Moby-DickMoby-Dick
Score Classic
What it's about
Ishmael signs on to the whaling ship Pequod, whose captain, Ahab, has one obsession: to destroy the great white whale that took his leg. Binding his crew to his quest, Ahab leads them across the oceans toward a final confrontation.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben World Library list, PBS's Great American Read and the Guardian's 100 best novels in English. It's often called the great American novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Old Man and the Sea
Nostromo
The OdysseyGood to know
It's long, with chapters on whaling between the action. Many readers skim them; others love them.
By the numbers
- Readers0 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller63 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
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Moby-Dick worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben World Library list, PBS's Great American Read and the Guardian's 100 best novels in English. It ranks #1,740 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Moby-Dick about?
Ishmael signs on to the whaling ship Pequod, whose captain, Ahab, has one obsession: to destroy the great white whale that took his leg. Binding his crew to his quest, Ahab leads them across the oceans toward a final confrontation.
How long does it take to read Moby-Dick?
About 14 hours (549 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Moby-Dick?
If you liked it, try The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Nostromo by Joseph Conrad or The Odyssey by Homer.