The 50 Most Influential Books of All Time

Open Education Database, 51 Books

The "The 50 Most Influential Books of All Time," as compiled by the Open Education Database, celebrates literature's unparalleled power to inspire, educate, and transform individuals and societies at large. This diverse collection spans various genres, time periods, and subjects, illustrating the profound impact that written words can have on humanity's evolution. These books have been carefully selected for their significant contributions in shaping political and governmental landscapes, setting new benchmarks in literary excellence, challenging and reshaping societal norms, and advancing academic and intellectual discourse in science, religion, and beyond.

Great Books

The Learning Channel, 47 Books

"Great Books is an hour-long documentary and biography program that aired on The Learning Channel. The series was a project co-created by Walter Cronkite and former child actor Jonathan Ward under a deal they had with their company Cronkite-Ward, the The Discovery Channel, and The Learning Channel. Premiering on September 8, 1993, to coincide with International Literacy Day, the series took in-depth looks into some of literature's greatest fictional and nonfictional books and the authors who created them. The series is mostly narrated by Donald Sutherland." - Wikipedia

50 Books to Read Before You Die

Complex, 50 Books

Complex Magazine's selection of 50 must-read books.

Greatest Prose Works of the 20th Century

Vladimir Nabokov, 4 Books

Author Vladimir Nabokov's selection of the Top 4 greatest prose works of the 20th century.

One Hundred Best Books (1916)

John Cowper Powys, 98 Books

John Cowper Powys’ Best 100 Books published more than a century ago, in 1916. John Cowper Powys (8 October 1872 – 17 June 1963) was an English novelist, philosopher, lecturer, critic and poet.

The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time

The Novel 100, 127 Books

The list below is from the book The Novel 100: A Ranking of Greatest Novels All Time (Checkmark Books/Facts On File, Inc.: New York, 2004), written by Daniel S. Burt.

The 100 Greatest Novels

greatbooksguide.com, 104 Books

Critic Ted Gioia's selection of the 100 greatest novels ever written.

The Graphic Canon

Book, 172 Books

The classic canon of Western civilization meets the artists and illustrators who have remade reading in the last years of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century in Russ Kick's magisterial, three-volume, full-color The Graphic Canon, volumes 1, 2, and 3. - Amazon

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List

Thomas C. Foster, 125 Books

English professor Thomas C. Foster, at the end of his book, includes a recommended "reading list".

110 Best Books: The Perfect Library

The Telegraph, 112 Books

From classics and sci-fi to poetry, biographies and books that changed the world… we present the ultimate reading list.

The Best Classics

The Times, 93 Books

The Times selection of the 100 best classic works of literature.

The 50 Best Books of the Century

Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 50 Books

ISI defined "best" as "volumes of extraordinary reflection and creativity in a traditional form, which heartens us with the knowledge that fine writing and clear-mindedness are perennially possible."

All the books are non-fiction.

The first 5 are ranked, the rest are alphabetical.

W. Somerset Maugham’s Ten Greatest Novels of All Time

Great Novelists and Their Novels, 10 Books

Maugham's studies of the lives and masterpieces of ten great novelists are outstanding examples of literary criticism at its finest. Afforded here are some of the formulae of greatness in the genre, as well as the flaws and heresies which enfeeble it. Written by a master of fiction, "Ten Novels and Their Authors" is a unique and invaluable guide.

50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50

nextavenue, 51 Books

Your essential short list of novels, nonfiction and biographies

Got some time on your hands? This list of 50 great books is a good way to raise your literary IQ. It's by no means the "definitive" list, but each of these masterpieces is at least as relevant and powerful today as when it was written. And they're all still terrific reads.

The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950

The Modern Library (Book), 209 Books

The authors have chosen the 200 books since 1950 that they consider to be the best. It includes some familiar names and some surprises. Witty and controversial, their aim is to encourage reading.

The Authors
- Dame Carmen Thérèse Callil, DBE, FRSL was an Australian publisher, writer and critic who spent most of her career in the United Kingdom. She founded Virago Press in 1973 and received the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature in 2017
- Colm Tóibín FRSL is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, critic, playwright and poet. His first novel, The South, was published in 1990. The Blackwater Lightship was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Great Books

Anthony O'Hear, 22 Books

A short list of essential works of the Western Canon, as selected scholar Anthony O'Hear.

Books That Changed the World

Book, 59 Books

Scholar Robert B. Downs selects the "great works that revolutionized our ideas about the universe - and ourselves".

From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books

Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com, 99 Books

100 books that, in the opinion of Bookriot.com editor-in-chief Jeff O'Neal, one should read before deeming themselves "well-read".

50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read

Flavor Wire, 90 Books

Explore the realms of magic and the future with Flavor Wire's "50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Everyone Should Read." This expertly curated list offers a gateway for those new to the genre and a treasure trove for avid fans. Highlighting only the most compelling narratives, the list includes a single work or series per author, focuses on novels with adult appeal, and excludes short stories. It's a diverse collection designed to spark imagination and discussion among readers of all levels. Dive into these essential reads and expand your literary horizons.

50 Best Cult Books

Telegraph, 50 Books

A cult book may be hard to define but one thing is for sure: you know a cult book when you see one. Cult books are somehow, intangibly, different from simple bestsellers - though many of them are that. And people have passionate feelings on both sides: Our critics present a selection of the most notable cult writing from the past two centuries. Some is classic. Some is catastrophic. All of it had the power to inspire

10 of the Best Popular Science Books as Chosen by Authors and Writers

NewScientist , 10 Books

NewScientist has polled various authors and writers about their favorite science books. here's who they polled: George Monbiot, Colin Tudge, Pragya Agarwal, Jonathan Drori, Emily Shuckburgh, Cassandra Coburn, Jojo Mehta, Jim Down, Camilla Pang and Richard Walker

100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women

Feminista!, 96 Books

Feminista! created this list in response to the infamous Modern Library list. Here's their description:

While we’d [Feminista!] agree that the Modern Library’s list features some extraordinary and wonderful works of fiction, we’re a little dismayed by a list of major 20th century English language novels that completely overlooks such writers as Margaret Atwood, Nadine Gordimer, Zora Neale Hurston, Harper Lee, Doris Lessing, Toni Morrison and Sylvia Plath. We could go on, but instead we’ve compiled our own list of 100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women. In order to choose the works on the list, women’s online forums and lists were canvassed. Unlike the Modern Library’s, our list is not ranked. We’ve also restricted it to one work per author, since our aim was to showcase the extraordinary richness and variety of 20th century fiction by women.

The Complete 500: OCLC

OCLC, 497 Books

This list is from OCLC and is a bit different than most lists on this site. OCLC is a global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large. This list is based on how many libraries have a copy of a book on their shelves. Here's their own description:

What makes a novel “great”? At OCLC, we believe literary greatness can be measured by how many libraries have a copy on their shelves.
Yes, libraries offer access to trendy and popular books. But, they don’t keep them on the shelf if they’re not repeatedly requested by their communities over the years. We’ve identified 500 timeless, top novels—those found in thousands of libraries around the world—using WorldCat, the world’s largest database of library materials'.

100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors

Good Housekeeping, 100 Books

Good Housekeeping team created a list of the 100 best books by women authors. Their website description is:

From gripping works of fiction to literary classics, this list of 100 books to read by women was selected by the Good Housekeeping team and shows that women's writing is complex, brilliant, moving, innovative – everything the best writing should be.

100 Best Novels in the World (Published in 1899)

The Daily Telegraph, 101 Books

The Daily Telegraph published an article in 1899 listing the 100 Best Novels. The list was selected by the editor of The Daily Telegraph with the assistance of Sir Edwin Arnold, H. D. Traill, and W. L. Courtney.

These books were also sold to the public, so it was a commercial proposition.

Books That Shaped America

Library of Congress, 99 Books

As part of a multi-year Library of Congress “Celebration of the Book,” the list – initially 88 books, now expanded by the Library to 100 – and its accompanying exhibition at the Library last June 25-Sept. 25 engendered months of public dialogue. Some 165,400 people attended the exhibit and more than 9,000 responded to a survey about “Books That Shaped America” posted by the Library on its National Book Festival website.

The Best Novels You’ve Never Read

NY Mag, 60 Books

Talk to any critic and you’ll hear about a book you must read—often one you were begged to read by some reviewer when it came out, but which quickly slipped off your radar. Such is the plight of critics. Which is why we decided, with the help of the National Book Critics Circle, to ask professional critics (and some other writers) to pick the best under-the-radar book of the past ten years or so.

25 Greatest Science Books of All Time

Discover Magazine, 25 Books

Discover Magazine staff presents the essential reading list for anyone interested in science.

Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories

NPR, 101 Books

NPR's horror novel and story poll transformed 7,000 nominations from its audience into a curated list of 100 must-read horror favorites, designed to cater to a wide array of readers. This initiative, much like NPR's other reader polls, was not intended to create a ranked or exhaustive compilation but rather to highlight a diverse and evocative selection of horror literature. The final list includes a mix of deeply unsettling works, alongside titles that, while not strictly horror, brush against the genre's dark themes or offer commentary on horrific subjects. Noteworthy is the exclusion of any works by the panel of expert judges—Stephen Graham Jones, Ruthanna Emrys, Tananarive Due, and Grady Hendrix—despite nominations, to avoid conflicts of interest. Stephen King, a prolific figure in horror, received a notable mention with over a thousand nominations, leading to a decision to allow authors a spot for both a novel and a short story, if needed, to honor the genre's tradition of classic horror in short form. This list serves as a guide for those looking to explore horror's chilling depths or to find tales that linger long after the page is turned, curated with insights from both the NPR audience and respected genre experts.

Harold Bloom's The Western Canon

The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom, 1501 Books

The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages is a 1994 book about Western literature by the American literary critic Harold Bloom, in which the author defends the concept of the Western canon by discussing 26 writers whom he sees as central to the canon.
The Western Canon includes four appendices listing works that Bloom at the time considered canonical, stretching from the earliest scriptures to Tony Kushner's Angels in America. Bloom later disowned the list, saying that it was written at his editor's insistence and distracted from the book's intention.
In adding this list, I did expand certain titles into multiple books, and combined some, since some are single short stories. This was a difficult list to add since there are so many books.

The 50 Books Everyone Needs to Read, 1963-2013

Flavor Wire, 51 Books

The choices here are influenced by the following: the stipulation that any specific author should not be chosen for more than one year, a general focus on fiction over other genres, and the tastes/whims/glaring prejudices of Flavorwire’s literary editor.

15 Essential Colombian Novels You Should Read

Juan Cardenas and Margarita García Robayo, 18 Books

Recommendations from Juan Cardenas and Margarita García Robayo, on the Eve of Hay Festival Cartagenards, which ran from 1976 to 1995, and the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards, which ran from 1968 to 1995 (known as the Montana Book Awards from 1994 to 1995).

Ahead of the 15th edition this weekend, two of Colombia’s contemporary literary stars—Juan Cardenas and Margarita García Robayo—share 15 essential Colombian novels to enjoy.

Landmarks of World Literature

Cambridge University, 24 Books

This series provides concise and lucid introductions to major works of world literature. It is not confined to any single literary tradition or genre and cumulatively forms a substantial library of textbooks on some of the most important and widely read masterpieces.

Best Science Book Ever

the Royal Institution of Great Britain, 23 Books

On 19 October 2006, the Royal Institution of Great Britain named the 1975 short story collection The Periodic Table, by Primo Levi, the best science book ever. After taking nominations from many scientists in various disciplines, authors, and other notable people (such as the Archbishop of Canterbury), the Royal Institution compiled a shortlist of books for consideration. This shortlist was presented to the public at an event held at Imperial College and the audience voted to determine which book was "the best."

100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction

ThoughtCo, 100 Books

Essays, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, travel writing, history, cultural studies, nature writing—all of these fit under the broad heading of creative nonfiction, and all are represented in this list of 100 major works of creative nonfiction published by British and American writers over the past 90 years or so. They're arranged alphabetically by author last name.

100 All-Time Greatest Popular Science Books

Open Education Database, 100 Books

OEDB.org made this list of the greatest popular science books. here's their description:

These great popular science books offer accessible science to readers from all levels of knowledge. There's something here for everyone, whether you're interested in environmental science, kitchen chemistry, or just want to try out some fun experiments with your kids over the summer. Check out our picks for the best in popular science, and see how you can use them to better understand and explore our world.

7 Essential Authors Recommend Their 7 Essential Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

Powell's Books, 7 Books

Powells Books gets 7 authors to recommend their 7 essential sci-fi and fantasy books.

The 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945

The Times, 100 Books

The Times team pick their favourite crime and spy novels, from Agatha Christie and Georges Simenon to today’s edgy Scandi and Japanese masters.

Contributors: Francesca Angelini, John Carey, Max Freeman-Mills, Josh Glancy, Andrew Holgate, Alan Hunter, Peter Kemp, Claire Lowdon, David Mills, John Dugdale, Patricia Nicol, Nick Rennison, Karen Robinson, Mika Ross-Southall, Joan Smith, Johanna Thomas-Corr

Top 20 Latin American Books To Read Before You Die

Latin Times, 20 Books

Latin Times has put together a list of 20 Latin American themed books you must read before you die. Think of it as your bucket list of books.

The themes and genres of the books on this list range from classic, to modern to biography. Each book was carefully selected and thought to be great reads.

Modern classics: 11 novels that belong in the classroom

Today.com, 11 Books

When we think of English lit classes, we usually think of Hawthorne, Melville, Austen, Tolstoy, Dickens. But the times, they are a-changin’ and so too are the books we read, both in and out of the classroom. Since the millennium, a lot of good—nay, great—books have been published by masterful authors, all of whom are deserving of a spot on a high school or college curriculum. And as evidenced by these 11 novels, whoever said there were no new ideas didn’t know what they were talking about.

25 Books by Black Authors You Should Read This February

Oprah Daily, 25 Books

Oprah's curated list celebrates Black authors, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Black voices throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. This selection showcases a range of perspectives, from the profound insights of esteemed writers like Maya Angelou to the fresh narratives of newer talents like Oprah's Book Club selection Leila Mottley, as well as pioneering figures such as Ann Petry. The list is designed to enrich readers' understanding of both the adversities and achievements of Black people in America through the powerful medium of literature. By featuring a mix of historical and contemporary voices, Oprah's collection highlights the significant contribution of African American authors to literature and society, offering readers a selection of seminal works that reflect the diverse and dynamic experiences of the Black community.

The Books You've Always Meant to Read

Waterstones, 229 Books

That classic you're too embarrassed to admit you've never read? That doorstopper of a read still propping up one leg of your bed? You're amongst friends! Make good all your bookish ambitions with our guide to the essential additions to your home library - the best books you've never read.

87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down

Pop Sugar, 93 Books

A list from Pop Sugar. here's the description from their website:

Without women, some pretty amazing things wouldn't exist. Book-lovers know best that women have changed the world in so many important ways — oftentimes, with their words. We've rounded up more than 80 novels, essays, poem collections, and memoirs written by women writers. From popular books-turned-movies like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to classics like Anne of Green Gables and To Kill a Mockingbird, there's a piece of literature in here for almost everyone to enjoy. If you haven't read these amazing literary works in your lifetime, now's the time!

The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written

Martin Seymour-Smith, 101 Books

The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written: The History of Thought from Ancient Times to Today (1998) is a book of intellectual history written by Martin Seymour-Smith (1928–1998), a British poet, critic, and biographer.

Third World Novels… The Top 10

New Internationalist, 10 Books

There are many gifted Third World writers who can
help you transcend barriers of language and tradition
but you might find it difficult to know where to start. As a guide,
the NI has chosen its ten best novels - the ones which are both
enjoyable to read and give a vivid impression of life in developing
countries. They are not listed in any significant order.

The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers

The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization, 121 Books

The 101 great books recommended by "The College Board", an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education.

The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read

Telegraph, 104 Books

The best novels of all time from Tolkien to Proust and Middlemarch

The Well-Educated Mind

Book, 178 Books

In her best-selling work on home education, The Well-Trained Mind, Susan Wise Bauer provided a road map of classical education for parents wishing to home-school their children; that book is now the premier resource for home-schoolers. In The Well-Educated Mind, Bauer takes the same elements and techniques and adapts them to the use of adult readers who want both enjoyment and self-improvement from the time they spend reading. Followed carefully, her advice will restore and expand the pleasure of the written word.

D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels

D. G. Myers, 50 Books

D. G. Myers’, critic and literary historian’s 50 Greatest English Language Novels.

A critic and literary historian for nearly a quarter of a century at Texas A&M and Ohio State.

Latitude Festival's Top 20 Books by Women

Latitude Festival goers, 20 Books

The Latitude Festival(2016) invited all festival goers to vote for their top 20 favorite books by women. The participants wrote their choices on luggage tags and tied them to The Tree of Stories in the festival’s Faraway Forest.

Latitude Festival is an annual music and arts festival set within the grounds of Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk, England