BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1966

15 highest-rated books first published in 1966.

← 19651968 →

Why Flowers for Algernon is #1

Flowers for Algernon (Daniel Keyes) scores 8.8/10 from 2.5K ratings — 0.7 points ahead of In Cold Blood 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. Flowers for Algernon
    Flowers for AlgernonDaniel Keyes · 1966 Science fiction2.5K ratings
    8.88.8 / 10
  2. In Cold Blood
    In Cold BloodTruman Capote · 1966 Classics1.1K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  3. The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
    The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You AreAlan Watts · 1966 Philosophy85 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  4. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
    The Moon Is a Harsh MistressRobert A. Heinlein · 1966 Science fiction715 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  5. The Castle of Llyr
    The Castle of LlyrLloyd Alexander · 1966 Fantasy116 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  6. The Magic Fingers
    The Magic FingersRoald Dahl · 1966 Children’s books106 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  7. Fantastic Voyage
    Fantastic VoyageIsaac Asimov · 1966 Science fiction89 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  8. Planet of Exile
    Planet of ExileUrsula K. Le Guin · 1966 Science fiction113 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  9. The Crying of Lot 49
    The Crying of Lot 49Thomas Pynchon · 1966 Classics437 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  10. Make Room! Make Room!
    Make Room! Make Room!Harry Harrison · 1966 Science fiction55 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  11. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
    The Cat Who Could Read BackwardsLilian Jackson Braun · 1966 Crime & mystery60 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  12. Babel-17
    Babel-17Samuel R. Delany · 1966 Science fiction165 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  13. Rocannon's World
    Rocannon's WorldUrsula K. Le Guin · 1966 Science fiction224 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  14. Wide Sargasso Sea
    Wide Sargasso SeaJean Rhys · 1966 Historical fiction215 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  15. Third Girl
    Third GirlAgatha Christie · 1966Filmed 2008 Crime & mystery103 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10

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