The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
In this fantasy novel, a timid and unadventurous hobbit named Bilbo Baggins is whisked away on a grand adventure by a wizard and a group of dwarves. Their mission is to reclaim the dwarves' homeland and treasure from a fearsome dragon. Throughout the journey, Bilbo grows in courage and cunning, proving himself a true hero as he encounters trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and other perils. The novel culminates with a great battle involving various races of Middle Earth, after which Bilbo returns home, forever changed by his experiences.
The 181st 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: 1469
Since this book was first published in 1937, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 1469.0.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
- score: 144 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (Weight: 144)
- score: 108 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (Weight: 108)
- score: 106 -- 100 Greatest Childrens Books of All Time (Weight: 102)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (Weight: 96)
- score: 93 -- Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 86 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read (Weight: 84)
- score: 85 -- The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians (Weight: 84)
- score: 85 -- The Big Read (Weight: 84)
- score: 80 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century (Weight: 78)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Weight: 78)
- score: 73 -- The Little Big Bulgaria Read (Weight: 72)
- score: 69 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Weight: 69)
- score: 66 -- The Complete 500: OCLC (Weight: 66)
- score: 57 -- The Books You've Always Meant to Read (Weight: 57)
- score: 57 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books (Weight: 57)
- score: 33 -- Top 100 Fantasy Books (Weight: 33)
- score: 33 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (Weight: 33)
- score: 14 -- Britain's Favourite Ten Children's Books (Weight: 12)
- score: 9 -- 50 Essential Fantasy Books (Weight: 9)