19841984
Score Classic
What it's about
In the superstate of Oceania, where Big Brother is always watching, Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth rewriting history to match the Party's ever-changing version of events. Privately, he hates the regime, and he begins a forbidden diary and then a forbidden love affair with a woman named Julia. But in a world where even thoughts are crimes and the Thought Police are everywhere, rebellion has a price.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most influential novels ever written, and its ideas (Big Brother, doublethink, Newspeak, the memory hole) have become part of how we talk about power and truth. It feels more relevant every decade.
You'll love it if you liked
Brave New World
The Handmaid’s Tale
Animal FarmGood to know
The middle includes a long excerpt from a political treatise, which some readers skim. The last part contains intense psychological torture.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics96 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #6 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #8 of the 762 classics we rank
- #31 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark
More by George Orwell
Animal Farm
Homage to Catalonia
The Road to Wigan PierIf you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is 1984 worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most influential novels ever written, and its ideas (Big Brother, doublethink, Newspeak, the memory hole) have become part of how we talk about power and truth. It ranks #31 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 90.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is 1984 about?
In the superstate of Oceania, where Big Brother is always watching, Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth rewriting history to match the Party's ever-changing version of events. Privately, he hates the regime, and he begins a forbidden diary and then a forbidden love affair with a woman named Julia. But in a world where even thoughts are crimes and the Thought Police are everywhere, rebellion has a price.
How long does it take to read 1984?
About 8 hours (336 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after 1984?
If you liked it, try Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood or Animal Farm by George Orwell.