Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov
"Speak, Memory" is an autobiographical memoir that explores the author's life from his birth in 1899 to his emigration to the United States in 1940. The narrative details his privileged childhood in Russia, his experiences during the Russian Revolution, his time in Europe as an émigré, and his career as a writer and scholar. The book is noted for its intricate descriptions, its exploration of the nature of memory, and its intricate linguistic play.
The 344th 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: 956
Since this book was first published in 1951, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 956.0.
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: 138 -- The 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the Century (Weight: 138)
- score: 133 -- The Ideal Library (Weight: 129)
- score: 120 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 (Weight: 120)
- score: 114 -- The 100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books (Weight: 114)
- score: 112 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Nonfiction (Weight: 108)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (Weight: 99)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 85 -- 100 Best Books (Weight: 84)
- score: 63 -- 100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction (Weight: 63)