BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1956

12 highest-rated books first published in 1956.

← 19551957 →

Why The Last Question is #1

The Last Question (Isaac Asimov) scores 8.7/10 from 309 ratings — 0.2 points ahead of Giovanni's Room 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 Last Question
    The Last QuestionIsaac Asimov · 1956 Science fiction309 ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  2. Giovanni's Room
    Giovanni's RoomJames Baldwin · 1956 Classics657 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  3. Harry the Dirty Dog
    Harry the Dirty DogGene Zion · 1956 Children’s books57 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  4. The City and the Stars
    The City and the StarsArthur C. Clarke · 1956 Science fiction172 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  5. Double Star
    Double StarRobert A. Heinlein · 1956 Science fiction117 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  6. The Art of Loving
    The Art of LovingErich Fromm · 1956 Psychology158 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  7. Time for the Stars
    Time for the StarsRobert A. Heinlein · 1956 Science fiction56 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  8. The Door into Summer
    The Door into SummerRobert A. Heinlein · 1956Filmed 2021 Science fiction132 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  9. The Last Battle
    The Last BattleC. S. Lewis · 1956 Fantasy769 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  10. The Visit
    The VisitFriedrich Dürrenmatt · 1956 Drama & theatre58 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  11. Dead Man's Folly
    Dead Man's FollyAgatha Christie · 1956Filmed 1986 Crime & mystery107 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  12. Diamonds Are Forever
    Diamonds Are ForeverIan Fleming · 1956Filmed 1971 Thriller113 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10

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