AlaskaAlaska
Score Classic
What it's about
James Michener tells the story of Alaska from the age of mastodons and the first people to cross from Asia, through Russian traders, American purchase, the Klondike gold rush, the salmon canneries, the Second World War in the Aleutians and the fight for statehood, following families and fictional characters through each era.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. Like all of Michener's epics, it's a huge, absorbing way to learn a place's history.
You'll love it if you liked
Tales of the South Pacific
Lonesome Dove
The Clan of the Cave BearGood to know
It's nearly 900 pages and starts in geological time, so the people arrive slowly. Fact and fiction mix freely.
By the numbers
- Readers76 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 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
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
More by James Michener
The Source
Centennial
Hawaii
TexasIf you like this, read next
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
Ragtime
The Book Thief
The Cider House Rules
KatherineExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Alaska worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,076 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Alaska about?
James Michener tells the story of Alaska from the age of mastodons and the first people to cross from Asia, through Russian traders, American purchase, the Klondike gold rush, the salmon canneries, the Second World War in the Aleutians and the fight for statehood, following families and fictional characters through each era.
How long does it take to read Alaska?
About 28 hours (1124 pages), or about 8 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Alaska?
If you liked it, try Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry or The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel.