BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1955

17 highest-rated books first published in 1955.

← 19541956 →

Why The Return of the King is #1

The Return of the King (J. R. R. Tolkien) scores 9.1/10 from 2.1K ratings — 0.9 points ahead of The End of Eternity in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. The Return of the King
    The Return of the KingJ. R. R. Tolkien · 1955Filmed 2003 Fantasy2.1K ratings
    9.19.1 / 10
  2. The End of Eternity
    The End of EternityIsaac Asimov · 1955Filmed 1987 Science fiction357 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  3. Harold and the Purple Crayon
    Harold and the Purple CrayonCrockett Johnson · 1955 Children’s books148 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  4. Notes of a Native Son
    Notes of a Native SonJames Baldwin · 1955 Essays78 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  5. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
    The Myth of Sisyphus and Other EssaysAlbert Camus · 1955 Essays456 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  6. Surprised by Joy
    Surprised by JoyC. S. Lewis · 1955 Biography & memoir80 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  7. The Origins of Totalitarianism
    The Origins of TotalitarianismHannah Arendt · 1955 Politics & society55 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  8. The October Country
    The October CountryRay Bradbury · 1955 Fantasy83 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  9. Beezus and Ramona
    Beezus and RamonaBeverly Cleary · 1955 Children’s books156 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  10. The Quiet American
    The Quiet AmericanGraham Greene · 1955 Classics164 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  11. Lolita
    LolitaVladimir Nabokov · 1955 Classics1.7K ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  12. Five on a Treasure Island
    Five on a Treasure IslandEnid Blyton · 1955Filmed 1957 Crime & mystery100 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  13. The Magician's Nephew
    The Magician's NephewC. S. Lewis · 1955 Fantasy1.3K ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  14. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    Cat on a Hot Tin RoofTennessee Williams · 1955 Drama & theatre87 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  15. The Talented Mr. Ripley
    The Talented Mr. RipleyPatricia Highsmith · 1955 Crime & mystery290 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  16. The Chrysalids
    The ChrysalidsJohn Wyndham · 1955 Science fiction207 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  17. Moonraker
    MoonrakerIan Fleming · 1955 Spy & espionage143 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10

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