Newsweek's Top 100 Books: The Meta-List

Declaring the best book ever written is tricky business. Who's to say what the best is? We went one step further: we crunched the numbers from 10 top books lists (Modern Library, the New York Public Library, St. John's College reading list, Oprah's, and more) to come up with The Top 100 Books of All Time. It's a list of lists — a meta-list. Let the debate begin.

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Jun 29, 2009 | Updated: 12:01 p.m. ET Jun 29, 2009

Inside NEWSWEEK's Top 100 Books: The Meta-List

Methodology: NEWSWEEK's Top 100 Book Meta-List

Meta-list project by Peter W. Bernstein, Annalyn Swan (ASAP Media); Statistical Analysis: Courtney Kennedy; Research: Emmelyn Stevens. ASAP Media, founded in 2003 by longtime editors Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan, specializes in creating books and magazine special issues. The company has also worked extensively on internet development.

Label

Al Gore's Climate-Change Evolution

By Sharon Begley

Using emotion to convince people to change.

Rural Brain Drain

By Christina Gillham

Can it be reversed?

Heaven Can Wait

By Jerry Adler

A new book promises proof of eternal life.

The World's Biggest Foods

Monster edibles from around America.

Discuss

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Posted By: jbz7879 @ 11/05/2009 9:05:41 AM

a totally racist and bigoted anglo -saxon travesty -the list is a joke
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Posted By: macduggles@hotmail.com @ 10/14/2009 8:58:02 PM

You forgot Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe - a sea of boiling teeth.
Also Heart of Darkness by Conrad.
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Posted By: cafcosta @ 09/21/2009 9:06:54 AM

Isn't this list litle bet Anglo-Saxon ? Where is Lusíadas from Luís Vaz de Camoens ? And Don Quixote, from Cervantes ? huge mistake.

Carlos Costa
Portugal