The other day I came across a blog post by NY Times columnist Ross Douthat ranking the most influential books in his life. That’s not the question I’m asking, but it got me thinking…
Leaving out the major religious texts: What would you say was the most influential book of all time? On all of humanity? What book do you think had the biggest impact on the world?
Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
The Jungle?
Mein Kampf?
1984?
A Tale of Two Cities?
Herodotus’ Histories?
The Communist Manifesto?
The Little Engine That Could?
Krista V. says
I'm hearing my AP US History teacher's voice right now: "The most influential American book ever written was Upton Sinclair's THE JUNGLE, because it was the only book directly responsible for the passing of a piece of legislation (the Food and Drug Act of 1906, which created the FDA)."
Matthew Rush says
Probably Einstein's paper on Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies which first introduced his Special Theory on Relativity. Not a book technically but definitely influential. Not always in good ways either. Without it there may have never been a bomb.
For me personally the most influential book is definitely the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It sparked my love of reading and eventually got me to write.
Bane of Anubis says
I'll go w/ Beth S. and Animal Farm. Though she's probably more correct w/ some kid's book.
Claire Dawn says
Wow! So the only book I've read on your list is The little Engine that Could 🙁 Back to the drawing board.
I'm with all the people who say Shakespeare. Although he didn't technically write books. But then, much of the really old stuff wasn't originally a book. Homer, for example, was epic poems…
Since I don't see any non-religious books being leaps and bounds above others, I would also have to add, that I don't think things are universally influential. A book that was influential for English Speakers might never have caught on with non-English Speakers. Books that were important for Jews, might never have been important for non-Jews. Books that changed philosophers' thinking, probably held little sway for non-philosophers.
Sorry to get philosophical 🙂
Btw, my most influential 3 (personally) are To Kill a Mockingbird, Th1rteen R3asons Why and Le Cosmetique de L'ennemi (which it seems has never been translated).
Anonymous says
Blubber, by Judy Blume.
Kathryn Packer Roberts says
I know this is slightly religious in nature, but 'Little Women'. When it first came out (and you can read this in its history) it was the second (to the bible) most influencial book of its time.
As an adult I would say it influenced me more than any other book (aside from scripture). As a child the Little House on the Prairie series was what interested me the most. It may sound odd to some, but I loved the historical value, learning about how they servived without the technology we have today.
Stephen Prosapio says
I like many of the answers already, but one that hasn't been mentioned that's had a HUGE effect on modern genre writing:
"The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde."
There were no horror, suspense or fantasy genres at the time and most can trace their roots to that story.
Rowenna says
The Golden Ass (Metamorpeses) by Apuleius. It's regarded as the world's first novel, it has a fabulous title, it's hilarious, and is wonderfully witty and relevant even 2000 years after written. It even introduces the well-used and well-loved trope of story within a story (in this case, the myth of Cupid and Psyche). Would the novel have emerged without Apuleius? Probably, but you get props for being the oldest surviving novel!
Jared X says
One I haven't seen mentioned yet is Baby & Child Care, by Dr. Benjamin Spock. Several generations of humanity have now been raised on these principles and have been, for example, picked up when they cried as babies or treated as individuals with affection.
It's hard to understate how many ways we're all different because of that book.
Bittersweet Fountain says
I'm really going to have to say "Philosiphiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (Principia for short) by Isaac Newton. It is without a doubt the most influential book in science/engineering. Without this we wouldn't have the three laws of motion and without that we would have nothing we have today.
mkcbunny says
I was leaning toward The Odyssey or Don Quixote, and there are a lot of great suggestions.
So, for a new one, I'd like to pitch Frankenstein.
Vacuum Queen says
For me, To Kill a Mockingbird was the first book that made me think about somebody besides myself. Maybe it was the age when I read it, or maybe it was because it was the first book to transport me there.
I assume it meant something to others too, so that's my vote.
Deb says
Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat or Hop on Pop. Sure beats Dick and Jane for entertainment. And if no one ever got past the notion that reading is drudgery, well then …
Lt. Cccyxx says
This is a great question. The answer depends on how you define "influence" and "impact" (also how you define "book") but I think the biggies are those books in political/economic theory that provided the basis – or at least the nominal rationale – for how multiple governments (good and bad) govern the lives of millions and millions of people. I would say the work of Karl Marx and Adam Smith have to be at the top. And beneath those, scientific and social works like Darwin's Origin of Species and the work of Freud that introduced new ideas that have affected the way we see ourselves as humans.
Keith Popely says
This has been a rather interesting experiment proving that many people cannot follow simple instructions. The question was not "What was the most influential book to you personally?" Yet folks have listed authors from Anne Frank (who wasn't published until 1947) to Judy Blume(!). In addition, there was a very clear direction that religious texts will not be considered, yet more than one person has listed the Bible. (Hurray for the Gutenberg Press. Repeat: religious texts will not be considered.)
After reading these comments, we have a much better idea of why Nathan and every other agent must be so repetetive and strident in giving guidelines on things like query letters. Being an agent must be like herding cats.
Rachele Alpine says
To Kill a Mockingbird…hands down most influential book of my life
Mayowa says
I agree about THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. I am Nigerian and we had read this in JSS2 (seventh grade).
That is a great testament to its influence despite the twinge of sadness i feel at Nigerian students reading more Shakespeare than native works.
Pens With Cojones
Dara says
Uncle Tom's Cabin. I think it made more people aware of the problem of slavery and that spurred more to act against it.
Josin L. McQuein says
Hopping on the back of the "1st novel", I'll add a vote for Frankenstein – the 1st sci-fi novel.
How many people can spawn an entire genre, off the cuff, as a party game?
Munk says
the pocket book.
Johnaskins says
I can't believe nobody mentioned The Joy of Sex! Bookworms!
However, I am going to modestly nominate my own forthcoming novel. Forthcoming as soon as I finish it, that is, and find an agent, and then–
The title? It won't need one. It's going to be that good.
Candice says
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
sex scenes at starbucks says
From a pure story viewpoint (no fair not specifying fiction or NF) I'd go with Shakespeare, even though his works were SEEN not READ. But still, he wrote them.
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN had a huge influence on the US obviously, but I'd probably go with one of the classic Chinese texts like BOOK OF CHANGES. I don't know a ton about them, but for sheer "touching the biggest number of people," they might be it. That particular one's a divination text though, so I'm not sure if it counts.
abc says
This is hard. And I wish I knew a good answer b/c I want to appear smart. Looking at history through my small window of historical understanding, I'm going to choose The Communist Manifesto as my final answer.
And I'm hoping (in delusion) that Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer will be a hugely influential book on us and future generations. OR one of those books that spells out what dummies we are when it comes to our treatment of the earth, animals, and each other.
tentan says
Can I stretch the definition of "book" a little and go with the Magna Carta?
Ben Hutchins says
Out of all the non-religious books that I have personally read, Uncle Tom's Cabin was the most influential–for me. Few books have moved me like that one has, and I believe it is one of the greatest books ever written.
Rick Daley says
The works of Sophocles, such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone. He is a forefather of literature, and I think even Shakespeare owes him a debt of gratitude, as does Jim Morrison. How's that for a wide range?
Given the time of composition ~475 B.C. his works have stood the test of time and have been widely read around the world.
I was going to say the works of Aristotle, but Sophocles pre-dated him by over 100 years (according to my lightning fast glance of a couple Wikipedia pages). Therefore, I can deduce that Sophocles influenced Aristotle.
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
Nope, but yours was a religious comment! Deleted.
Holly says
Not the MOST influential, but how about The Outsiders- considered the very first purposeful work of young adult literature.
Melissa Gill says
WOW, Awesome question as always. So many answers come to mind.
A lot of people have said The Odysey and I'd have to agree that any story that's been around that long is bound to have been very influential.
Also a book that Abraham Lincoln credited with starting the American Civil War was certainly influential. (Uncle Tom's Cabin is also a personal favorite of mine.)
Like many others To Kill a Mockingbird was the first book I read that really resonated with me as a child.
But on the other hand so did Gone With the Wind, and it took me a long time to see beyond the unrequited love to the institutionalized racism.
Arik Durfee says
Most influential as far as affecting the world as a whole? I'd have to go with ANIMAL FARM (or maybe 1984).
Most influential in my own personal life? Definitely ENDER'S GAME. It's still my favorite book of all time, and I keep coming back to it. (THE GIVER takes a close second on my personal list).
Kerry Gans says
This is a hard question! I do think that there is not ONE most influential book of all time (MIBOAT). I think there are different MIBOATs for different parts of the world.
Having said that, there are a ton of great suggestions here – I keep being wowed as I am reminded of different works.
I loved To Kill A Mockingbird, personally.
For greatest influence on English-speaking/Western society, I would agree with Shakespeare.
I also think C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia have influenced a huge number of children, and still do today.
Derrick says
Hands down Lord of the Rings. It's second on the best seller list next to [religious text].
I'm not saying it's the best written, but I'm saying that if it has reached the most people, then the answer would obviously be Lord of the Rings.
T. Anne says
Homer's the Iliad. Although it's a poem, it is filled with symbolism and was touted as a bible of sorts in it's time.
John Jack says
The most influential book of all time has yet to be realized as such, if it's even been written yet.
I'd nominate Kurt Vonnegut's _Breakfast of Champions_ for its Postmodern message of think for yourself, or, to your detriment, others will think for you. Truly the breakfast of champions.
T.J. says
It's annoying that I'm about to say this, but Romeo and Juliet is probably the most influential. How many people know the phrase: "Oh happy dagger"? (Oh wait, that's my favorite part.) People know the quotes from this play so well. Interesting that this book/play defined the way actors define themselves (as a Juliet, a Mrs. Capulet, or the maid (or whatever she was.))
Karen says
Well, if I can't say The Bible, I'm going with 1984. I know of few texts whose vocabulary have become so common in our every day conversations, and whose themes have so closely paralleled what we see today.
Jennifer Spiller says
I'm going to have to go with The Odyssey (really a poem, though, not a book?) or The Prince. The Prince influenced countless leaders, in turn influencing policy. The Art of War is probably up there as well.
Personally, however, it was Jane Eyre. Hands down. And though I'm a romance writer and reader, it was not the romance that influenced me, but the fact Jane leaves Rochester, even though she loves him desperately, because to stay would be to compromise her true self and beliefs.
Erin McGuire says
How about Johnny Got His Gun?
And a tie between 1984 and Brave New World, for books that have influenced the past century.
Kristin Laughtin says
I'd say it would have to be The Odyssey, or at least Shakespeare's plays (which, as someone already pointed out, might not count as "books" really). They've both had a tremendous impact on everything that came after, at least out of the western hemisphere.
Serzen says
While I applaud all the people who chose THE ODYSSEY, I'm going to have to disagree with a minor quibble. If not for THE ILIAD, we would not have THE ODYSSEY. I would put the HISTORIES as a close second.
But, I suppose, an argument can be made for Plato's TIMAEUS and CRITIAS, without which we would not have the legend of Atlantis. And BOB knows that's influenced (roughly) 14 kajillion people.
lora96 says
Beowulf. Patterning of the heroic quest, long narrative poem used in both oral tradition and written form, prototype for many novels/films.
That being said, y'all are much more well-read than I am.
For myself, East of Eden and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori.
LS Murphy says
I would agree with "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
Personally, the book that had the biggest influence on me was "Slaughter-House Five" by Kurt Vonnegut.
Ada says
To Kill A Mockingbird, at least for me.
Teodor says
Aristotle's "Categoriae" – the reason the world is as we know it.
Anonymous says
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
Dave Daniels says
Shakespeare, no question. Nothing else is even close.
Laurel says
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was to Sci Fi what Tolkein was to fantasy. In addition, it was the first novel that took a fictional scientific proposition and explored the unintended consequences of overreaching the laws of nature.
And one more shout out for the Gutenberg Bible…not for religious reasons but because it drove literacy all across Europe. People learned to read specifically because religious text became readily available. Political disruption followed shortly thereafter.
Mary McDonald says
For me, it's The Grapes of Wrath, especially in these economic times. I can see some parallels. My husband and sons have been laid off/unable to find jobs, and just now, my sons went together to find a job in a warehouse. Three years ago, this job would have paid in the mid-teens/hr, now they can hire for $9 and have no shortage of eager workers.
Ryan says
Wow. Boo Radley touched a lot of people. This is a tough question because of the "Of All Time" part.
In recent history, I'd say Harry Potter hands down because of the way it has influenced kids to read and is partly responsible for the fantasy deluge. Kids waiting all night to get a book in this day and age. That's influential.
Where the Red Fern Grows got me in middle school. Made me think about hard work, death, and the cycles we endure.
I'm reading Stones into Schools right now, the sequel to Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. Incredible story by an incredible man. Just read a part about Taliban visiting one of his schools. They layed down their guns so they could swing on the swing sets. Imagine a life with no swinging, no fun. Made me cry.