Ranks and ratings: the value of bestsellers lists

The New York Times is renowned for its best seller lists, making up the top books of each genre throughout the year and their new list is no different. Earlier this year The New York Times released their top 100 books of the 21st century from 1 January 2000 up until the list was published in July. The list was composed by 503 novelists, poets, and other writers and book lovers including big names like Stepehn King, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Anthony Doer. 

Some of the top books included are Atonement by Ian McEwen, The Goldfinch by Donna Tart, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, and Veronica by Mary Gaitskill. This is just a few and nowhere near covers the breadth of books which makes up the list. The list supposedly is the top books of the century spanning across genres, although there are a lot of critics who don’t necessarily agree.  

“One issue that cannot be ignored is “the megalithic influence of American publishing on global readership” as The Bookshop Inc refers to it.” 

The list is heavily Westernised, lacking representation from across the world but also from alternative genres such as graphic novels and writers from varying class backgrounds. It is classed as 100 best books of the century, and yet it appears to miss out on so many areas of writing. Many of us may have read books that we believe are far better than those on the list, they may be completely different and yet this list tells us that these 503 contributors know the top books of the century and that these are the ones we must read.  

 There is no doubt that the list is engaging and each book on there is well written and enthralling with stories to make us both cry and laugh. But that does not mean they are ‘the top books of the century’ when books are so subjective. Readers will always interpret books differently to others, it’s impossible not to, when we each maintain our own personalities and beliefs. 

How do we even stratify literature like this when there are so many elements of a book that make it good? Whether it’s content writing style or emotions a book invokes, any book could be classified as ‘good’ for a reader even if it simply provides entertainment and an escape from everyday life. Literature is often written to share a story or inspire people, but more often it is simply to promote enjoyment and comfort which may not allow it to reach the ranks as a best but this should not reduce its enjoyment for those who love it. 

“Classifying books as the best of the century inevitably limits the vast range of artistic expression and passion cherished by both readers and writers.”

Books are deeply personal experiences, and the notion of identifying 100 titles that resonate universally might seem impossible. Nevertheless, this is precisely what The New York Times has endeavoured to achieve. While such a list can never be entirely definitive, it offers valuable insights, broadens our literary horizons, and introduces us to works we might otherwise have overlooked. Ultimately, these rankings serve not as a final judgment but as a starting point for inspiration, sparking curiosity and guiding us toward our next read.