The GodfatherThe Godfather
Score Classic
What it's about
Don Vito Corleone is the most powerful Mafia boss in New York: a man who grants favors, demands loyalty and settles disputes with offers no one can refuse. When a rival family tries to kill him over a drug deal he won't join, war breaks out among New York's crime families, and his youngest son Michael, a war hero who wanted nothing to do with the family business, is pulled in, with consequences no one could have predicted.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most gripping crime novels ever written and a dark, operatic family saga about power, loyalty and the American dream. Even if you've seen the films, the book has more depth and backstory.
You'll love it if you liked
East of Eden
Lonesome Dove
Gone with the WindGood to know
It's violent and has some explicit sexual content. Several side plots were cut from the films, which some readers love and others skim.
By the numbers
- Readers97 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller87 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
- #7 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #24 of the 762 classics we rank
- #92 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Mario Puzo
If you like this, read next
The Pillars of the Earth
The Robots of Dawn
Borderline
The Lord of the Rings
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
In Cold BloodExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Godfather worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most gripping crime novels ever written and a dark, operatic family saga about power, loyalty and the American dream. It ranks #92 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Godfather about?
Don Vito Corleone is the most powerful Mafia boss in New York: a man who grants favors, demands loyalty and settles disputes with offers no one can refuse. When a rival family tries to kill him over a drug deal he won't join, war breaks out among New York's crime families, and his youngest son Michael, a war hero who wanted nothing to do with the family business, is pulled in, with consequences no one could have predicted.
How long does it take to read The Godfather?
About 12 hours (479 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Godfather?
If you liked it, try East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry or Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.