The 25 best books of the 1960s
The 25 highest-ranked books first published in the 1960s in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 92 books of the 1960s in all. How we rank
- 1
To Kill a Mockingbird94.3Must-Read ScoreTo Kill a Mockingbird
It's one of the most beloved novels in American history, voted America's favorite in PBS's Great American Read, because it's both a warm, funny childhood story and a clear-eyed look at injustice.
- 2
Dune90.9Must-Read ScoreDune
It's the best-selling science-fiction novel of all time, and it earns it: a vast, intricate world of politics, religion, ecology and power, with a hero story that slowly turns into a warning about heroes.
- 3
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany89.3Must-Read ScoreThe Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
Since 1960 it has been the classic one-volume history of Nazi Germany, read by millions and winner of the National Book Award.
- 4
The Godfather86.7Must-Read ScoreThe Godfather
It's one of the most gripping crime novels ever written and a dark, operatic family saga about power, loyalty and the American dream.
- 5
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings85.7Must-Read ScoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and is one of the most influential memoirs in American literature.
- 6
In Cold Blood85.2Must-Read ScoreIn Cold Blood
It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list and is on the Modern Library's list of the best nonfiction.
- 7One Hundred Years of Solitude83.8Must-Read Score
One Hundred Years of Solitude
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, with about 50 million copies sold, and it's on the Bokklubben World Library, the BBC's Big Read and PBS's Great American Read.
- 8
The Fire Next Time83.8Must-Read ScoreThe Fire Next Time
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list in 1963 and is one of the most important books ever written about race in America.
- 9
The Guns of August83.7Must-Read ScoreThe Guns of August
It won the Pulitzer Prize and is on the Modern Library's list of the best nonfiction ever written.
- 10
Silent Spring82.8Must-Read ScoreSilent Spring
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and is on both the Modern Library and Guardian lists of the best nonfiction ever written.
- 11The Spy Who Came in From the Cold82.7Must-Read Score
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
It won the Edgar Award, spent 34 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and is on TIME's list of the 100 best novels.
- 12Mastering the Art of French Cooking81.6Must-Read Score
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books, and it changed how America cooks.
- 13
Slaughterhouse-Five81.1Must-Read ScoreSlaughterhouse-Five
It's on both TIME's list of the best novels and the Modern Library's, and it's one of the great anti-war novels.
- 14
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest80.8Must-Read ScoreOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
It's on TIME's list of the best novels and was a pick on the BBC's Big Read.
- 15
Flowers for Algernon80.7Must-Read ScoreFlowers for Algernon
It won the Nebula Award, has been taught in schools for decades, and is one of the most moving science fiction novels ever written.
- 16
Catch-2279.8Must-Read ScoreCatch-22
It's on TIME's list of the best novels, the Modern Library's and the PBS Great American Read.
- 17
Against Interpretation79.6Must-Read ScoreAgainst Interpretation
It's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction of all time, and it made Sontag one of the most influential critics of her generation.
- 18
The Left Hand of Darkness79.6Must-Read ScoreThe Left Hand of Darkness
It won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards and is one of the most important science fiction novels ever written.
- 19Understanding Media79.4Must-Read Score
Understanding Media
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books, and its ideas, including the "global village," predicted the internet age decades early.
- 20
The Master and Margarita78.8Must-Read ScoreThe Master and Margarita
It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century and was a pick on the BBC's Big Read.
- 21The Death and Life of Great American Cities78.6Must-Read Score
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books and has been called the most influential book ever written about city planning.
- 222001: A Space Odyssey78.6Must-Read Score
2001: A Space Odyssey
It's one of the most famous science fiction novels ever written, developed alongside Stanley Kubrick's film.
- 23
A Clockwork Orange78.0Must-Read ScoreA Clockwork Orange
It's on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels.
- 24
A Grief Observed77.9Must-Read ScoreA Grief Observed
It's one of the most honest books ever written about loss, and it's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction of all time.
- 25
Ariel77.8Must-Read ScoreAriel
It's on the Guardian's list of the best books of all time.