Lost HorizonLost Horizon
Score Classic
What it's about
After a plane crash, a British consul named Conway, his deputy, a missionary and an American financier find themselves in the snow-capped mountains of uncharted Tibet. There they discover a hidden, seemingly perfect community, Shangri-La, and set out to learn the secret at its heart.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1935. It gave the world the word Shangri-La.
You'll love it if you liked
Good-Bye, Mr. Chips
Random Harvest
The Little PrinceGood to know
It's short and reflective. It became a classic 1937 film.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 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
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Lost Horizon worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was one of the ten best-selling books of 1935. It ranks #1,427 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lost Horizon about?
After a plane crash, a British consul named Conway, his deputy, a missionary and an American financier find themselves in the snow-capped mountains of uncharted Tibet. There they discover a hidden, seemingly perfect community, Shangri-La, and set out to learn the secret at its heart.
How long does it take to read Lost Horizon?
About 5 hours (200 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Lost Horizon?
If you liked it, try Good-Bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton, Random Harvest by James Hilton or The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.