4 3 2 14 3 2 1
Score Modern
What it's about
On March 3, 1947, in Newark, New Jersey, Archibald Isaac Ferguson is born. From that single beginning, his life takes four separate paths: four Fergusons with the same parents and the same body, who grow up in different circumstances and become four different people, in love, family, friendship and politics.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's Paul Auster's most ambitious and heartbreaking novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Life After Life
City of Glass
American PastoralGood to know
It's nearly 900 pages, and the four stories alternate chapter by chapter.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #111 of the 233 romances we rank
- #790 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1477 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Epic
More by Paul Auster
If you like this, read next
A Man Called Ove
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Me Before You
Acheron
The Orphan Master's Son
The Last SongExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is 4 3 2 1 worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,477 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is 4 3 2 1 about?
On March 3, 1947, in Newark, New Jersey, Archibald Isaac Ferguson is born. From that single beginning, his life takes four separate paths: four Fergusons with the same parents and the same body, who grow up in different circumstances and become four different people, in love, family, friendship and politics.
How long does it take to read 4 3 2 1?
About 23 hours (904 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after 4 3 2 1?
If you liked it, try Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, City of Glass by Paul Auster or American Pastoral by Philip Roth.