The PowerThe Power
Score Modern
What it's about
In a recognizable world, teenage girls suddenly develop the power to release electrical jolts from their hands, and the balance of power between men and women shifts overnight. Naomi Alderman follows a rich Nigerian boy, a foster kid hiding her gift, an ambitious American politician and a tough London girl as the world changes.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction. It's a gripping, provocative thought experiment about gender and power.
You'll love it if you liked
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Future
Oryx and CrakeGood to know
It's violent at times. It's framed as a historical novel from the far future.
By the numbers
- Readers24 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller54 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz5 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
- #155 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #869 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1609 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Thought-provoking, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is The Power worth reading?
Yes. It won the Women's Prize for Fiction. It ranks #1,609 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Power about?
In a recognizable world, teenage girls suddenly develop the power to release electrical jolts from their hands, and the balance of power between men and women shifts overnight. Naomi Alderman follows a rich Nigerian boy, a foster kid hiding her gift, an ambitious American politician and a tough London girl as the world changes.
How long does it take to read The Power?
About 9 hours (341 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Power won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2017).
What should I read after The Power?
If you liked it, try The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Future by Naomi Alderman or Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.