101 Significant Books

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

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  • The Complete Plays Of Eugene O'neill by Eugene O'Neill

    This collection encompasses the full range of Eugene O'Neill's dramatic works, showcasing his profound exploration of human emotions and societal issues. Through a diverse array of plays, O'Neill delves into themes such as family dynamics, personal despair, and the pursuit of identity, often set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America. His characters grapple with existential dilemmas and the complexities of their inner lives, reflecting O'Neill's innovative use of expressionistic techniques and deep psychological insight. The compilation highlights his evolution as a playwright, from his early one-act plays to his later, more complex masterpieces, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in American theater.

    The 7191st Greatest Book of All Time
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  • In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

    In Search of Lost Time is a monumental seven-volume novel about memory, desire, society, art, and the passage of time. Told through the narrator’s reflections on childhood, love, jealousy, social life, and artistic awakening, the work moves through France from the late nineteenth century into the early twentieth century, including the world of bourgeois families, aristocratic salons, the Dreyfus Affair, and World War I. It is especially famous for its treatment of involuntary memory, most notably the madeleine episode, and for its searching exploration of how time reshapes identity, love, and experience.

    The 2nd Greatest Book of All Time
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  • Selected Plays of George Bernard Shaw by George Bernard Shaw

    With an Introduction by A. C. Ward

    This collection features selected plays by a renowned playwright, showcasing his wit, social criticism, and talent for character development. The plays touch on a wide range of themes, including class struggles, the complexities of love, the absurdity of war, and the pursuit of individual freedom. The author's sharp dialogue and satirical approach make these plays both entertaining and thought-provoking, reflecting his progressive views and his belief in the potential for societal change.

    The 2628th Greatest Book of All Time
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  • To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

    This novel is a pioneering work of modernist literature that explores the Ramsay family's experiences at their summer home on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The narrative is divided into three sections, focusing on a day in the family's life, a description of the house during their absence, and their return after ten years. The book is known for its stream of consciousness narrative technique and its exploration of topics such as the passage of time, the nature of art, and the female experience.

    The 27th Greatest Book of All Time
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  • Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats by William Butler Yeats

    This book is a comprehensive collection of poems by a renowned Irish poet. The collection spans his entire career, showcasing his evolution as a poet, from romantic and aesthetic works to more complex, mature pieces reflecting his interest in spirituality and Irish mythology. The book includes his most famous works, as well as lesser-known pieces, providing a thorough overview of his contribution to 20th century literature.

    The 268th Greatest Book of All Time
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About this list

Good Reading: A Guide for Serious Readers, 105 Books

Good Reading first appeared as a pamphlet in 1932 and ended its run in 1989 with a 23rd edition behemoth of some 465 pages with thousands of books selected by educators and experts in their fields. Its purpose was always "to lead an increasing number of people to savor the great or significant books, both those that strive to light the dark places in our understanding of our complex world and our equally complex selves, and those that aim simply to delight."
A constant through all these different editions was a list of around 100 or so "significant books that many
people have found rewarding to know", revised several times. This list is from the last 23rd edition of Good Reading: A Guide for Serious Readers.
Note: List consists of 105 books

Who Voted?
Committee on College Reading of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Contemporary reviews describe it as “a co-operative effort of 35 members of the Committee on College Reading.”

This list was originally published in 1989 and was added to this site over 1 year 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: criteria is not just "best/favorite"
  • List: only covers mostly "Western Canon" books
  • Voters: Unknown Names

If you think this is incorrect please contact us.

List Information

Number of Voters:
35
Voter Count Unknown:
No
Voter Names Unknown:
Yes
High Quality Source:
No
Location Specific:
No
Category Specific:
No