A Dog's PurposeA Dog's Purpose
Score Modern
What it's about
A dog is born, lives and dies, then is born again, as a different dog, with new owners. Over several lives, he tries to understand what he's for. The story is told entirely from his point of view, with his funny, loving misreadings of the humans around him. In one life he's Bailey, the devoted companion of a boy named Ethan, and he can't stop trying to get back to him.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and became a film. It's beloved by dog lovers for its warmth and its faith in dogs.
You'll love it if you liked
Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Charlotte's Web
All Things Bright and BeautifulGood to know
The dog dies several times, sometimes sadly. There's some animal cruelty in one of its lives.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller72 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- 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
- #10 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #29 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #111 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #225 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Uplifting
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Legendborn
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Quick answers
Is A Dog's Purpose worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and became a film. It ranks #225 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Dog's Purpose about?
A dog is born, lives and dies, then is born again, as a different dog, with new owners. Over several lives, he tries to understand what he's for. The story is told entirely from his point of view, with his funny, loving misreadings of the humans around him. In one life he's Bailey, the devoted companion of a boy named Ethan, and he can't stop trying to get back to him.
How long does it take to read A Dog's Purpose?
About 8 hours (332 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Dog's Purpose?
If you liked it, try Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White or All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot.