A Clockwork OrangeA Clockwork Orange
Score Classic
What it's about
In a near-future Britain, fifteen-year-old Alex leads a gang of droogs through nights of ultraviolence, and loves Beethoven. After he's jailed for murder, he volunteers for an experimental treatment that conditions him to feel sick at the very thought of violence. Alex tells the story himself in Nadsat, a slang of Russian and Cockney.
Why it's worth reading
It's on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels. It asks whether a person made good by force is really good at all, and its invented language is a wild ride.
You'll love it if you liked
1984
Brave New World
Lord of the FliesGood to know
It includes rape and brutal violence. The Nadsat takes a few pages to pick up. American editions long left out the final chapter, which changes the ending; most now include it. Kubrick's film follows the shorter version.
By the numbers
- Readers45 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller37 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
- #51 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #168 of the 762 classics we rank
- #534 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark, Gripping
If you like this, read next
Neuromancer
The Robots of Dawn
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
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Quick answers
Is A Clockwork Orange worth reading?
Yes. It's on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels. It ranks #534 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Clockwork Orange about?
In a near-future Britain, fifteen-year-old Alex leads a gang of droogs through nights of ultraviolence, and loves Beethoven. After he's jailed for murder, he volunteers for an experimental treatment that conditions him to feel sick at the very thought of violence. Alex tells the story himself in Nadsat, a slang of Russian and Cockney.
How long does it take to read A Clockwork Orange?
About 4 hours (144 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Clockwork Orange?
If you liked it, try 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.