Best Westerns (1445 books)

Discover new books on Goodreads

Meet your next favorite book

Listopia > Best Westerns

Those books (fiction and nonfiction) that embody the spirit of the Old West, the heroism, tragedy, and drama of this mythic era of American history.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.60 avg rating — 283,915 ratings score: 47,925, and 484 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	True Grit by Charles Portis 4.17 avg rating — 80,027 ratings score: 22,049, and 227 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.14 avg rating — 243,928 ratings score: 20,087, and 204 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1) by Cormac McCarthy 4.07 avg rating — 155,672 ratings score: 13,706, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 267,694 ratings score: 12,893, and 133 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.26 avg rating — 106,025 ratings score: 11,625, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Riders of the Purple Sage (Riders of the Purple Sage, #1) by Zane Grey 3.76 avg rating — 15,459 ratings score: 9,873, and 104 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 4.04 avg rating — 1,025,651 ratings score: 9,815, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	East of Eden by John Steinbeck 4.46 avg rating — 716,916 ratings score: 8,174, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Shane by Jack Schaefer 3.96 avg rating — 15,586 ratings score: 8,125, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Hondo by Louis L'Amour 4.06 avg rating — 15,424 ratings score: 7,833, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 3.85 avg rating — 105,457 ratings score: 7,832, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Little Big Man by Thomas Berger 4.27 avg rating — 9,133 ratings score: 6,632, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Crossing (The Border Trilogy, #2) by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 50,290 ratings score: 6,580, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Butcher's Crossing by John Williams 4.18 avg rating — 43,473 ratings score: 6,561, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Old Yeller by Fred Gipson 4.11 avg rating — 105,489 ratings score: 6,456, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 680,304 ratings score: 6,400, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Streets of Laredo (Lonesome Dove, #2) by Larry McMurtry 4.14 avg rating — 31,045 ratings score: 6,341, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.24 avg rating — 63,183 ratings score: 6,058, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1) by Robert B. Parker 4.01 avg rating — 9,673 ratings score: 5,666, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx 4.03 avg rating — 56,583 ratings score: 5,517, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Dead Man's Walk (Lonesome Dove, #3) by Larry McMurtry 4.08 avg rating — 29,230 ratings score: 5,408, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Virginian by Owen Wister 3.92 avg rating — 10,337 ratings score: 5,376, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4) by Larry McMurtry 4.17 avg rating — 24,215 ratings score: 5,020, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.23 avg rating — 69,726 ratings score: 4,897, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	How the West Was Won by Louis L'Amour 4.06 avg rating — 3,820 ratings score: 4,867, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Big Sky (The Big Sky, #1) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 4.01 avg rating — 5,984 ratings score: 4,861, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.90 avg rating — 2,944,456 ratings score: 4,724, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark 3.88 avg rating — 6,866 ratings score: 4,720, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	My Ántonia by Willa Cather 3.85 avg rating — 151,963 ratings score: 4,716, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Cities of the Plain (The Border Trilogy, #3) by Cormac McCarthy 4.14 avg rating — 33,840 ratings score: 4,425, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 306,274 ratings score: 4,400, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Quick and the Dead by Louis L'Amour really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7,119 ratings score: 4,359, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	O Pioneers! by Willa Cather 3.90 avg rating — 60,625 ratings score: 4,139, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans 3.86 avg rating — 62,783 ratings score: 3,978, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 3.98 avg rating — 45,423 ratings score: 3,967, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Searchers by Alan LeMay 4.22 avg rating — 4,391 ratings score: 3,677, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Daybreakers (The Sacketts, #6) by Louis L'Amour 4.27 avg rating — 9,190 ratings score: 3,617, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake 4.24 avg rating — 29,665 ratings score: 3,607, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Centennial by James A. Michener 4.26 avg rating — 45,753 ratings score: 3,598, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Son by Philipp Meyer (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 39,009 ratings score: 3,308, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Sackett's Land (The Sacketts, #1) by Louis L'Amour 4.16 avg rating — 15,535 ratings score: 3,131, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Warlock (Legends West, #1) by Oakley Hall 4.28 avg rating — 5,172 ratings score: 3,093, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Way West (The Big Sky, #2) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. 3.96 avg rating — 6,023 ratings score: 2,943, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Comstock Lode by Louis L'Amour 4.16 avg rating — 4,484 ratings score: 2,941, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Time It Never Rained by Elmer Kelton 4.33 avg rating — 2,382 ratings score: 2,904, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Doc by Mary Doria Russell (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 17,849 ratings score: 2,894, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Whip by Karen Kondazian (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 7,793 ratings score: 2,888, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Sacketts Vol 1 by Louis L'Amour 4.33 avg rating — 374 ratings score: 2,885, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides 4.31 avg rating — 21,358 ratings score: 2,862, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard by Elmore Leonard 4.14 avg rating — 3,396 ratings score: 2,638, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Hombre by Elmore Leonard 4.01 avg rating — 5,707 ratings score: 2,630, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Roughing It by Mark Twain 3.87 avg rating — 10,532 ratings score: 2,622, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Trail by M.L. Dunn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 2,570, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Blessing Way (Leaphorn & Chee, #1) by Tony Hillerman 3.99 avg rating — 33,808 ratings score: 2,415, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx 3.99 avg rating — 18,984 ratings score: 2,396, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean 4.19 avg rating — 31,956 ratings score: 2,381, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	News of the World by Paulette Jiles 4.08 avg rating — 114,722 ratings score: 2,256, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen 3.91 avg rating — 3,783 ratings score: 2,224, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Nations by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 446 ratings score: 2,169, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson 4.40 avg rating — 6,547 ratings score: 2,152, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) by Kent Haruf 4.05 avg rating — 82,591 ratings score: 2,133, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour 3.81 avg rating — 7,588 ratings score: 2,106, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout 4.15 avg rating — 3,327 ratings score: 2,071, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Resolution (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #2) by Robert B. Parker 4.01 avg rating — 5,731 ratings score: 1,989, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Yuma Gold by Steven Law (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 56 ratings score: 1,953, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Revenant by Michael Punke 3.97 avg rating — 56,808 ratings score: 1,946, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House, #5) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.18 avg rating — 84,770 ratings score: 1,919, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories by Elmore Leonard 3.95 avg rating — 2,965 ratings score: 1,863, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose 3.99 avg rating — 14,358 ratings score: 1,855, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	On the Road by Jack Kerouac 3.61 avg rating — 459,546 ratings score: 1,854, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour 4.24 avg rating — 9,857 ratings score: 1,841, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House, #4) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.23 avg rating — 109,878 ratings score: 1,828, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Good Old Boys (Hewey Calloway, #1) by Elmer Kelton 4.35 avg rating — 1,019 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Fastest in the West by Anfaney Gladwin 4.57 avg rating — 44 ratings score: 1,800, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.20 avg rating — 95,455 ratings score: 1,738, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Jubal Sackett (The Sacketts, #4) by Louis L'Amour 4.25 avg rating — 9,293 ratings score: 1,723, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Legendary Wolf by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 5,257 ratings score: 1,700, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne 4.25 avg rating — 71,304 ratings score: 1,663, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Sackett (The Sacketts, #8) by Louis L'Amour 4.26 avg rating — 9,350 ratings score: 1,623, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Diomedeia: Diomedes, the Peoples of the Sea, and the Fall of the Hittite Empire (Diomedeia Series Book 1) by Gregory Michael Nixon (Goodreads Author) 4.73 avg rating — 63 ratings score: 1,596, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Diomedes in Kyprios (Diomedeia #2) by Gregory Michael Nixon (Goodreads Author) 4.80 avg rating — 55 ratings score: 1,588, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Valdez Is Coming by Elmore Leonard 4.08 avg rating — 3,704 ratings score: 1,562, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig 4.24 avg rating — 7,299 ratings score: 1,560, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters by Robert Lewis Taylor 3.97 avg rating — 3,338 ratings score: 1,560, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Screenplay by William Goldman 4.29 avg rating — 557 ratings score: 1,554, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1) by Louise Erdrich 4.01 avg rating — 29,148 ratings score: 1,540, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Day the Cowboys Quit by Elmer Kelton 4.21 avg rating — 813 ratings score: 1,501, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Haunted Falls by Ken Farmer (Goodreads Author) 4.48 avg rating — 249 ratings score: 1,477, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Unforgiven by Alan Le May 4.07 avg rating — 1,950 ratings score: 1,448, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer 4.35 avg rating — 872 ratings score: 1,414, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Lifelines The Bowen Love Letters by Susan Lee Ward (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 1,400, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Deep Creek by Dana Hand (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 1,132 ratings score: 1,390, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Kilkenny (Kilkenny, #3) by Louis L'Amour 4.12 avg rating — 3,301 ratings score: 1,352, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Brimstone (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #3) by Robert B. Parker 4.05 avg rating — 5,406 ratings score: 1,325, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Deadman's Fury (The Deadman #2) by Linell Jeppsen (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 256 ratings score: 1,280, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing by Marilyn Durham 3.67 avg rating — 244 ratings score: 1,279, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Hard Land to Rule by Anthony Whitt (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 75 ratings score: 1,278, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Wanderers by Matthew Finneran (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 1,243, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto by Vine Deloria Jr. 4.13 avg rating — 4,261 ratings score: 1,238, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 14 15 Next →

1,445 books · 1,635 voters · list created December 19th, 2008 by Ann Keller (votes) .

Tags: fiction, genre-fiction, historical-fiction, history, non-fiction, western, westerns

386 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1635)

Ann 6837 books
1590 friends

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
849 friends

Bettie 15687 books
19 friends

Tammy 198 books
1364 friends

Ed 2220 books
5030 friends

Robin 307 books
1107 friends

Arlisa 162 books
220 friends

Marc 761 books
369 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-41 of 41 (41 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Nina (new)

Dec 22, 2008 07:32PM

Of course I had to vote for "Unsinkable Molly Brown," as that was the name of our sailboat. nina

reply | flag

message 2: by Roger (new)

Dec 26, 2008 02:16PM

That's an ecclectic selection of westerns. Like a lot of people, my introduction to westerns has been through movies and this has shaped my taste. Of course, most of my novels and film scripts are in fact westerns, even if they're set in places like Birmingham, the Black Country and Yorkshire mining villages during the strike.

reply | flag

message 3: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 19, 2009 09:28PM

I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!

reply | flag

message 4: by Roger (new)

Jan 25, 2009 03:18AM

I agree
ROGER

reply | flag

message 5: by Robert (new)

May 07, 2009 07:50PM

What about Angle of Repose?

reply | flag

message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

May 09, 2010 10:01PM

deleted user wrote: "I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!"

I agree, its amazing!

reply | flag

message 7: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Dec 27, 2010 07:19AM

Both "Angle of Repose" and a few books by Elmer Kelton are now on the list! :)

reply | flag

message 8: by Seth (new)

Apr 27, 2011 08:41AM

Surprised to not see more Cormac McCarthy, especially the Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. Glad to see Blood Meridian is high on the list. McCarthy is the greatest Western writer, in my opinion.

reply | flag

message 9: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

May 05, 2011 02:15PM

"All the Pretty Horses" is on the list, too ... (currently #57).

reply | flag

message 10: by Manray9 (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:37AM) (new)

Mar 26, 2012 03:49PM

I had to add Elmer Kelton's Hewey Calloway trilogy and Monte Walsh.

reply | flag

message 11: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 27, 2012 01:10AM

On the Road? The Grapes of Wrath? I can see where there's a case to be made to include Wallace Stegner and Tony Hillerman. But those two books ... and "spirit of the Old West?" Seriously??

reply | flag

message 12: by Martin (new)

Mar 01, 2013 02:08PM

This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)

reply | flag

message 13: by Themis-Athena (Lioness at Large) (new)

Mar 23, 2013 03:30PM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

Everyone can add books -- there's a tab up top next to "all votes."

reply | flag

message 14: by MomToKippy (new)

Jun 21, 2014 06:28PM

Cold Mountain is not Western!! It is Appalachia - mid atlantic. Please fix.

reply | flag

message 15: by Robert (new)

Oct 10, 2014 03:01PM

Here are some good Westerns Novels.
Site : http://myfivekids.hubpages.com/hub/be...

reply | flag

message 16: by Patricia (new)

Mar 06, 2015 10:23AM

What about "The Collected Stories of Wallace Stegner"? Many of them are connected and one is a novella.

reply | flag

message 17: by John (new)

Jun 21, 2015 11:15AM

mountain man needs re-filming; jeremiah johnson didn't do it justice!(john)

reply | flag

message 18: by Shane (new)

Aug 31, 2015 08:49AM

Maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of this list, but just because a novel takes place in the west doesn't make it a western.

reply | flag

message 19: by MomToKippy (new)

Aug 31, 2015 09:18AM

True, the list is well defined at the top under the title. The owner of the list or a librarian can delete books that don't fit.

reply | flag

message 20: by Shane (new)

Sep 01, 2015 08:14AM

Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list.

reply | flag

message 21: by Jeff (new)

Nov 05, 2015 11:12PM

Brian wrote: "Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list."

I have to agree with you here.

reply | flag

message 22: by Raymond (new)

Feb 11, 2016 05:05AM

Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"

I agree completely.

reply | flag

message 23: by Energizeddiva (new)

Mar 31, 2016 01:42PM

I am glad to see Westerns making a comeback. There are some really good new authors.

reply | flag

message 24: by Valerie (last edited Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM) (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:26AM

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?"

reply | flag

message 25: by Manray9 (new)

Jul 01, 2016 08:36AM

Valerie wrote: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?""

I consider the term "Western" to mean fiction -- although the list maker didn't specify such. That certainly doesn't apply to Dee Brown's book.

reply | flag

message 26: by Richard (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:11PM

True Grit is entered more than once.

reply | flag

message 27: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 09, 2016 07:17PM

fixed

reply | flag

message 28: by Nina (new)

Jul 10, 2016 12:53PM

How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?

reply | flag

message 29: by MomToKippy (new)

Jul 10, 2016 01:08PM

Nina wrote: "How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?" You should add it if you think it fits the list Nina.

reply | flag

message 30: by Richard (new)

Jul 10, 2016 02:37PM

MomToKippy wrote: "fixed"

thank you!

reply | flag

message 31: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:45PM

Should Into the Wild be on the list? It's set in Alaska.

On p. 4.

reply | flag

message 32: by Lobstergirl (last edited Jul 23, 2017 06:50PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:49PM

Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6.

reply | flag

message 33: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 23, 2017 06:52PM

One of Ours is set in Nebraska and France. Does that count as a western? On p. 8.

reply | flag

message 34: by Jon (new)

Mar 10, 2018 05:14AM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Earth Abides is sci-fi. Should it be on here?

On p. 6."

Removed.

reply | flag

message 35: by Shane (new)

Jul 15, 2020 01:13PM

Thanks, I really enjoyed this list. I like the fact that the definition of western is kept broad, so that modern tales with spirit akin to the 'Wild West' are included. I'm still wondering about Steinbeck, though. Into the Wild, for sure; even todays Alaska is in the wild west!

reply | flag

message 36: by Elyse (new)

Dec 03, 2020 02:05PM

I removed #134 Last of the Mohicans. It is an "Eastern", not a "Western". It took place in New York State and thereabouts.

reply | flag

message 37: by Shane (new)

Dec 07, 2020 09:47AM

Yes, but it was 'the West' then. And it ticks the right boxes. The Native and the frontiersmen, the clash, and sometimes harmony, of different civilisations, power exercised by remote eastern rulers, the potential and fragility of the wilderness, good versus evil and so on. Set in the times before the push for American independence, this book forms something of a template for subsequent Westerns. It might be too geographically literal to remove it, though I suppose some criterion of location must apply.

reply | flag

message 38: by Mark (new)

Apr 27, 2021 02:04PM

Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales is a set of five novels (available together in a two vol Library of America set) that follows the adventures of the hero, Natty Bumppo, from his youth in the Eastern forests to his final years in '"The Prairie" (published 1827) where he is dealing with Indians on the Central Plains (in his 80s!) and would be a good match for this list geograpically.

reply | flag

message 39: by Richard (new)

Sep 11, 2023 02:43PM

This could be helpful.

reply | flag

message 40: by Ray (new)

Feb 19, 2026 11:59AM

Chase Johnson: Follow the Lonely Trail.

reply | flag

message 41: by Kurt (new)

Apr 20, 2026 04:14PM

Grapes of Wrath, East Of Eden, Of Mice and Men. On The Road. They all may have taken place in the western US, but they are not Westerns.

Might as well include _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas_ and All of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe's books, and throw in _Less Than Zero_ (LA is out west, ain't it?) and Miley Cyrus's _Miles To Go_ since it features a farm and her stage name includes Montana.

reply | flag