PEOPLE Picks the Best Books From the 1980s
This is one of the 743 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Set against the backdrop of the Prague Spring period of Czechoslovak history, the novel explores the philosophical concept of Nietzsche's eternal return through the intertwined lives of four characters: a womanizing surgeon, his intellectual wife, his naïve mistress, and her stoic lover. The narrative delves into their personal struggles with lightness and heaviness, freedom and fate, love and betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships, all while offering a profound meditation on the nature of existence and the paradoxes of life.
The 101st Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
This novel explores the complex relationships between four Chinese-American mothers and their American-born daughters. The narrative switches between the perspectives of the eight women, revealing their pasts, their struggles with cultural identity, and the misunderstandings that have grown between the generations. The mothers, who all experienced hardship in their native China, want their daughters to have better lives and thus push them to excel in America. The daughters, in turn, struggle to reconcile their American surroundings with their Chinese heritage.
The 737th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
White Noise by Don DeLillo
The novel is a postmodern exploration of death and consumerism in the United States. It follows a year in the life of Jack Gladney, a professor who has made his name by pioneering the field of Hitler Studies at a small liberal arts college in Middle America. Jack and his fourth wife, Babette, are afraid of death and are obsessed with finding a cure for their fear. Their lives are disrupted by an airborne toxic event, which forces them to confront their mortality and the toxic effects of modern life.
The 362nd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
The book is a witty and autobiographical novel that follows the life of Rachel Samstat, a pregnant food writer living in Washington D.C., who discovers her husband is having an affair with another woman. As her marriage crumbles, Rachel must navigate the complexities of love, betrayal, and heartache, all while dealing with her own impending motherhood. Through a blend of humor and pathos, the protagonist uses her sharp wit and passion for cooking to cope with her personal turmoil, sharing recipes and reflections along the way, ultimately finding strength and self-discovery amidst the chaos of her dissolving relationship.
The 4620th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Maus by Art Spiegelman
A Survivor's Tale
This graphic novel tells the story of a Holocaust survivor, as narrated by his son. The unique use of animals to represent different nationalities and ethnic groups adds a distinctive layer to the narrative. The protagonist's father recounts his experiences as a Polish Jew during World War II, offering a poignant depiction of the horrors of the Holocaust. The narrative also explores the complex father-son relationship, revealing the impact of such traumatic historical events on subsequent generations.
The 1102nd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in a dystopian future, this novel presents a society where women are stripped of their rights and are classified into various roles based on their fertility and societal status. The protagonist is a handmaid, a class of women used solely for their reproductive capabilities by the ruling class. The story is a chilling exploration of the extreme end of misogyny, where women are reduced to their biological functions, and a critique of religious fundamentalism.
The 132nd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
This novel follows the life of a successful Wall Street bond trader who, after a wrong turn in the Bronx, finds his life spiraling out of control. After a hit-and-run accident in a predominantly black neighborhood, he becomes the target of a political witch hunt, exacerbating racial tensions in the city. As the protagonist's world unravels, the story provides a satirical commentary on 1980s New York City, exploring themes of racism, classism, politics, and greed.
The 309th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Set in the early 20th century, the novel is an epistolary tale of a young African-American woman named Celie, living in the South. She faces constant abuse and hardship, first from her father and then from her husband. The story unfolds through her letters written to God and her sister Nettie, revealing her emotional journey from oppression to self-discovery and independence, aided by her relationships with strong women around her. The narrative explores themes of racism, sexism, domestic violence, and the power of sisterhood and love.
The 159th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Beloved by Toni Morrison
This novel tells the story of a former African-American slave woman who, after escaping to Ohio, is haunted by the ghost of her deceased daughter. The protagonist is forced to confront her repressed memories and the horrific realities of her past, including the desperate act she committed to protect her children from a life of slavery. The narrative is a poignant exploration of the physical, emotional, and psychological scars inflicted by the institution of slavery, and the struggle for identity and self-acceptance in its aftermath.
The 49th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
The book tells the story of two retired Texas Rangers who embark on a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Montana in the 1870s. The narrative focuses on the duo's adventures and the characters they meet along the way, including a variety of outlaws, Indians, and settlers. This epic tale of the Old West explores themes of friendship, unrequited love, and the harsh realities of frontier life.
The 631st Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
In this gripping psychological thriller, a young FBI trainee is enlisted to interview an incarcerated and manipulative cannibalistic serial killer to gain insight into the mind of another active serial murderer. The trainee must navigate a complex game of cat and mouse, using her own wits and the killer's insights to understand and anticipate the criminal's moves before he strikes again. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she confronts not only the horrors of the criminal mind but also the darkness within her own past, leading to a tense and chilling confrontation.
The 578th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The book follows the story of Matilda, an exceptionally intelligent young girl who is neglected and mistreated by her parents. She finds solace and companionship in the local library, where she develops a love of books and a remarkable talent for telekinesis. Matilda eventually uses these abilities to defend her friends from their tyrannical headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, and help her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey, reclaim her life.
The 1343rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel is a poignant tale of an English butler, Stevens, who reflects on his life and career during a road trip through the English countryside. As he delves into his past, he reveals his unquestioning loyalty to his former employer, Lord Darlington, and his unexpressed love for the housekeeper, Miss Kenton. The narrative explores themes of dignity, duty, and regret, as Stevens comes to terms with his unquestioning devotion to his employer and the missed opportunities in his personal life.
The 204th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
This novel follows the story of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza, who fall passionately in love in their youth. However, Fermina eventually marries a wealthy doctor, leaving Florentino heartbroken. Despite this, Florentino remains devoted to Fermina for over fifty years, patiently waiting for her husband's death to have another chance at her love. The story is set against the backdrop of a cholera epidemic, serving as a metaphor for the transformative power of love and the destructive power of obsession.
The 168th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #1
In this delightful tale, a spirited young girl, Kristy, comes up with a brilliant plan to start a babysitting club with her friends to earn some extra money and provide a reliable service for parents in their neighborhood. As the club begins to take shape, the girls navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, friendship, and growing up, all while learning valuable lessons about teamwork, responsibility, and the importance of communication. With a blend of humor and heart, this story captures the essence of childhood adventures and the bonds that form when friends come together to achieve a common goal.
The 4983rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon
PEOPLE Magazine, 15 Books
from their website:
In celebration of our 50th year, we're looking back at some of our favorite reads over the decades.
No matter how old you are, we've all got those books that have made a lasting impression on us. Whether it's the book your mom read to you at night when you were a kid, one a beloved English teacher introduced you to or one that opened your mind and heart at an important point, some books really stand the test of time.
In celebration of 50 years of PEOPLE, we polled our staff about the books from decades past that made a difference in their lives or the culture at large. Here are our picks from the 1980s.
This list was originally published in 2024 and was added to this site over 1 year ago.
This list has a weight of 1%. 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: unknown count
- List: only covers 10 years
- List: only covers mostly "Western Canon" books
- Voters: are mostly from a single country/location
- Voters: Unknown Names
If you think this is incorrect please contact us.
- Voter Count Unknown:
- Yes
- Voter Names Unknown:
- Yes
- High Quality Source:
- No
- Location Specific:
- No
- Category Specific:
- No