BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1982

31 highest-rated books first published in 1982.

← 19811983 →

Why The Color Purple is #1

The Color Purple (Alice Walker) scores 8.4/10 from 873 ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Different Seasons 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 Color Purple
    The Color PurpleAlice Walker · 1982 Contemporary fiction873 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  2. Different Seasons
    Different SeasonsStephen King · 1982 Horror517 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  3. Magician: Master
    Magician: MasterRaymond E. Feist · 1982 Fantasy257 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  4. Foundation's Edge
    Foundation's EdgeIsaac Asimov · 1982 Science fiction705 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  5. The Complete Robot
    The Complete RobotIsaac Asimov · 1982 Science fiction180 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  6. Magician
    MagicianRaymond E. Feist · 1982 Fantasy221 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  7. The BFG
    The BFGRoald Dahl · 1982Filmed 2016 Fantasy771 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  8. The Sword of the Lictor
    The Sword of the LictorGene Wolfe · 1982 Science fiction118 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  9. Life, the Universe and Everything
    Life, the Universe and EverythingDouglas Adams · 1982 Science fiction1.5K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. Revolting Rhymes
    Revolting RhymesRoald Dahl · 1982 Poetry86 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  11. The Valley of Horses
    The Valley of HorsesJean M. Auel · 1982 Historical fiction146 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  12. Witch Week
    Witch WeekDiana Wynne Jones · 1982 Fantasy68 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  13. Pawn of Prophecy
    Pawn of ProphecyDavid Eddings · 1982 Fantasy501 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  14. Queen of Sorcery
    Queen of SorceryDavid Eddings · 1982 Fantasy323 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  15. The Blue Sword
    The Blue SwordRobin McKinley · 1982 Fantasy147 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  16. Annie on My Mind
    Annie on My MindNancy Garden · 1982 Young adult105 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  17. The One Tree
    The One TreeStephen R. Donaldson · 1982 Fantasy73 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  18. Women Who Run with the Wolves
    Women Who Run with the WolvesClarissa Pinkola Estés · 1982 Psychology107 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  19. Fevre Dream
    Fevre DreamGeorge R. R. Martin · 1982 Fantasy157 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  20. Crystal Singer
    Crystal SingerAnne McCaffrey · 1982 Science fiction66 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  21. 2010: Odyssey Two
    2010: Odyssey TwoArthur C. Clarke · 1982 Science fiction358 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  22. The Tao of Pooh
    The Tao of PoohBenjamin Hoff · 1982 Middle grade323 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  23. The Elfstones of Shannara
    The Elfstones of ShannaraTerry Brooks · 1982 Fantasy221 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  24. Ogre, Ogre
    Ogre, OgrePiers Anthony · 1982 Fantasy83 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  25. Centaur Aisle
    Centaur AislePiers Anthony · 1982 Fantasy89 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  26. The Man from St. Petersburg
    The Man from St. PetersburgKen Follett · 1982 Thriller58 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  27. The Running Man
    The Running ManStephen King · 1982 Dystopian579 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  28. Friday
    FridayRobert A. Heinlein · 1982 Science fiction120 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  29. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
    The Dark Tower: The GunslingerStephen King · 1982 Fantasy2.4K ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  30. My Sweet Audrina
    My Sweet AudrinaV. C. Andrews · 1982 Horror72 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  31. "A" Is for Alibi
    "A" Is for AlibiSue Grafton · 1982NYT bestseller Crime & mystery192 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10

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