The New York Public Library's Books of the Century

by Elizabeth Diefendorf (Editor), Diana Bryan (Illustrator)

What are the books that helped shape and define the last hundred years? This was the question put to the librarians of The New York Public Library as part of the Library's 100th anniversary celebration. Which books had influenced the course of events for good or ill? Which interpreted new
worlds? Or delighted millions of readers? Their answers to these questions formed "Books of the Century," a highly popular exhibit during the Library's centennial celebration (1895 to 1995), highlighting an exhilarating collection of important works by some of the greatest writers of our times.
Now, the companion volume, The New York Public Library's Books of the Century takes readers on a thought-provoking tour of the last hundred years, through the medium of the printed word. Here readers will find over 150 pivotal works organized into topical categories, reflecting themes that have
informed the century, among them "Mind & Spirit," "Protest & Progress," "Women Rise," or "Nature's Realm." Each is introduced with a brief commentary illuminating the themes and issues the books in that section address, followed by an annotation for each title offering a brief description and a key
to its significance. The range of books is remarkable, embracing Chekhov's Three Sisters and Bram Stoker's Dracula , as well as Galbraith's The Affluent Society and Durkheim's Suicide , or Timothy Leary's The Politics of Ecstasy and W.E.B. Du Bois's The Souls of Black Folk . Readers will find many
illuminating juxtapositions. In "Utopias & Dystopias," for instance, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , Peter Pan , and Lost Horizon are in the unexpected company of Nineteen Eighty-four , A Clockwork Orange , Brave New World , and The Time Machine . The century's darkest moments are mirrored in "War,
Holocaust, Totalitarianism," where we find Koestler's Darkness at Noon , Hersey's Hiroshima , Anne Frank's Diary , and Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee . But the volume ends on a happier note, with "Optimism, Joy, Gentility," and such wonderful works as Helen Keller's The Story of My Life ,
Shaw's Pygmalion , Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon , and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird .
Illustrated throughout with imaginative paper cut-out murals by artist Diana Bryan, The New York Public Library's Books of the Century is a reflection of our times, featuring both the books we love--whether The Cat in the Hat or Ulysses --and books like The Surgeon General's Report or Mein
Kampf that, for better or worse, have been an inescapable part of our century.
"For 100 years, the librarians of The New York Public Library have shared our passion for books with a diverse and literate public," said curator and editor Elizabeth Diefendorf. "That experience has given us a unique perspective in making our choices for the books of the century. We hoped that
visitors to the exhibition, and now the readers of this book, will be drawn into our choices and reflect on what their own selections would be."

Genres: Books About Books, Reference, Nonfiction, Essays, Criticism, Literary Criticism, Literature

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Muzzlehatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

These days everybody's putting together lists: top 100 this, best 500 that, my top 10 which is better than yours, etc. Even a dozen years ago when this little volume was first published, the trend wasn't quite so extreme as it is now. Blame the Internet I suppose. But this strikes me as one of the more useful "books you should read" books; divided into a dozen themed chapters, each containing somewhere between 10 and 24 titles, there are 182 books in total, most of which the educated adult will have at least vaguely heard of. Very few, though, will have read a large proportion of the books contained here, and that's probably all to the good as the breadth and scope of this survey is much larger than most, containing not just familiar English and American, or even European titles but a nice helping of major works from around the world, and with little or no discrimination against genre or medium: there are speeches and lectures her by such diverse figures as Bertrand Rusell and Chaiman Mao; plays by Shaw and Pirandello; novels by Achebe and Morrison; scientific papers by Einstein and Curie; ethnographic works, poetry, even Mein Kampf -- which is certainly as important in our shared history of the century as anything, no matter how despicable.

In short, as useful a guide in a couple hundred pages as any probably could be for a century so vast and full of great writing from all over the world.

[Kevin Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

One-page blurbs on the best 100 books ever, as chosen by the NY Public LIbrary. Whether or not I agree I think I'll keep it as a list of books to try in my short remaining life. Well written blurbs FWIW.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did add a half a dozen books to my to-read list from the descriptions in this book but I did not agree with a lot of the choices and the descriptions were often inadequate. I am grateful that this was not titled "Greatest" Books of the Century or I might have really become frustrated. It was an okay quick read and I am looking forward to the few books it led me to read.

[Sean O · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about all the books you probably should be reading instead of this one.

The chief draw of this book is it comes from the NY Public Library, and it is well-curated.

I like that it gave me context about books I 'should' be reading. I'll be adding about 40 books to my to read list, which was the purpose of reading the book in the first place.

Recommended for people who are looking for curated lists of good books, placed in their historical and cultural context.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not necessarily "Greatest Books of the 20th Century", but not exactly random. Books are grouped by category (War, Psychology, Humor, etc.) and include anything first published between 1895 and 1995, with only one book per author. I've read a several of these, but I'm not gonna try and knock all of them out. "Mein Kampf" may have been an influential book, but I'm not reading it anytime soon.

[Bryce Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright.

Could stand a bit more depth but it's alright.

[Amy Tolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book of 2025 finished! "The New York Public Library's Books of the Century" refers to the 20th century, as it was published in 1996. It was published as a companion volume to an exhibition of the same name at the New York Public Library. As a voracious reader and lover of all things literary, this book about books was a delight. I loved reading all the synopses of the works cited in this book. It inspires me to check out the books that I haven't read and to revisit others that I have read. This book may be "last century," but its value stretches into the 21st century.

[The Lady Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about books. Some of the ones listed here weren't actually books, though. All of them were important for different reasons, but after exploring the list and grabbing some titles for my tbr, I don't feel the need to hang onto it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book selection process is far too random (and stupid) to use a book list this as intended, but still I found it interesting to go through. I did not keep count but I am pretty sure I would have thought I had read more books on a list like this than it turns out that I have. Good to know.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick list of 100 books of the 20th century worthy of being read ranging from children's books to poetry, to political thought and more.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thought-provoking book, with many listed worth reading.

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little dated but useful.

[Ainsley Jeffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

how can you not love a book about books

[Muphyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of publications that had a substantial influence on (Western) thinking, spanning the time period 1895 to 1995. Books are divided into categories, ranging from feminist writing to utopian to economic to (post)colonialist works. Of course, the focus is largely on American (or rather anglophone) writings, and few writers from other continents are considered (except for a few European ones).

Still, it is nice snapshot of 20th century writing and I found it quite interesting. Not having read much American literature, I found quite a few books that aroused my interest.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short summaries of good books broken up into categories such as "Women Rise" and "Utopias & Dystopias" and "Favorites of Childhood and Youth" and more. I did not read every summary but read many and enjoyed the book.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly strong list of impressive books, with interesting comments. Not ideal for a protracted read, though, more of a reference.

[Andy]

A resource that should be on every reader's bookshelf.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book. unlike most of its kind it has children's literature.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an extensive list of books of the 20th century - I am excited to start reading them!