Best Books of the Decade: 1970s (1955 books)

The best books published during the 1970s decade (1970–1979).

See also
1970s lists
1970s shelf
Best By Date
Best Fantasy of the 1970s
Best Mystery of the 1970s
Best Non-fiction of the 1970s
Best Picture Books of the 1970s
Best Science Fiction of the 1970s
Most Rated Book by Year

Best Books by Century:
21st, 20th,
19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, 15th,14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 10th,
9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th

Best Books by Decade:
2020–2029, 2010–2019, 2000–2009,
1990–1999, 1980–1989, 1970–1979, 1960–1969, 1950–1959,
1940–1949, 1930–1939, 1920–1929, 1910–1919, 1900–1909,
1890–1899, 1880–1889, 1870–1879, 1860–1869, 1850–1859,
1840–1849, 1830–1839, 1820–1829, 1810–1819, 1800–1809

Best Books by Year:
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

Lists for all books by Number of Ratings:
10,000 to 15,000, 15,000 to 20,000, 20,000 to 25,000, 25,000 to 30,000,
30,000 to 40,000, 40,000 to 50,000, 50,000 to 60,000, 60,000 to 70,000,
70,000 to 80,000, 80,000 to 89,999, 90,000 to 99,999, 100,000 to 149,999,
150,000 to 199,999, 200,000 to 499,999, 500,000 to 999,999, 1,000,000 and more

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) by Douglas Adams 4.22 avg rating — 2,020,370 ratings score: 46,337, and 475 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	Watership Down (Watership Down, #1) by Richard Adams 4.09 avg rating — 506,312 ratings score: 31,610, and 326 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	The Stand by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 837,232 ratings score: 29,278, and 300 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	The Shining (The Shining, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 1,712,306 ratings score: 26,216, and 271 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	The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.27 avg rating — 949,111 ratings score: 26,095, and 268 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	Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Anne Rice 4.02 avg rating — 651,615 ratings score: 22,045, and 228 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	Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 4.35 avg rating — 1,512,274 ratings score: 17,835, and 186 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 World According to Garp by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 239,064 ratings score: 17,411, and 180 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	The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough 4.25 avg rating — 365,210 ratings score: 16,728, and 174 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	Carrie by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 849,309 ratings score: 15,766, and 168 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	Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1) by James Clavell 4.41 avg rating — 213,124 ratings score: 15,561, and 162 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	Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley 4.45 avg rating — 164,929 ratings score: 15,210, and 159 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	’Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 662,337 ratings score: 12,651, 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
14	The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 4.35 avg rating — 370,280 ratings score: 11,828, and 125 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	Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 4.06 avg rating — 591,286 ratings score: 11,497, and 123 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	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson 4.06 avg rating — 379,234 ratings score: 11,459, 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
17	All Creatures Great and Small (All Creatures Great and Small #1-2) by James Herriot 4.36 avg rating — 158,750 ratings score: 11,145, and 119 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	The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 4.18 avg rating — 221,485 ratings score: 11,055, and 117 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	The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.04 avg rating — 336,811 ratings score: 10,292, and 109 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	Sophie’s Choice by William Styron 4.17 avg rating — 94,565 ratings score: 10,004, and 105 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	The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) by William Peter Blatty 4.21 avg rating — 272,422 ratings score: 9,847, and 105 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	Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 4.06 avg rating — 280,320 ratings score: 9,411, and 99 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	Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (George Smiley, #5; Karla Trilogy, #1) by John le Carré 4.06 avg rating — 105,948 ratings score: 9,240, and 100 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	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.26 avg rating — 102,662 ratings score: 9,157, and 100 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	Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 273,239 ratings score: 8,869, and 96 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	Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (as "Anonymous") 3.73 avg rating — 292,416 ratings score: 8,645, and 91 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	84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff 4.16 avg rating — 99,291 ratings score: 8,387, and 90 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	Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi 4.06 avg rating — 154,237 ratings score: 8,179, and 90 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 Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom by Corrie ten Boom 4.48 avg rating — 357,658 ratings score: 8,137, 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
30	Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 3.91 avg rating — 296,142 ratings score: 7,940, and 84 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	Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values (Phaedrus, #1) by Robert M. Pirsig 3.78 avg rating — 245,845 ratings score: 7,863, 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
32	Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 256,268 ratings score: 7,734, 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
33	The Killer Angels (The Civil War Trilogy, #2) by Michael Shaara 4.33 avg rating — 92,059 ratings score: 7,520, 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
34	Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien 4.17 avg rating — 185,455 ratings score: 7,446, 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
35	The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 3.99 avg rating — 235,651 ratings score: 6,942, and 73 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	If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino 4.01 avg rating — 112,366 ratings score: 6,924, and 75 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 Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth 4.27 avg rating — 146,108 ratings score: 6,852, and 76 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	Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow 3.90 avg rating — 46,704 ratings score: 6,773, and 74 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	Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 170,009 ratings score: 6,580, and 71 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	The Dead Zone by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 246,741 ratings score: 6,540, and 72 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	A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time Quintet, #3) by Madeleine L'Engle 4.07 avg rating — 111,768 ratings score: 6,434, 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
42	All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein 4.18 avg rating — 58,031 ratings score: 6,394, 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
43	Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison 4.16 avg rating — 127,903 ratings score: 6,331, and 68 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 Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 4.13 avg rating — 302,395 ratings score: 6,126, and 67 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	Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl 4.08 avg rating — 148,106 ratings score: 5,849, and 65 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 Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga, #1) by Mary Stewart 4.13 avg rating — 48,496 ratings score: 5,719, and 63 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	Frog and Toad Are Friends (Frog and Toad, #1) by Arnold Lobel 4.26 avg rating — 97,207 ratings score: 5,555, and 62 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 Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.26 avg rating — 151,753 ratings score: 5,378, 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
49	The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone 4.46 avg rating — 127,056 ratings score: 5,329, 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
50	Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 4.01 avg rating — 48,368 ratings score: 5,241, 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
51	The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank by Erma Bombeck 4.06 avg rating — 11,965 ratings score: 5,163, 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
52	A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman 4.05 avg rating — 44,239 ratings score: 5,136, 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
53	Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Fudge, #1) by Judy Blume (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 142,655 ratings score: 5,108, and 56 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 Winds of War (The Henry Family, #1) by Herman Wouk 4.38 avg rating — 59,536 ratings score: 4,968, and 55 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	Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino 4.10 avg rating — 97,664 ratings score: 4,923, and 55 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	That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 40,794 ratings score: 4,778, 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
57	A Wind in the Door (Time Quintet, #2) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.98 avg rating — 132,441 ratings score: 4,770, 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
58	The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe 4.23 avg rating — 55,728 ratings score: 4,676, 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
59	Kane & Abel (Kane & Abel, #1) by Jeffrey Archer (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 131,376 ratings score: 4,640, 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
60	The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White 4.11 avg rating — 82,430 ratings score: 4,485, 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
61	Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (Charlie Bucket, #2) by Roald Dahl 3.67 avg rating — 120,504 ratings score: 4,464, 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
62	The Forever War (The Forever War, #1) by Joe Haldeman 4.14 avg rating — 180,797 ratings score: 4,439, 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
63	All Things Bright and Beautiful (All Creatures Great and Small, #3-4) by James Herriot 4.36 avg rating — 83,332 ratings score: 4,397, 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
64	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.24 avg rating — 62,157 ratings score: 4,366, 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
65	Deliverance by James Dickey 3.89 avg rating — 33,973 ratings score: 4,354, and 49 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	The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.13 avg rating — 88,913 ratings score: 4,305, 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
67	The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2) by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.14 avg rating — 135,689 ratings score: 4,252, 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
68	A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick 4.03 avg rating — 110,557 ratings score: 4,211, 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
69	Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School, #1) by Louis Sachar (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 101,123 ratings score: 4,073, 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
70	Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, #1) by Judi Barrett 4.18 avg rating — 142,080 ratings score: 4,014, 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
71	The Sword of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy, #1) by Terry Brooks (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 101,777 ratings score: 4,008, 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
72	The Dark Is Rising (The Dark is Rising, #2) by Susan Cooper (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 60,988 ratings score: 3,917, 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
73	War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2) by Herman Wouk 4.43 avg rating — 39,435 ratings score: 3,893, 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
74	Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke 4.12 avg rating — 184,650 ratings score: 3,859, 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
75	Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4.31 avg rating — 272,685 ratings score: 3,796, and 42 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	Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.26 avg rating — 58,945 ratings score: 3,776, and 42 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	Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Logans, #4) by Mildred D. Taylor 3.90 avg rating — 130,122 ratings score: 3,774, and 42 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	Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley 4.05 avg rating — 82,975 ratings score: 3,772, 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
79	A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1) by Ellis Peters 3.96 avg rating — 44,551 ratings score: 3,764, and 42 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	The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer 4.05 avg rating — 23,353 ratings score: 3,757, 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
81	Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl 4.10 avg rating — 72,975 ratings score: 3,729, and 42 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	The Hollow Hills (Arthurian Saga, #2) by Mary Stewart 4.25 avg rating — 23,036 ratings score: 3,682, 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
83	Sula by Toni Morrison 4.05 avg rating — 124,411 ratings score: 3,600, 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
84	All Things Wise and Wonderful (All Creatures Great and Small, #5-6) by James Herriot 4.45 avg rating — 37,855 ratings score: 3,594, and 41 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
85	Ringworld (Ringworld #1) by Larry Niven 3.94 avg rating — 129,066 ratings score: 3,423, 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
86	My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 4.24 avg rating — 43,534 ratings score: 3,329, and 36 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	Gnomes by Wil Huygen 4.07 avg rating — 37,221 ratings score: 3,199, 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
88	Ghost Story by Peter Straub 3.92 avg rating — 83,301 ratings score: 3,179, and 36 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	Fifth Business (The Deptford Trilogy, #1) by Robertson Davies 4.06 avg rating — 20,542 ratings score: 3,169, and 34 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	Ordinary People by Judith Guest 3.94 avg rating — 23,192 ratings score: 3,161, and 36 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	Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr 4.14 avg rating — 29,523 ratings score: 3,110, 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
92	Fear of Flying by Erica Jong 3.48 avg rating — 23,542 ratings score: 3,069, and 36 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	Dragonsinger (Harper Hall, #2) by Anne McCaffrey 4.30 avg rating — 48,821 ratings score: 2,930, and 34 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	Jaws (Jaws, #1) by Peter Benchley 3.94 avg rating — 179,614 ratings score: 2,886, 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
95	The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 193,189 ratings score: 2,878, 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
96	The Other Side of Midnight (Midnight #1) by Sidney Sheldon 3.96 avg rating — 50,419 ratings score: 2,838, 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
97	The Farthest Shore (Earthsea Cycle, #3) by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.13 avg rating — 126,714 ratings score: 2,796, 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
98	In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak 3.99 avg rating — 19,012 ratings score: 2,719, 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
99	The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye 4.20 avg rating — 45,131 ratings score: 2,661, 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
100	Smiley's People (George Smiley, #7; Karla Trilogy, #3) by John le Carré 4.29 avg rating — 42,133 ratings score: 2,604, 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

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 19 20 Next →

1,955 books · 1,880 voters · list created June 14th, 2008 by deleted user.

Tags: 1970, 1970s, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, best-by-decade, by-decade

230 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1880)

Jessica 10606 books
1461 friends

Nancy 5345 books
929 friends

Marsha 4526 books
139 friends

Shelly 1604 books
43 friends

Liz 483 books
24 friends

Brandy 1245 books
62 friends

Ashley 1574 books
43 friends

Kara 280 books
88 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-38 of 38 (38 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Chris (last edited Jan 22, 2011 05:55AM) (new)

Jan 22, 2011 05:36AM

I swear alot of people on this site are stupid and don't know literature. Either "Song Of Solomon" or "Gravity's Rainbow" are known as the best novels of the 70's. But you'd rather read about outerspace comedies and rabbits that can talk. O.K.

reply | flag

message 2: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jan 22, 2011 11:08AM

Just because people don't agree with you, does not make them stupid or ignorant of literature.

reply | flag

message 3: by Chris (new)

Jan 25, 2011 01:29AM

^But it's common fact those are the two best books of the 70's. Doesn't have to be your favorite, but they are the best. And don't tell me people aren't "stupid" when Harry Potter's winning the 90's and 2000's Decade Lists.

reply | flag

message 4: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jan 25, 2011 10:36AM

Interesting. What makes it "common fact"?

Harry Potter's prevalence on the 1990s and 2000s lists has a great deal to do with the books being very widely read. Which is what any Listopia list that is open (ie, not from a "closed" list) with any substantial number of voters really measures.

reply | flag

message 5: by Chris (new)

Jan 26, 2011 12:03PM

"Fact" via Pulitzer's, National Book Awards, National Book Critic's Circle Awards, etc. Scholars, Polls of people asked the best book of the 70's of course excluding the ever intelligent Listopia voters lol. Charlotte's Web is winning the 50's! Either little children are voting in abundance on all these Decade polls or brain damage is in effect here.

reply | flag

message 6: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Jan 27, 2011 08:59AM) (new)

Jan 27, 2011 08:59AM

Like Harry Potter, or, indeed, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Charlotte's Web is very widely read and enjoyed. So a lot of people have voted for it.

Critics and the general public are usually two very different beasts.

reply | flag

message 7: by Janet (new)

Nov 12, 2011 06:00AM

I find that critics of both books and film rate highly those works that are quirky in some way. If they read or watch something that is good, but not unusual, they don't care for it. The general public might love it, hence the mismatch in ratings.

reply | flag

message 8: by Janet (new)

Nov 12, 2011 06:02AM

PS. As for Gravity's Rainbow being the best book of the 70's, most of my very avid reader friends have not been able to get through it. Pynchon may have interesting ideas but what good are they if intelligent people can't read him.

reply | flag

message 9: by Asha (new)

Dec 31, 2012 08:31PM

Chris wrote: "I swear alot of people on this site are stupid and don't know literature. Either "Song Of Solomon" or "Gravity's Rainbow" are known as the best novels of the 70's. But you'd rather read about outer..."
You're the bigger fool for thinking your opinion reigns supreme I'm afraid.

reply | flag

message 10: by Stephanie (last edited Jul 23, 2013 03:09PM) (new)

Jul 23, 2013 03:07PM

"Chris wrote: "I swear alot of people on this site are stupid and don't know literature. Either "Song Of Solomon" or "Gravity's Rainbow" are known as the best novels of the 70's. But you'd rather re..."

This attitude of someone having to 'know literature' or be mocked if they enjoy popular fiction keeps a lot of people from reading some very good books. The same thing happened to classical music. People think they have to 'know about music' to enjoy it and so they won't listen. It's a very destructive attitude.

reply | flag

message 11: by Donna (new)

Nov 06, 2013 06:40PM

It's interesting to watch the list evolve. I just voted and a lot of my favorites were not here yet, so I added them. (The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman was not here, nor was Malcolm X 'By Any Means Necessary'...and for some crazy reason, John Brown, by W.E.B. DuBois, shows up as a book from the 1970's. I am not sure why, but the system says this is its decade, so this is where I voted for it!) It is very difficult to choose between important nonfiction and really strong fiction.

reply | flag

message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 06, 2013 06:54PM

Got a bad original publication date on a copy, is my guess.

reply | flag

message 13: by Srinath (last edited Apr 27, 2014 10:15AM) (new)

Apr 27, 2014 10:13AM

Ender's Game is from 1985. It is there in the 80s list too, up among the top 3, while it is currently ranked 123rd here.

reply | flag

message 14: by Srinath (new)

Apr 27, 2014 10:18AM

The Silence of the Lambs is from 1988.

reply | flag

message 15: by Srinath (new)

Apr 27, 2014 10:20AM

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 1962

reply | flag

message 16: by Paul (new)

Aug 12, 2014 03:53AM

Srinath wrote: "The Silence of the Lambs is from 1988."

Removed.

reply | flag

message 17: by Paul (new)

Aug 12, 2014 03:53AM

Srinath wrote: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 1962"

Removed.

reply | flag

message 18: by Laura (new)

Aug 22, 2014 09:20AM

Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman was published in 2002. Does not belong on this list.

reply | flag

message 19: by Paul (new)

Sep 02, 2014 07:08AM

Checked for duplicates: 3 books removed.

reply | flag

message 20: by Paul (new)

Sep 02, 2014 07:28AM

Laura wrote: "Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman was published in 2002. Does not belong on this list."
Correct date of original publication added. Removed from list.

reply | flag

message 21: by Paul (new)

Feb 07, 2015 03:01AM

Checked for duplicates: 9 books removed.

reply | flag

message 22: by Paul (new)

May 03, 2015 06:21AM

Checked for duplicates: 2 books removed.

reply | flag

message 23: by Paul (new)

May 16, 2015 08:14AM

Removed #111, Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: first published 1969.

reply | flag

message 24: by Paul (new)

May 16, 2015 08:23AM

Removed #136, Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander: first published in the USA, 1969.

reply | flag

message 25: by Arsg (new)

Oct 14, 2015 11:21PM

Ender's Game is from 1985.

reply | flag

message 26: by Luke (last edited Oct 18, 2015 11:08PM) (new)

Oct 18, 2015 11:06PM

Removed Ender's Game (1985).

reply | flag

message 27: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 09, 2017 06:02AM

Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors by Susan Sontag was published in 1989. AIDS was first noted in 1981, but still unnamed, and HIV was isolated in 1983.
Thanks! :)

reply | flag

message 28: by Theresa (new)

Jun 17, 2017 04:46AM

To call people stupid because they have different tastes,or might already have read these books, shows how ignorant and yes stupid you yourself are.

reply | flag

message 29: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 17, 2017 09:01AM

You realize you are responding to a post made in 2011, right?

reply | flag

message 30: by Erin (new)

Oct 14, 2018 03:39PM

According to Goodreads, So Long a Letter was not published until 1981.

reply | flag

message 31: by Erin (new)

Oct 14, 2018 04:28PM

The Confessions of Lady Nijō was written in the 14th century!

reply | flag

message 32: by Ranette (new)

Feb 06, 2020 05:25PM

Stephanie wrote: ""Chris wrote: "I swear alot of people on this site are stupid and don't know literature. Either "Song Of Solomon" or "Gravity's Rainbow" are known as the best novels of the 70's. But you'd rather r..."

a lot is correct

reply | flag

message 33: by Ranette (new)

Feb 06, 2020 05:27PM

Chris wrote: ""Fact" via Pulitzer's, National Book Awards, National Book Critic's Circle Awards, etc. Scholars, Polls of people asked the best book of the 70's of course excluding the ever intelligent Listopia v..."

Charlotte's web is a great favorite of teachers for its writing technique.

reply | flag

message 34: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Feb 08, 2020 09:53PM

It was also published in the 50s.

reply | flag

message 35: by Vicki (new)

Jul 04, 2020 02:44PM