The Manchurian CandidateThe Manchurian Candidate
Score Classic
What it's about
Sergeant Raymond Shaw is a war hero, a former POW and the stepson of an influential senator. He's also a brainwashed sleeper assassin who will obey any order once a secret signal triggers him.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a classic Cold War political thriller.
You'll love it if you liked
The Day of the Jackal
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Ipcress FileGood to know
It's tense from start to finish.
By the numbers
- Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 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, Gripping, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is The Manchurian Candidate worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,810 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Manchurian Candidate about?
Sergeant Raymond Shaw is a war hero, a former POW and the stepson of an influential senator. He's also a brainwashed sleeper assassin who will obey any order once a secret signal triggers him.
What should I read after The Manchurian Candidate?
If you liked it, try The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré or The Ipcress File by Len Deighton.