Survey Says!

A recent Harris poll asked American adults, “What is your favorite book of all time?” Here's what the responses were:

1. The Bible [I have read some of it, but mostly for school.]
2. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell [Read it a million years ago, loved it.]
3. Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien [Read only up to about halfway through The Two Towers, then got bored and frustrated, but adored The Hobbit.]
4. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling [Haven't read any of them, still might give at least the first one a try....]
5. The Stand, by Stephen King [Read it, loved it.]
6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown [Never read it, most likely never will.]
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee [Read it, loved.]
8. Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown [Never read it, most likely never will.]
9. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand [Never read it, most likely never will. I'm kind of surprised that Atlas Shrugged trumped The Fountainhead, which I did read. It was a million years ago, but I can recall liking it well enough.]
10. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger [Read it, loved it.]

Comments

[Wendy]

1,2,6,7,8,9,10 - ditto. 3 - I was in Tolkien Club in jr. high. 'Nuf said. Also love, in a less intense way, the HP books. I don't believe people who tell me they so so love Ayn Rand. I just don't get it at all.

[Deb C]

Have to agree with "To Kill a Mockingbird." It's my all time favorite without a doubt. Also included on MY list would be "East of Eden" by Steinbeck and "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck.

[Kirsty]

For me, the first Harry Potter is the best. The last one was good, too.

I thought the best book of all time was supposed to be Pride and Prejudice? Or maybe that was just voted so in the UK... hmm...

[raych]

I cannot believe TWO Dan Brown books made the top ten. This makes me want to turn in my 'Human Race' card.

[TwoBusy]

I'm guessing that two Dan Brown books made the list because, for a significant percentage of those responding to the poll, those are the only two books the respondents have ever read.

"Wow, reading IS fun! As long as it's Dan Brown. He makes me feel smart!"

[James]

I'm giggling over "He makes me feel smart!"

I want to complain about the list. If I convinced people that I could damn them to Hell for all eternity, I bet I could get people to say my book was their favorite as well.

Angels and Demos was "meh." Listened to that one in the car. I have no interest in Da Vinci Code after hearing the passages a friend read to me. Which is weird, because I generally like that kind of story. I just didn't like the writing at all.

My favorite book? I can't say, but _To Kill a Mockingbird_ is right up there, with _Catcher in the Rye_ as well, but it almost doesn't seem fair.

I'd be more interested to hear what people have as their favorite under-appreciated book.

_Godel, Escher, Bach_ is the book I recently bought a close friend. I recommend it to all people working in computer science and other technology fields. Great book about Mathematics and thinking.

[B.O.B.(bob)]

Let's see. read 2, 4,7, 9 and 10. Liked or loved them all. Atlas Shrugged is much more enjoyable than The Fountainhead (less preachy more SciFi) I've actually reeread it and I'll never read the Fountainhead again.

Love LOR but I agree The Hobbit is more enjoyable.

The Harry Potters were fun reads.

re. Dan Brown and missing books remember this is a popularity contest (favorite book) not a list of best books.

My favorite of all time? I guess I'd smoosh all of the Tolkein's from The Hobbit through the Return of the King as I consider them all one story anyway. Most read for me anyway.

Oh and how disingenous is the bible answer? Are there really that many people out there who actively enjoy reading it? Not sure whether to be stunned or frightened by that.

[ShortyMom]

I've read some of #1 but never make it through all of it. #2,4,6 and 7 have read them all. I have GWTW and it is on my reading list again. I loved the Harry Potter books but didn't really get "hooked" until the 3rd one (also on my reading list again). I wasn't sure I'd like the Da Vinci Code but actually found it to be a pretty good read. I think I read #5 but I've lost count of all the Stephen King's that I've read. #3 and 9 don't have an interest in. #10 is on my eventual reading list and I wouldn't mind reading #8 either.

[Joel]

1. The Bible - I have read all of it, in a Bible as Literature course in college. Good when taken in historical context and deadly when taken out of context.
2. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell - Saw the movie. Probably won't read...
3. Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien - Read it all multiple times, My Preciousssss. Geekdom and scholarship collide.
4. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling - Meh. - Maybe I am too old to "get it" but I love the Lemony Snicket "Series of Unfortunate Events" books. They appeal to my inner Edward Gorey,
5. The Stand, by Stephen King - No thanks.
6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown - Dan Brown is a bad writer.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee - Yes, yes, yes.
8. Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown - Did I mention Dan Brown is a bad writer? Just try to get through his pablum "Digital Fortress" and not root for the protagonist to die, die, die.
9. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand - A thought provoker
10. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger - The man, although I preferred "Franny & Zooey".

Where da Kerouac at?

[steve]

"To Kill A Mockingbird" is definitely on my all-time list. Dan Brown? What is that about? Are the folks who voted for his books the same people who's book shelf (singular) is loaded with John Grisham?

Loved "Gone With The Wind" but found it exhausting. And I agree with Wendy on the Ayn Rand thing - I just don't get it. Though I did enjoy "Fountainhead" well enough. Then again, I read most of Anne Rice, too.

No one's mentioned Toni Morrison's "Beloved." It has stuck with me since I first read it in the late 80s.

[Karen]

This reminds me of an old post on my Top Ten books: http://verbatim.blogs.com/verbatim/2007/04/my_top_ten.html