Science Books - 2013 (Weight: 60)
- score: 20 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 20)
- score: 16 -- The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time - 2017 (Weight: 20)
- score: 15 -- The 50 Best Books of the Century - 2014 (Weight: 20)
- score: 1 -- Great Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 1)