The Story of Art
Score Classic
What it's about
E. H. Gombrich tells the history of art as one continuous story, from cave paintings to the 20th century, explaining how each generation of artists built on and reacted against the last. Written for young readers and newcomers, it's famous for its plain, warm prose and its illustrations, each placed next to the text that discusses it.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books and is one of the best-selling art books ever. For generations, it's been the book that makes art history make sense.
You'll love it if you liked
A Brief History of Time, The Elements of Style or Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Good to know
It's best in a print edition with color plates. It's long, but each chapter stands on its own.
Quick answers
Is The Story of Art worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books and is one of the best-selling art books ever. It ranks #272 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Story of Art about?
E. H. Gombrich tells the history of art as one continuous story, from cave paintings to the 20th century, explaining how each generation of artists built on and reacted against the last. Written for young readers and newcomers, it's famous for its plain, warm prose and its illustrations, each placed next to the text that discusses it.
How long does it take to read The Story of Art?
About 17 hours (688 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Story of Art?
If you liked it, try A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White or Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.
By the numbers
- Readers96 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller14 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.
On the TIME All-TIME 100 Nonfiction list.
Where it ranks
On the lists
- TIME All-TIME 100 Nonfiction
Reads as
Moving
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A Brief History of Time