# Greatest book of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952 "2003-03-04T06:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/61 "2003-03-07T05:58:21Z")
The _Hitchhiker’s Guide…_ is probably my fav, but it’s more of a cult thing, so I just couldn’t in good conscience name it as the “greatest book of all time”. I guess the greatest novel I’ve ever read would be _Crime and Punishment_. ---
**Author:** ![Circuit\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@Circuit\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Circuit_Rider)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/62 "2003-03-11T05:28:39Z")
The Best (IMHO): “All the King’s Men” - Robert Penn Warren My Favorite: “Watership Down” - Richard Adamsl ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/63 "2003-03-11T19:20:26Z")
I would be inclined to say that _Lord of the Rings_ is the best English-language fiction book in history, but I don’t know about best overall. I’m inclined to think that it’s probably either the Bible (or one of the translations of it) or the Q’uran. And no, I’m not considering the Bible to be fiction. It _might_ be fictionalized, but Jesus was, at least, a real human being. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/64 "2003-03-11T22:14:08Z")
LoTR Catcher in the Rye 1984 Hamlet/Macbeth and Othello, terrfic plays still relevent in are ‘modern, educated socities’ - shame really. However these are ‘plays’ not books, and there IS a distinct difference so they dont really fit into this thread. ---
**Author:** ![AvidReader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47774/32.png) [@AvidReader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AvidReader)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/65 "2003-03-12T00:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > [. > > So welcome to **Nomadic\_One**. What else do you like to read besides the bible? Any non-fiction? \*\* What a **great** come back line!! I wish I would have thought of it. I could not quit chuckling. Greatest book of all time? An impossible task. Too many. However some quick choices: Historical/Biography: \*\* Founding Brothers and American Sphinx: Character of Thomas Jefferson\*\* both by Joseph Ellis Classical Fiction: Any of Thomas Hardy’s novels with special emphasis on… **The Mayor of Casterbridge and Return of the Native** Modern Fiction: Margaret Atwood’s \*\* Alias Grace; Robber Bride; Cat’s Eye; The Handmaid’s Tale\*\* Essays: Gore Vidal’s **United States: Essays 1952-1992** Other: Dava Sobel’s **Longitude and Galileo’s Daughter** ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/66 "2003-03-12T03:20:23Z")
Many great books have been mentioned here… But you know, there are 2 books that I have read over and over for years. **The Princess Bride** - S. Morgenstern (Better than the Movie - only because it lasts longer.) **The Stand** - Stephen King yep, pretty sad, but I read them every year. (My vote for best edition of the Bible is The Amplified Bible) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Mook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Mr.Mook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Mook)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/67 "2003-03-12T04:00:04Z")
Isn’t kind of inherently impossible to say what is the “best” book? There are too many different criteria. You have to state either your favorite, or what choice makes you look the smartest. 😃 Most "influential: Bible, or Koran ? Gutenberg Bible? Epic of Gilgamesh? Beowulf? Don Quixote? Ivanhoe? Tom Jones? Favorite? Hitchhikers Guide, no doubt. And another: Bored of the Rings! “Pepsi thought he saw a Rider, but he had been into the pipeweed earlier and wasn’t sure…” Definitely the best parody ever. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Barber_s_Underwear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/68 "2003-03-12T04:04:59Z")
I have always liked **The Caine Mutiny** by Herman Wouk. -Bubba. ---
**Author:** ![Nomadic\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nomadic\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nomadic_One)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952/69 "2003-03-12T04:24:39Z")
**What a great come back line!! I wish I would have thought of it. I could not quit chuckling.** ☹ im sorry you think the bible is fictional. ☹ \*1984 = another great book, The Return of the Native = not great and very soap-operaish book. and i think shakespeare (i cant spell) was a perverted person who had a very skewed outlook on life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-book-of-all-time/158952.md?page=3)