Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
The novel presents a poignant exploration of a man's struggle with his dual nature. The protagonist, a middle-aged man, finds himself torn between his humanistic, intellectual tendencies and his more primitive, wolf-like instincts. As he navigates his way through the surreal and sometimes hallucinatory world, he encounters various characters who challenge his views and push him towards self-discovery and transformation. The narrative delves into themes of alienation, the subconscious mind, and the search for meaning in life.
The 144th greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
Total Points: 1730
This book was first published in 1927
18 Lists
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 138 -- Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) - 1991 (Weight: 138)
- score: 126 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 126)
- score: 114 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century - 1999 (Weight: 114)
- score: 108 -- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher - 2009 (Weight: 108)
- score: 102 -- The Bigger Read List - 2003 (Weight: 102)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century - 2000 (Weight: 96)
- score: 93 -- 100 Essential Books - 2009 (Weight: 93)
- score: 90 -- Select 100 - 2015 (Weight: 90)
- score: 87 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 87)
- score: 85 -- Big Read (German) - 2004 (Weight: 84)
- score: 81 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics - 2001 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Graphic Canon - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 79 -- Kanon na koniec wieku (Canon at the end of the century) - 2002 (Weight: 78)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 78)
- score: 66 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 66)
- score: 57 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 57)