The Art of Racing in the RainThe Art of Racing in the Rain
Score Modern
What it's about
Enzo is a dog who knows he's different: he has studied humans closely, especially his owner, Denny Swift, an aspiring race car driver. Near the end of his life, Enzo looks back on the family's joys and trials, from Denny's marriage and daughter to a tragedy and a custody battle, and on what racing taught him about life.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 229 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's heart-wrenching, funny and uplifting, a story of family and loyalty told by an unforgettable narrator.
You'll love it if you liked
A Dog's Purpose
The Help
A Man Called OveGood to know
Keep tissues handy. It was adapted into a 2019 film.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller69 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
- #72 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #311 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #623 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is The Art of Racing in the Rain worth reading?
Yes. It spent 229 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #623 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Art of Racing in the Rain about?
Enzo is a dog who knows he's different: he has studied humans closely, especially his owner, Denny Swift, an aspiring race car driver. Near the end of his life, Enzo looks back on the family's joys and trials, from Denny's marriage and daughter to a tragedy and a custody battle, and on what racing taught him about life.
How long does it take to read The Art of Racing in the Rain?
About 8 hours (321 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Art of Racing in the Rain?
If you liked it, try A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron, The Help by Kathryn Stockett or A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.