Babbitt
Score Classic
What it's about
George F. Babbitt is a successful real estate agent in Zenith, a booming Midwestern city: a member of all the right clubs and a loyal Booster who believes Zenith is the finest example of American life anywhere. But even complacent Babbitt dreams of romance and escape, and when his best friend's life falls apart, he begins, briefly and clumsily, to rebel.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1923, it's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English, and its title became a word for a conformist businessman. It's Sinclair Lewis's sharpest satire of American life.
You'll love it if you liked
Main Street, The Great Gatsby or Revolutionary Road
Good to know
It's a satire, often funny and occasionally sad. Its portrait of booster culture and conformity still feels familiar.
Quick answers
Is Babbitt worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1923, it's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English, and its title became a word for a conformist businessman. It ranks #1,158 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Babbitt about?
George F. Babbitt is a successful real estate agent in Zenith, a booming Midwestern city: a member of all the right clubs and a loyal Booster who believes Zenith is the finest example of American life anywhere. But even complacent Babbitt dreams of romance and escape, and when his best friend's life falls apart, he begins, briefly and clumsily, to rebel.
How long does it take to read Babbitt?
About 9 hours (348 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Babbitt?
If you liked it, try Main Street by Sinclair Lewis, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.
By the numbers
- Readers51 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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.
On the Guardian 100 Best Novels in English list. One of the ten best-selling books of 1923 (Publishers Weekly).
Where it ranks
- #130 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #345 of the 763 classics we rank
- #1158 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- One of the ten best-selling books of 1923 (Publishers Weekly)
On the lists
- Guardian 100 Best Novels in English
Reads as
Thought-provoking
