The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the AmazonThe Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1925, the famous British explorer Percy Fawcett vanished into the Amazon with his son, searching for a great lost civilization he called Z. Many people who went looking for him also disappeared. David Grann, a New Yorker writer who'd never camped, follows his trail into the jungle, and discovers that Fawcett may not have been as wrong as everyone thought.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize. It's a thrilling true adventure, by the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, and became a film.
You'll love it if you liked
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest DisasterGood to know
There's vivid detail about disease and dangers in the jungle.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller55 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
- #175 of the 198 history books we rank
- #1039 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1918 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
More by David Grann
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and MurderIf you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm XExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize. It ranks #1,918 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon about?
In 1925, the famous British explorer Percy Fawcett vanished into the Amazon with his son, searching for a great lost civilization he called Z. Many people who went looking for him also disappeared. David Grann, a New Yorker writer who'd never camped, follows his trail into the jungle, and discovers that Fawcett may not have been as wrong as everyone thought.
How long does it take to read The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon?
About 11 hours (450 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon?
If you liked it, try Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann or Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer.