Goodbye, ColumbusGoodbye, Columbus
Score Classic
What it's about
One summer, Neil Klugman, a young library clerk from working-class Newark, falls for Brenda Patimkin, a rich girl from the suburbs whose family has made it in America. Their romance, and Neil's uneasy encounters with her family's wealth, make up the title novella. Five stories follow, about Jewish American life after the war.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award. It was Philip Roth's first book, published when he was twenty-six, and it announced a major writer.
You'll love it if you liked
Portnoy's Complaint
American Pastoral
The Great GatsbyGood to know
The novella is short and funny; the stories are sharper. Some readers found its portraits of Jewish life controversial in 1959.
By the numbers
- Readers19 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller9 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
Why it made the list
More by Philip Roth
American PastoralPortnoy's Complaint
The Plot Against America
Sabbath's TheaterIf you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Goodbye, Columbus worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award. It ranks #2,047 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Goodbye, Columbus about?
One summer, Neil Klugman, a young library clerk from working-class Newark, falls for Brenda Patimkin, a rich girl from the suburbs whose family has made it in America. Their romance, and Neil's uneasy encounters with her family's wealth, make up the title novella. Five stories follow, about Jewish American life after the war.
How long does it take to read Goodbye, Columbus?
About 8 hours (321 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Goodbye, Columbus won?
National Book Award (Fiction) winner (1960).
What should I read after Goodbye, Columbus?
If you liked it, try Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth, American Pastoral by Philip Roth or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.