Have You Read 100 Great Books?

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

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  • Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells

    An Experiment in Autobiography
    Cover of 'Tono Bungay' by H. G. Wells

    This novel is a satirical narrative that delves into the life of George Ponderevo, who is swept into the world of late Victorian commerce and invention through his uncle's creation of a questionable medicine, Tono-Bungay. The story, narrated by George himself, explores themes of ambition, social climbing, and the hollow nature of financial success. As George rises to wealth through the marketing of this essentially worthless tonic, the novel critiques the capitalist society that enables such dubious enterprises to flourish. Through its exploration of personal and societal moral dilemmas, the narrative presents a vivid depiction of the era's social stratifications and the illusions of grandeur that often accompany the pursuit of wealth.

    The 1483rd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon

  • Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

    A Collection of Poems
    Cover of 'Leaves of Grass' by Walt Whitman

    "Leaves of Grass" is a collection of poetry that celebrates the human form and condition, while also exploring themes of democracy, nature, love, and friendship. The book, known for its departure from traditional poetic form, features a free verse style and the use of everyday language. The poet presents himself as both an individual and a universal figure, representing the collective American experience and identity. The collection is also notable for its controversial content at the time of its publication, including candid depictions of sexuality.

    The 77th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
About this list

The Jasper Lee Company, 102 Books

The book Have You Read 100 Great Books? by The Jasper Lee Company, particularly the revised and expanded 1950 edition, is a curated collection of numerous book lists compiled by various authorities on literature. The primary purpose of the book was to provide readers with a guide to some of the greatest books, particularly those that are enjoyable and stimulating for the general public.

The process of creating the final list involved several steps:

Collection of Lists: The Jasper Lee Company gathered numerous lists of great books from eminent authorities, including public libraries, scholars, and notable literary figures. These lists were varied, coming from different sources, including libraries, academic institutions, and individual authors.

Master List: From these collected lists, the company created a "master" list of 1,500 works, eliminating any duplications.

Final List of 100: From this master list of 1,500 books, they selected a final list of 100 great books that they deemed most enjoyable and accessible for the average reader. This final selection represents a consensus of mid-20th-century opinion on what constituted great literature.

The book also includes detailed information about the sources of these lists, highlighting how different libraries and authorities contributed to the selection process. The final list of 100 books, though derived from the broader collection of 1,000 to 1,500 works, represents the editorial judgment of those involved in the publication of the book. The selection process was not strictly objective but was influenced by the preferences and opinions of the editors and contributors at the time. The book is noted for its broad approach to curating literature, reflecting the tastes and literary standards of the mid-20th century.

Who voted:
Since this aggregates 26 different lists, I am going to assume at least 26 people helped make this list

This list was originally published in 1950 and was added to this site almost 2 years ago.

How Good is this List?

This list has a weight of 45%. 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:

  • List: Covers aggregated lists that might already be included on the site
  • List: only covers mostly "Western Canon" books
  • Voters: are mostly from a single country/location

If you think this is incorrect please contact us.

List Information

Number of Voters:
26
Voter Count Unknown:
No
Voter Names Unknown:
No
High Quality Source:
No
Location Specific:
No
Category Specific:
No