American Rust by Philipp Meyer

This novel takes place in a small, economically depressed Pennsylvania town and follows two young men, Isaac and Billy, who are best friends. After a tragic incident involving a transient, the two friends are forced to flee. The novel explores themes of friendship, the American Dream, and the harsh realities of life in a declining Rust Belt town. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including the two friends, their family members, and the local sheriff.

The 5905th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 144

Since this book was first published in 2009, there is a penalty of 56.0%. The age adjusted score is 63.36.

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.