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Cover of I, Robot by Isaac AsimovI, Robot
Classic · Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories

I, Robot

by Isaac Asimov
1950 · 256 pages · Fiction
70.6Must-Read
Score Classic
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 6 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Isaac Asimov's linked stories trace the development of robots, from a simple nursemaid robot to machines that guide the world, through the eyes of robopsychologist Susan Calvin. Each story turns on a puzzle created by the Three Laws of Robotics, and on deep questions about humanity.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of the founding works of science fiction about robots and artificial intelligence. The Three Laws of Robotics became part of popular culture.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's a collection of short stories framed as one story. It's very different from the 2004 film.

By the numbers

70.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • 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.

Where it ranks

Reads as

Thought-provoking, Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedClassic booksTop 25 · 762 rankedBooks of the 1950sTop 25 · 75 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is I, Robot worth reading?

Yes. It's one of the founding works of science fiction about robots and artificial intelligence. It ranks #1,222 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is I, Robot about?

Isaac Asimov's linked stories trace the development of robots, from a simple nursemaid robot to machines that guide the world, through the eyes of robopsychologist Susan Calvin. Each story turns on a puzzle created by the Three Laws of Robotics, and on deep questions about humanity.

How long does it take to read I, Robot?

About 6 hours (256 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after I, Robot?

If you liked it, try Foundation by Isaac Asimov, The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.