A Dog's PurposeA Dog's Purpose
What it's about
A dog is born, lives and dies, then is born again, as a different dog, with new owners. Over several lives, he tries to understand what he's for. The story is told entirely from his point of view, with his funny, loving misreadings of the humans around him. In one life he's Bailey, the devoted companion of a boy named Ethan, and he can't stop trying to get back to him.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and became a film. It's beloved by dog lovers for its warmth and its faith in dogs.
You'll love it if you liked
Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog, Charlotte's Web or All Things Bright and Beautiful
Good to know
The dog dies several times, sometimes sadly. There's some animal cruelty in one of its lives.
By the numbers
- Readers93 out of 100 · counts 40%+42
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%+0
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 32% (its stronger lane)+18
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 15%+0
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.
#1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1). 4.36★ from 142K Goodreads ratings.
Where it ranks
- #110 of the 666 modern books we rank
- #257 of the 1,404 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1)
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