Jurassic ParkJurassic Park
Score Modern
What it's about
On an island off Costa Rica, a billionaire has built the ultimate theme park: living dinosaurs, cloned from DNA found in ancient amber. Before opening, he brings in experts, including a paleontologist, a paleobotanist and a mathematician who predicts disaster, to approve it, along with his two grandchildren. Then the power goes down and the fences stop working.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto PBS's Great American Read and became one of the most famous thrillers ever. It's a page-turner with real ideas about science, control and greed.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lost World
Project Hail Mary
The RoadGood to know
It's darker and more violent than the Spielberg film, with more science lectures from Ian Malcolm.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller54 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
- #90 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #102 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #494 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #950 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Michael Crichton
The Lost World
The Andromeda Strain
The Great Train Robbery
PreyIf you like this, read next
The Martian
Gideon the Ninth
All Systems Red
Promises in Death
Innocent in Death
CryptonomiconExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Jurassic Park worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto PBS's Great American Read and became one of the most famous thrillers ever. It ranks #950 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Jurassic Park about?
On an island off Costa Rica, a billionaire has built the ultimate theme park: living dinosaurs, cloned from DNA found in ancient amber. Before opening, he brings in experts, including a paleontologist, a paleobotanist and a mathematician who predicts disaster, to approve it, along with his two grandchildren. Then the power goes down and the fences stop working.
How long does it take to read Jurassic Park?
About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Jurassic Park?
If you liked it, try The Lost World by Michael Crichton, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir or The Road by Cormac McCarthy.