The Winter of Our DiscontentThe Winter of Our Discontent
Score Classic
What it's about
John Steinbeck's last great novel is about success and what drives people toward it. Ethan Allen Hawley, looking back on his New England family's lost fortune, comes to see success in every era as a kind of robbery, murder or combat, governed by 'the laws of controlled savagery', and is tempted to act on it.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1961.
You'll love it if you liked
East of Eden
The Grapes of Wrath
The Great GatsbyGood to know
It's a quieter, more introspective Steinbeck.
By the numbers
- Readers35 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 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
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving
More by John Steinbeck
East of EdenThe Grapes of Wrath
Travels with Charley
Sweet ThursdayIf you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of Repose
The Winds of WarExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Winter of Our Discontent worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1961. It ranks #2,037 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Winter of Our Discontent about?
John Steinbeck's last great novel is about success and what drives people toward it. Ethan Allen Hawley, looking back on his New England family's lost fortune, comes to see success in every era as a kind of robbery, murder or combat, governed by 'the laws of controlled savagery', and is tempted to act on it.
How long does it take to read The Winter of Our Discontent?
About 7 hours (282 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Winter of Our Discontent?
If you liked it, try East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.