,
Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book

The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written: The History of Thought from Ancient Times to Today (1998) is a book of intellectual history written by Martin Seymour-Smith, a British poet, critic, and biographer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Most...
1

by
4.45 avg rating — 331,330 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.37 avg rating — 75,943 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
3.97 avg rating — 235,057 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
4.01 avg rating — 125,218 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.21 avg rating — 5,824,979 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
4.48 avg rating — 57,017 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
3.92 avg rating — 12,912 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
3.70 avg rating — 212,451 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
3.84 avg rating — 404,564 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
4.22 avg rating — 92,784 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
3.86 avg rating — 1,301,875 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
4.30 avg rating — 4,667,234 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.08 avg rating — 87,646 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
4.26 avg rating — 18,340 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
4.28 avg rating — 189,589 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
3.96 avg rating — 44,819 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.17 avg rating — 380,917 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
18

by
3.92 avg rating — 28,054 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
4.27 avg rating — 388,503 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
3.92 avg rating — 317,417 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
4.29 avg rating — 1,175,649 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.20 avg rating — 23,502 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.09 avg rating — 181,267 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
4.05 avg rating — 28,967 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.07 avg rating — 185,826 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
3.76 avg rating — 315,607 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
4.40 avg rating — 164,749 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
3.94 avg rating — 20,824 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
4.41 avg rating — 2,411 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.25 avg rating — 4,864 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
3.69 avg rating — 413,293 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
3.89 avg rating — 36,274 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
4.02 avg rating — 80,574 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
3.80 avg rating — 25,041 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
3.88 avg rating — 32,292 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
4.13 avg rating — 229,491 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.15 avg rating — 16,007 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.19 avg rating — 49,780 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
3.82 avg rating — 89,138 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
3.97 avg rating — 21,402 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.01 avg rating — 57,593 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
3.94 avg rating — 543,009 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
4.27 avg rating — 32,274 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
3.86 avg rating — 17,513 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.23 avg rating — 558 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
4.47 avg rating — 11,907,598 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
4.19 avg rating — 85,293 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
3.65 avg rating — 16,611 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
3.60 avg rating — 9,387 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
3.84 avg rating — 83,973 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
3.95 avg rating — 41,802 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.09 avg rating — 1,007 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
3.88 avg rating — 150,100 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.14 avg rating — 27,007 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.13 avg rating — 4,212 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
3.92 avg rating — 3,788,174 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.16 avg rating — 72,252 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
3.96 avg rating — 45,212 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.19 avg rating — 21,070 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
3.72 avg rating — 26,508 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
4.07 avg rating — 57,734 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
4.18 avg rating — 36,681 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.13 avg rating — 1,162,167 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
4.10 avg rating — 9,984 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
4.23 avg rating — 22,894 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.13 avg rating — 13,766 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
4.05 avg rating — 254 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
4.43 avg rating — 4,709,439 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.06 avg rating — 393,631 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
4.36 avg rating — 148 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
3.93 avg rating — 428,655 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.36 avg rating — 3,633,744 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
3.85 avg rating — 558,716 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
4.48 avg rating — 42 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
4.27 avg rating — 457,258 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.26 avg rating — 16,295 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.20 avg rating — 15,168 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
3.86 avg rating — 146 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
3.97 avg rating — 6,363 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.18 avg rating — 40,213 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
4.14 avg rating — 246 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 25 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
3.98 avg rating — 72 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
3.94 avg rating — 169 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
3.98 avg rating — 72 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
4.17 avg rating — 493 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
3.99 avg rating — 36,171 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
4.06 avg rating — 2,377 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
4.36 avg rating — 17,681 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
90

by
4.34 avg rating — 83 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.19 avg rating — 72,196 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
4.30 avg rating — 817 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
4.35 avg rating — 597 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
3.79 avg rating — 42 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
4.08 avg rating — 166,386 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
4.15 avg rating — 12,124 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
4.15 avg rating — 108 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
4.07 avg rating — 1,325 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
100

by
4.03 avg rating — 5,568 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
233 books · 362 voters · list created May 3rd, 2013 by Hector Torres (votes) .
208 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Hector 291 books
27 friends
Hannah 2348 books
96 friends
Jessica 4381 books
47 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
848 friends
Carlos 5405 books
63 friends
Armina 1071 books
63 friends
Joan 585 books
69 friends
Haley 0 books
71 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads Why is the Book of Mormon on here? I don't see it in the original list.


message 2: by Hector (new)

Hector Torres Good question. The list is not even in the order originally I made it, like someone's been messing with it. I'm new to this so I don't know how to make a list "non-editable", do you know how to do that? That would be nice. Cheers.


message 3: by Ivan (new)

Ivan Well I have to admit that it was really quite difficult to decide / vote! but it is an absolutely very positive thing! and thank god because it means that we have had so many great people / writers in history, with a great talent / knowledge! to express themselves / write! (And to be as an inspiration for everyone of us) I apologize if I made some mistakes of chronological priorities, but what is absolutely sure and without any shadow of doubt, is to give the absolute number 1 to the Holy Bible!!! of our divine/almighty creator!!!! Thanks/god!!


message 4: by howard (new)

howard I agree with Susanna: Why is the book of mormon on this list? I belongs on a worst fiction of all time list.


message 5: by Vangel (new)

Vangel Vesovski Where is Ayn Rand on this list? Tolkien? Thomas Payne? Mises?


message 6: by Sourav (new)

Sourav Bhattacharya Don't you think Mahatma Gandhi's MY EXPERIMENT WITH TRUTH can be considered in this list?


message 7: by Savior (new)

Savior Dianetics by L.Ron Hubbard should be on this list as well.


message 8: by Phox (new)

Phox grimm Thats a list? second most important book would be by ...GRIMMS FAIRY TALES by THE BROTHERS GRIMM...whereby being a grimm tale in itself being bludgened and torn apart until the authors ..masterpiece.. is the color of the d...mn rainbow and lost the real meaning,,oh and here's another kick in the pantaloons, every religious ( book ) has been written by humans..not some divine entity..or burning bush... (*J*)_;


message 9: by K (new)

K VALIS Some of the entries and comments appear to be based on the belief that this is another 'What's your favorite...' list.
My understanding, based on on the title of the list, is that this is a list of the Most Influential Books in history - that would be world history, as opposed to your own, personal one. Nor is it asking if you like or agree with the content or message of the books - it is merely asking for our suggestions for the most influential books. I, personally, have no religious beliefs whatever, but only an idiot would deny the importance and influence (positive or negative) of the Bible and the Koran on world history. Like they say before exams, always read the question.


message 10: by Raymond (new)

Raymond Sanchez In what world is the Principia not considered a top 5 most influential book? It literally is the influence and foundation for all of modern science and understanding of the world.


message 11: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 07, 2017 07:02AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) It is clear people have been adding to this list, not just from the number of books, which well exceeds 100, but also when one looks at the publication date of some, as they weren't even written when The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written was published....


message 12: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Mar 07, 2017 07:05AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) @Hector Torres
I'm willing to clean up this Listopia, if there is a list with the original 100 titles?

By the way, the order of titles changes the moment people start voting for them :-)


message 13: by Favio (new)

Favio Villaseñor why is the fucking hobbit and book of mormon here? and ranked higher than Newton's principia?


message 14: by Sorento62 (new)

Sorento62 http://www.sonic.net/~rteeter/grtinfl...
That link has a very nice succinct list of all the 100 books Seymour-Smith wrote about in his book.


message 15: by Reader (new)

Reader Why isn't the most influential book of all time on this list?

Hint: re-printed in over 1000 editions.

Written in 300 b.c.

Approximately 5 billion people have been strongly influenced by it directly.

Every civilization now uses it's methods for it's legal, scholarly, educational and scientific bases.


back to top