The World According to GarpThe World According to Garp
Score Classic
What it's about
This is the life and times of T. S. Garp, the son of Jenny Fields, a nurse who became a feminist leader ahead of her time. Garp grows up to be a writer, husband and father in a world of sexual extremes, violence and grief, and yet it's a comedy, bawdy and full of life.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award and is on the BBC's Big Read. It made John Irving famous and has sold more than ten million copies.
You'll love it if you liked
A Prayer for Owen Meany
The Cider House Rules
Catch-22Good to know
It mixes comedy and tragedy, including sudden, shocking violence. It deals frankly with sex.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller40 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
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by John Irving
A Prayer for Owen MeanyThe Cider House Rules
The Hotel New Hampshire
A Widow for One YearIf you like this, read next
East of Eden
War and Peace
Augustus
Beloved
The Souls of Black Folk
The IdiotExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The World According to Garp worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award and is on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #655 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The World According to Garp about?
This is the life and times of T. S. Garp, the son of Jenny Fields, a nurse who became a feminist leader ahead of her time. Garp grows up to be a writer, husband and father in a world of sexual extremes, violence and grief, and yet it's a comedy, bawdy and full of life.
How long does it take to read The World According to Garp?
About 11 hours (433 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The World According to Garp won?
National Book Award (Fiction) winner (1980).
What should I read after The World According to Garp?
If you liked it, try A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, The Cider House Rules by John Irving or Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.