BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1974

12 highest-rated books first published in 1974.

← 19731975 →

Why Where the Sidewalk Ends is #1

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein) scores 8.6/10 from 1.1K ratings — 0.1 points ahead of The Dispossessed 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. Where the Sidewalk Ends
    Where the Sidewalk EndsShel Silverstein · 1974 Poetry1.1K ratings2
    8.68.6 / 10
  2. The Dispossessed
    The DispossessedUrsula K. Le Guin · 1974 Science fiction933 ratings2
    8.58.5 / 10
  3. The Killer Angels
    The Killer AngelsMichael Shaara · 1974Filmed 1993 Historical fiction156 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  4. The Forever War
    The Forever WarJoe Haldeman · 1974 Science fiction1.2K ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyJohn le Carré · 1974 Spy & espionage292 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  6. The Mote in God's Eye
    The Mote in God's EyeLarry Niven · 1974 Science fiction415 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  7. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
    Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceRobert M. Pirsig · 1974 Psychology181 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  8. Swallows and Amazons
    Swallows and AmazonsArthur Ransome · 1974 Adventure75 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  9. Greenwitch
    GreenwitchSusan Cooper · 1974 Fantasy102 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  10. Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said
    Flow My Tears, the Policeman SaidPhilip K. Dick · 1974 Science fiction239 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  11. Carrie
    CarrieStephen King · 1974Filmed 1976 Horror1.8K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  12. The Rats
    The RatsJames Herbert · 1974 Horror74 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10

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