List Details

To determine the rank of each book, every list has a "weight" which is how much "good" a list is. A list with a higher weight is worth more points for the books that are on the list. The weight of a list is calculated by a number of criteria that i've listed below. Every list starts with 100 weight which is "Perfect". Each of the criteria listed below reduce the weight of the lists. The lowest Weight is 1.


  1. voted on by only 1 person: -90
  2. Limited to 10 or less years: -75
  3. Very niche: -70
  4. There's absolutely no voter details: -70
  5. voted on by the general public: -70
  6. Limited to 25 or less years: -65
  7. yearly book award: -55
  8. Limited to 50 or less years: -50
  9. a low number of voters: -40
  10. There are not many voter details: -30
  11. Limited to 1 language/nationality: -30
  12. Quantity over Quality: -25
  13. Absolutely no criteria information: -20
  14. seems location biased but is not specified: -20
  15. voters are mostly from 1 location or country: -20
  16. Limited to 100 or less years: -20
  17. Partially voted on by the general public: -20
  18. The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list: -15
  19. the list is from a weird source that is not known for books: -15
  20. Limited to 1 Gender(Author or Audience): -5

I am always looking for ways to improve the accuracy of the list as well as looking for new lists that I might have missed. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me your thoughts.

Name Source Cons Weight
Top 100 Works in World Literature Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute 100
The Ideal Library Book
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    For The Love of Books For The Love of Books
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time The Top 10 (Book)
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale Raymond Queneau
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    The 100 Best Books of World Literature ABC.es
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    Biblioteca Argentina
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors El Pais
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    The 25 Favorite Books of 100 Francophone Writers Telerama
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 80
    1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die The Book
  • Quantity over Quality
  • 75
    Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century themodernnovel.com
  • There are not many voter details
  • 70
    The Celebrity Reading List Gardiner Public Library
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 65
    The New York Public Library's Books of the Century New York Public Library
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 60
    Great Books of the Western World Great Books Foundation
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • Quantity over Quality
  • 60
    The New Lifetime Reading Plan The New Lifetime Reading Plan
  • a low number of voters
  • 60
    100 Life-Changing Books National Book Award
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 60
    The 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the Century National Review
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 60
    Finest Works of Fiction Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors
  • a low number of voters
  • 60
    Great Books The Learning Channel
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • There are not many voter details
  • 55
    The 50 Best Books of the Century Intercollegiate Studies Institute
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 50
    Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) Tidningen Boken
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • There are not many voter details
  • 50
    The 100 Greatest British Novels BBC
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 50
    Recommended Books Academy of Achievement
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 45
    The Greatest 20th Century Novels Waterstone
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 45
    100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Amazon.com (USA)
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • There are not many voter details
  • 40
    100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Amazon.com (UK)
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • There are not many voter details
  • 40
    ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher Die Zeit
  • a low number of voters
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 40
    "Best Foreign Work of Fiction" Transfuge
  • a low number of voters
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 40
    "Our Readable Century", The Best Books of the 20th Century January Magazine
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 40
    The 16 Greatest Books of All Time NYU Local
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 40
    The Bigger Read List English PEN
  • a low number of voters
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 40
    100 Novels That Shaped Our World BBC
  • a low number of voters
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 40
    48 Good Books University of Buffalo
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • There are not many voter details
  • 35
    The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians Bookman.com
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • There are not many voter details
  • 35
    Top 100 World Literature Titles Perfection Learning
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • There are not many voter details
  • 35
    The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels BBC
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • 35
    A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Canon Vulture
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • 35
    25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years Wasafiri Magazine
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • 35
    The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written Easton Press
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • There are not many voter details
  • 35
    The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels Modern Library
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 35
    Third World Novels… The Top 10 New Internationalist
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • 30
    The New Vanguard New York Times
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • Limited to 1 Gender(Author or Audience)
  • 30
    Best German Novels of the Twentieth Century Wikipedia
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 30
    The Great American Read PBS
  • Partially voted on by the general public
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 30
    110 Best Books: The Perfect Library The Telegraph
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • 30
    The Modern Library | 100 Best Nonfiction The Modern Library
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 25
    Select 100 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • a low number of voters
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 25
    The Millions: The Best Fiction of the Millennium The Millions
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • 25
    Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels Radcliffe Publishing Course
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 20
    100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 Counterpunch
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • a low number of voters
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 20
    100 Best Books Montana State University
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 20
    Man Booker Prize Man Booker Prize
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography Pulitzer Prize
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    National Book Award - Fiction National Book Foundation
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction National Book Critics Circle
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years Parade Magazine
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • There are not many voter details
  • 15
    National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction National Book Critics Circle
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction PEN/Faulkner
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    National Book Award - Nonfiction National Book Foundation
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Pulitzer Prize for Fiction Pulitzer Prize
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction Pulitzer Prize
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books Harvard Book Store
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • a low number of voters
  • There are not many voter details
  • 15
    James Tait Black Memorial Prize Wikipedia
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Pulitzer Prize for History Pulitzer Prize
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 15
    Best Books Ever bookdepository.com
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • 15
    The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 10
    Masterpieces of World Literature Frank N. Magill
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    Great Books Anthony O'Hear
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The 100 Greatest Novels greatbooksguide.com
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The Great Books Reader Book
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time The Novel 100
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    100 Essential Books Bravo! Magazine
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 10
    How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List Thomas C. Foster
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The Best Classics The Times
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 10
    In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels ThisRecording.com
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read Telegraph
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 10
    The Greatest Novel of All Time William Faulkner
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    W. Somerset Maugham’s Ten Greatest Novels of All Time Great Novelists and Their Novels
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    Books That Changed the World: The 50 Most Influential Books in Human History Book
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels TIME Magazine
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • a low number of voters
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 10
    The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List The Observer
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    50 Greatest Books of All Time Globe and Mail
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 10
    How to Read and Why Harold Bloom
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 10
    The 100 best books of the 21st century The Guardian
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 5
    50 Books That Changed the World Open Education Database
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • a low number of voters
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 5
    50 Books to Read Before You Die Complex
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 5
    Top 10 British, Irish or Commonwealth Novels from 1980 to 2005 The Observer
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 5
    What Is the Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years? New York Times
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 5
    The best books in Spanish for the last 25 years El Pais
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 5
    The 100 Best Books in the World AbeBooks.de (in German)
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • a low number of voters
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 5
    The Best Fiction Books of the 2010s Time
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 1
    Top 10 Fiction Books of the Decade(2010) Entertainment Weekly
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 1
    Modern classics: 11 novels that belong in the classroom Today.com
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Donald Barthelme’s Reading List Believer Mag
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    50 Memorable Books from 50 Years of Books to Remember The New York Public Library
  • Limited to 50 or less years
  • a low number of voters
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 1
    The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s Paste Magazine
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 1
    The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics Book
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    50 Books to Read Before You Die Barnes and Noble
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 1
    From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    The 10 Best of the Decade(2000) Entertainment Weekly
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • 1
    D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels D. G. Myers
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 Entertainment Weekly
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • 1
    The 50 Books Everyone Needs to Read, 1963-2013 Flavor Wire
  • Limited to 50 or less years
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time The Guardian
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Paste Magazine's Best Books of the Decade(2000-2009) Paste Magazine
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 1
    The 80 Books Every Man Should Read Esquire
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • Limited to 1 Gender(Author or Audience)
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • 1
    Books of the Decade The Guardian
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • 1
    The Best Southern Novels of All Time Oxford American
  • Very niche
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 1
    The Best Southern Nonfiction of All Time Oxford American
  • Very niche
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 1
    Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time National Geographic Adventure Magazine
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Very niche
  • 1
    The 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years Slate
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • There are not many voter details
  • 1
    The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written Martin Seymour-Smith
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    100 Most Influential Books of the Century Boston Public Library
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    The Best Books of the 2000s The Onion AV Club
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • a low number of voters
  • 1
    50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 nextavenue
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century Le Monde
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • voted on by the general public
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 1
    Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels Entertainment Weekly
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • a low number of voters
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • 1
    Greatest Prose Works of the 20th Century Vladimir Nabokov
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Costa Book Award - Best Novel Costa Coffee
  • the list is from a weird source that is not known for books
  • yearly book award
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 1
    The Graphic Canon Book
  • Absolutely no criteria information
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century Powell's Books
  • Limited to 25 or less years
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • voters are mostly from 1 location or country
  • 1
    The 100 Best Books of the Decade(2000) Times
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Limited to 10 or less years
  • 1
    The Dream of the Great American Novel Book
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Books That Changed the World Book
  • seems location biased but is not specified
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    100 Best Novels Written in English The Guardian
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction Larry McCaffery
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    Robert McCrum's top 10 books of the twentieth century The Guardian
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • voted on by only 1 person
  • 1
    100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction About.com
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • There's absolutely no voter details
  • Limited to 1 language/nationality
  • 1
    Waterstone's Books of the Century LibraryThing
  • Limited to 100 or less years
  • voted on by the general public
  • The creator of the list sells the same books that are on the list
  • 1