BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1989

45 highest-rated books first published in 1989.

← 19881990 →

Why Yukon Ho! is #1

Yukon Ho! (Bill Watterson) scores 8.7/10 from 70 ratings — 0.1 points ahead of Hyperion 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. Yukon Ho!
    Yukon Ho!Bill Watterson · 1989 Comics70 ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  2. Hyperion
    HyperionDan Simmons · 1989 Science fiction2.2K ratings1
    8.68.6 / 10
  3. Guards! Guards!
    Guards! Guards!Terry Pratchett · 1989 Fantasy1.5K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  4. From Hell
    From HellAlan Moore · 1989 Graphic novels221 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  5. The Remains of the Day
    The Remains of the DayKazuo Ishiguro · 1989Filmed 1993 Historical fiction875 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  6. The Pillars of the Earth
    The Pillars of the EarthKen Follett · 1989Filmed 2010 Historical fiction1.3K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  7. The Cuckoo's Egg
    The Cuckoo's EggClifford Stoll · 1989 Technology & IT215 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  8. The Power of One
    The Power of OneBryce Courtenay · 1989 Historical fiction114 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  9. Number the Stars
    Number the StarsLois Lowry · 1989 Historical fiction561 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. Imago
    ImagoOctavia E. Butler · 1989 Science fiction169 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  11. Barbarians at the Gate
    Barbarians at the GateBryan Burrough · 1989 Business91 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  12. Wayside School is Falling Down
    Wayside School is Falling DownLouis Sachar · 1989 Humour110 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  13. Magic's Pawn
    Magic's PawnMercedes Lackey · 1989 Fantasy91 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth
    Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious EarthGrant Morrison · 1989 Graphic novels204 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. Truckers
    TruckersTerry Pratchett · 1989 Fantasy58 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  16. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
    Chicka Chicka Boom BoomBill Martin Jr. · 1989 Children’s books125 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  17. Streams of Silver
    Streams of SilverR. A. Salvatore · 1989 Fantasy244 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  18. Borders of Infinity
    Borders of InfinityLois McMaster Bujold · 1989 Science fiction72 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  19. Brothers in Arms
    Brothers in ArmsLois McMaster Bujold · 1989 Science fiction154 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  20. Mattimeo
    MattimeoBrian Jacques · 1989 Fantasy160 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  21. Shadow Games
    Shadow GamesGlen Cook · 1989 Fantasy133 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  22. Knight of Shadows
    Knight of ShadowsRoger Zelazny · 1989 Fantasy79 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  23. Freak the Mighty
    Freak the MightyW. R. Philbrick · 1989 Young adult51 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  24. A Time to Kill
    A Time to KillJohn Grisham · 1989Filmed 1996 Thriller568 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  25. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
    The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. Covey · 1989 Psychology890 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  26. Sorceress of Darshiva
    Sorceress of DarshivaDavid Eddings · 1989 Fantasy159 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  27. The Silver Spike
    The Silver SpikeGlen Cook · 1989 Fantasy88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  28. Clear and Present Danger
    Clear and Present DangerTom Clancy · 1989 Thriller260 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  29. The Enormous Crocodile
    The Enormous CrocodileRoald Dahl · 1989 Children’s books54 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  30. The Diamond Throne
    The Diamond ThroneDavid Eddings · 1989 Fantasy174 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  31. Prince of the Blood
    Prince of the BloodRaymond E. Feist · 1989 Fantasy138 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  32. The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned
    The Mummy, or Ramses the DamnedAnne Rice · 1989 Fantasy110 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  33. Pyramids
    PyramidsTerry Pratchett · 1989 Fantasy691 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  34. An Acceptable Time
    An Acceptable TimeMadeleine L'Engle · 1989 Science fiction80 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  35. The Joy Luck Club
    The Joy Luck ClubAmy Tan · 1989 Classics525 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  36. Prentice Alvin
    Prentice AlvinOrson Scott Card · 1989 Fantasy78 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  37. Nemesis
    NemesisIsaac Asimov · 1989 Science fiction101 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  38. The Lost Continent
    The Lost ContinentBill Bryson · 1989149 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  39. The Great and Secret Show
    The Great and Secret ShowClive Barker · 1989 Horror114 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  40. The Renegades of Pern
    The Renegades of PernAnne McCaffrey · 1989 Science fiction83 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  41. Liar's Poker
    Liar's PokerMichael Lewis · 1989 Biography & memoir437 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  42. Midnight
    MidnightDean Koontz · 1989 Horror61 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  43. The State of the Art
    The State of the ArtIain Banks · 1989 Science fiction255 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  44. The Dark Half
    The Dark HalfStephen King · 1989 Horror351 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  45. Rama II
    Rama IIArthur C. Clarke · 1989 Science fiction227 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10

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