The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics

This is one of the 759 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

View: List Grid Table
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

    Tom Sawyer's Comrade

    The book chronicles the mischievous adventures of a young boy living on the Mississippi River in the mid-19th century. The protagonist, a clever and imaginative boy, often finds himself in trouble for his pranks and daydreams. His escapades range from his romance with a young girl, his search for buried treasure, his attendance at his own funeral, and his witnessing of a murder. The narrative captures the essence of childhood and the societal rules of the time.

    The 243rd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  • Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

    The Story of the Treasure Seekers

    This classic adventure novel tells the story of young Jim Hawkins, who stumbles upon a treasure map and embarks on a perilous journey to find the buried treasure. Along the way, he encounters a host of memorable characters, including the cunning and treacherous Long John Silver. The narrative is filled with action, intrigue, and suspense, as Hawkins and his companions face pirates, mutiny, and other dangers in their quest for the hidden treasure.

    The 115th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  • Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

    What You Will

    Twelfth Night: Or, What You Will is a comedic play that revolves around mistaken identities and love triangles. The story follows the adventures of Viola, who, after being shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a man named Cesario. As Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino and falls in love with him, even as he sends her to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf. However, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, not knowing he is actually Viola in disguise. Further confusion ensues when Viola's presumed-dead brother Sebastian arrives, leading to mistaken identities, hilarious mix-ups, and ultimately, happy resolutions.

    The 5988th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  • Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

    "Waiting for Godot" is a play that explores themes of existentialism, despair, and the human condition through the story of two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait endlessly for a man named Godot, who never arrives. While they wait, they engage in a variety of discussions and encounter three other characters. The play is characterized by its minimalistic setting and lack of a traditional plot, leaving much to interpretation.

    The 101st Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau

    Or, Life in the Woods

    This work is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, inspired by the author's two-year experience of living in a cabin near a woodland pond. Filled with philosophical insights, observations on nature, and declarations of independence from societal expectations, the book is a critique of the complexities of modern civilization and a call to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the natural world. It explores themes such as self-reliance, solitude, and the individual's relationship with nature.

    The 108th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
About this list

Book, 105 Books

Editor W. John Campbell provides explanations and summaries for 100 of the world's best books.

This list was originally published in 2001 and was added to this site over 11 years ago.

How Good is this List?

This list has a weight of 5%. To learn more about what this means please visit the Rankings page.

Here is a list of what is decreasing the importance of this list:

  • Voters: Voter Count
  • List: only covers mostly "Western Canon" books

If you think this is incorrect please contact us.

List Information

Number of Voters:
1
Voter Count Unknown:
No
Voter Names Unknown:
No
High Quality Source:
No
Location Specific:
No
Category Specific:
No