The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
In this novel, the protagonist, a young, ordinary man, visits his cousin at a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. Intending to stay for only a few weeks, he ends up remaining there for seven years, becoming a patient himself. The book explores his experiences and relationships with other patients and staff, delving into philosophical discussions on life, time, and the nature of disease. It also provides a vivid portrayal of the European society and intellectual life on the eve of World War I.
The 42nd 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: 3449
Since this book was first published in 1924, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 3449.0.
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: 151 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- Best German Novels of the Twentieth Century (Weight: 114)
- score: 150 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Weight: 150)
- score: 144 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (Weight: 144)
- score: 142 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (Weight: 138)
- score: 138 -- Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) (Weight: 138)
- score: 135 -- The 100 Best Books of World Literature (Weight: 132)
- score: 132 -- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) (Weight: 132)
- score: 130 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (Weight: 126)
- score: 119 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Weight: 114)
- score: 114 -- Books of the Century (Weight: 114)
- score: 109 -- The Greatest Stories Ever Told (Weight: 102)
- score: 108 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years (Weight: 108)
- score: 108 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (Weight: 108)
- score: 107 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century (Weight: 105)
- score: 102 -- The Bigger Read List (Weight: 102)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (Weight: 99)
- score: 96 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (Weight: 96)
- score: 93 -- Big Read (Hungarian) (Weight: 93)
- score: 90 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (Weight: 87)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 86 -- Big Read (German) (Weight: 84)
- score: 83 -- Kanon na koniec wieku (Canon at the end of the century) (Weight: 78)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- Masterpieces of World Literature (Weight: 75)
- score: 66 -- The Complete 500: OCLC (Weight: 66)
- score: 59 -- The 100 Greatest Novels (Weight: 57)
- score: 59 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (Weight: 57)
- score: 57 -- How to Read and Why (Weight: 57)
- score: 51 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (Weight: 51)
- score: 51 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers (Weight: 51)
- score: 39 -- Der Kanon (The Canon) (Weight: 39)
- score: 39 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (Weight: 39)