Life and Times of Michael KLife and Times of Michael K
Score Classic
What it's about
In a South Africa torn by civil war, Michael K sets out to take his mother back to her rural home. She dies on the way, leaving him alone in an anarchic world of roving armies. Imprisoned, he escapes, determined to live with dignity on his own terms.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Booker Prize. It's a spare, haunting novel about freedom and the inner life.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's short and austere, more parable than thriller.
By the numbers
- Readers29 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller3 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.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark
More by J. M. Coetzee
If you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
The Color Purple
1984
The Lord of the Rings
A Brief History of TimeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Life and Times of Michael K worth reading?
Yes. It won the Booker Prize. It ranks #1,741 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Life and Times of Michael K about?
In a South Africa torn by civil war, Michael K sets out to take his mother back to her rural home. She dies on the way, leaving him alone in an anarchic world of roving armies. Imprisoned, he escapes, determined to live with dignity on his own terms.
How long does it take to read Life and Times of Michael K?
About 5 hours (194 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Life and Times of Michael K won?
Booker Prize winner (1983).
What should I read after Life and Times of Michael K?
If you liked it, try Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee, The Promise by Damon Galgut or The Road by Cormac McCarthy.