Lust for LifeLust for Life
Score Classic
What it's about
Irving Stone's novel about Vincent van Gogh, drawn from his letters to his brother Theo. It follows him from failed preacher among Belgian coal miners to struggling artist in The Hague, Paris and the south of France, through his friendship and quarrel with Gauguin, his breakdowns and his short, astonishing burst of painting before his death.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling biographical novels ever and made Van Gogh's life known to millions. It's passionate and moving about art and loneliness.
You'll love it if you liked
Leonardo da Vinci
Of Human Bondage
Martin EdenGood to know
It's a novel, so some dialogue and scenes are invented. There's mental illness and suicide. The 1956 film stars Kirk Douglas.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller36 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
Thought-provoking
More by Irving Stone
If you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
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1984
The Lord of the Rings
A Brief History of TimeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Lust for Life worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling biographical novels ever and made Van Gogh's life known to millions. It ranks #840 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lust for Life about?
Irving Stone's novel about Vincent van Gogh, drawn from his letters to his brother Theo. It follows him from failed preacher among Belgian coal miners to struggling artist in The Hague, Paris and the south of France, through his friendship and quarrel with Gauguin, his breakdowns and his short, astonishing burst of painting before his death.
How long does it take to read Lust for Life?
About 12 hours (489 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Lust for Life?
If you liked it, try Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham or Martin Eden by Jack London.