Great Short Books

A Year of Reading—Briefly

By: Kenneth C. Davis, Kenneth C. Davis - introduction

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo, Leon Nixon

This entertaining guide to some of the best short novels of all time, from a bestselling historian, is the “perfect gift for busy bibliophiles” (BookPage).

Experience the joys of literature with this this “exciting guide to all that the world of fiction has to offer” (The New York Times Book Review): a compulsively readable, deeply engaging discussion of great short novels. A journey into fiction designed with our contemporary attention spans in mind, Great Short Books suggests fifty-eight excellent short novels, all under 200 pages—easily readable in a week or less—a fresh approach to a fun, fascinating year of reading.

From hard-boiled fiction to magical realism, the 18th century to the present day, Great Short Books spans genres, cultures, countries, and time to present an enchanting and diverse selection of acclaimed and canonical novels. From works in translation like Yu Miri’s Tokyo Ueno Station and Marguerite Duras’s The Lover to popular, acclaimed authors like Toni Morrison and James Baldwin, this compilation is a celebration of classics from the historic to contemporary—plus a few bestsellers, including Stephen King and Colson Whitehead. Each entry includes the novel’s opening lines, a spoiler-free plot summary, a “why you should read it” section, and suggestions for what to read next.

“An entertaining journey with a fun, knowledgeable guide” (Booklist), this eclectic collection is a fun and practical book for any passionate reader hoping to broaden their literary IQ—or anyone who wants to find an effortless reentry into reading.

Not a Collection of Stories

If you're wanting to listen to a collection of short novels, this isn't it. This is a collection of book reviews, suggestions of what books to read and why. You can easily go on line and search for a list of recommended novels for free. Then come back to Audible and get them individually.

Beware Missing Chapter

I was partway through this audiobook when I noticed that entry #17, The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing, is missing. The audiobook jumps from Evil Under the Sun directly to The Ghost Writer. I returned this for now and will buy it again if the missing chapter is added back.