About this list

TIME, 5 Books

This list, titled 'Books That Shaped an Era,' is curated by TIME and aims to highlight significant literary works that have had a profound impact on different societies and eras. The selection criteria seem to focus on the historical and cultural influence of each book, as well as their lasting popularity and contribution to literary traditions. While the exact methodology or number of contributors involved in the selection process is not explicitly stated, the list appears to be an editorial choice by TIME, reflecting the magazine's perspective on influential literature.

This list was originally published in 1999 and was added to this site over 1 year ago.