I just finished Cannery Row and I really enjoyed John Steinbeck’s writing style. I am interested in reading more of his work. What is generally regarded as his best novel? I’m not a huge reader, so in the event of a tie shorter novel wins (‘cause I know he has some loooong ones).
Don’t know about best but if you liked Cannery Row Sweet Thursday is the logical next choice.
Generally regarded as? Grapes of Wrath
Actual best? Tortilla Flat
Haven’t read enough of his stuff to answer this question but The Red Pony and Of Mice and Men were both great when I read them in middle school.
The Grapes of Wrath is probably considered his best. My favourite is East of Eden.
Well if you are looking for short reads, try Of Mice and Men and The Red Pony. Both are terrific.
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights is Steinbeck’s retelling of the legend. I’ve only read Wrath, Red Pony, Winter of Our Discontent (a stinker, IMO), Cannery Row, and The Pearl, but I remember enjoying King Arthur the most. As I remember it, it was short and ended abruptly as Steinbeck died before he could finish it.
I prefer East of Eden. *The Wayward Bus *is underrated.
I love Of Mice and Men.
If you’re not a big reader, Of Mice and Men is a great, swift punch in the gut.
My favorite of his is East of Eden, but I haven’t read Cannery Row or some of his less well-known novels.
East of Eden is my favorite of Steinbeck and on the top ten of all time. I like Of Mice and Men but haven’t read it in a long time. I have a well worn copy of EoE that I am always trying to give to people to read to share the joy.
I’ve only read a few of his books. I guess Grapes of Wrath is generally regarded to be his best. The only one that I’ve read more than once, though, is The Moon Is Down. I really like the lyrical and eerie use of language. It’s quite short, so if you don’t like it, you’re not wasting much time.
Grapes of Wrath does have one of my all-time-favorite descriptions, though. I loved the comparison of farm equipment to monstrous insects. That really stuck with me for some reason.
Travels with Charlie, if you’re a dog lover.
Or Travels with Charley, if you’re a spelling nazi. 
My favorite is East of Eden. I find Grapes a little ponderous and gloomy, and I’ve never thought the ending worked at all. I find the final image more grotesque than inspirational.
I second that, I’m just stupid about this book.
It’s the only book that I finished as a high school assignment, then bought and read again (and again) years later on my own.
It doesn’t hurt that I keep thinking of the Warner Brothers cartoons with the Abominable Snowman who wants a bunny rabbit of his very own, does it?
Of Mice and Men is probably my favorite book.
That one’s good, too.
Grapes of Wrath seems to be regarded as his best, but I don’t care for it. My favorite is East of Eden, which seems to me to be the more thoughtful and mature book. It’s a very contemplative read, and it’s the one that Steinbeck himself thought was his best work. If you want short, though, Of Mice And Men isn’t more than a hundred pages, if memory serves, and it’s quite good.
Since a lot of posters are buzzing in to vote for East of Eden over Grapes of Wrath, I’ll plug Grapes of Wrath.
As usual though, I’m relying on very faint memories of things I read decades ago.
Eden had some symbolism that struck me as pretty silly (the tree is Dad) and there was a sex scene that seemed more glib than honest.
Wrath had a few Norman Rockwell moments, but plenty of toughness to make up for them. It was an entertaining book that dealt with real social issues in a fair but uncompromising manner.
I liked it a lot. I didn’t expect much from it in the beginning, but it made my list of 10 favorite novels (back when I still kinda had a list.)