Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
This classic novel tells the story of Tom Jones, a charming and good-hearted but impulsive young man, who is expelled from his adoptive family home due to his wild behavior and love for the beautiful Sophia Western. His journey through 18th-century England is filled with adventures, misadventures, and a colorful cast of characters, as he struggles with his identity and seeks redemption. The narrative explores themes of class, virtue, and morality, and is known for its humor, social satire, and vivid characterization.
The 149th 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.
List Date Penalty Feature
In our continuous effort to provide the most accurate and fair rankings, we have introduced a new feature: the List Date Penalty. This feature aims to reduce recency bias in our rankings by applying a penalty to books based on their publication dates relative to the list's publication date.
How It Works
- Publication Date Comparison: For each book on a list, we compare its publication date to the publication date of the list.
-
Penalty Application:
- Maximum Penalty: If a book was published in the same year as the list, it receives the maximum penalty, as we believe it hasn't had enough time to stand the test of time.
- Proportional Penalty: Books that were published in the years leading up to the list's publication date receive a proportional penalty based on the number of years they have been available.
- No Penalty: Books that were published more than a specified number of years (max age for penalty) before the list's publication date do not receive any penalty, acknowledging their enduring relevance and influence.
Why This Matters
By mitigating recency bias, the List Date Penalty feature helps to ensure that books that have had more time to be evaluated by readers and critics are given their due weight. This results in a more equitable and historically balanced ranking that truly reflects the greatest books of all time.
Total Points: 1550
This book was first published in 1749
39 Lists
- score: 190 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 178 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 159 -- Best Books (Fiction, Prose) : Experts Choose Their Favourites - 1996 (Weight: 150)
- score: 116 -- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher - 2009 (Weight: 110)
- score: 116 -- 100 Life-Changing Books - 2006 (Weight: 110)
- score: 110 -- All-Time Classics, According to Academics - 1985 (Weight: 110)
- score: 104 -- Famous Authors Name Their Favorite Novels(from 1915) - 1915 (Weight: 89)
- score: 94 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 89)
- score: 74 -- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) - 1947 (Weight: 70)
- score: 63 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 60)
- score: 53 -- Have You Read 100 Great Books? - 1950 (Weight: 50)
- score: 50 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 50)
- score: 42 -- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time - 1993 (Weight: 40)
- score: 31 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 30)
- score: 30 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 30)
- score: 21 -- C.K. Shorter List of Best 100 Novels - 1898 (Weight: 20)
- score: 21 -- The Great Books Podcast from John J. Miller - 2025 (Weight: 20)
- score: 21 -- 101 Significant Books - 1989 (Weight: 20)
- score: 10 -- 100 Best Novels in the World (Published in 1899) - 1899 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- F. B. Perkins' List of 100 Best Fiction - 1877 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- James Baldwin, The Book Lover: A Guide to the Best Reading (1910) - 1910 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Classics Revisited - 1968 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 101 of the World's Greatest Books (1950) - 1950 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1979 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- W. Somerset Maugham’s Ten Greatest Novels of All Time - 1954 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 50 Books - 1997 (Weight: 1)