Ranking EVERY Classic Book I Own

Overview

Spencer gives a tour of his classic-book collection, discussing books he has read and the intimidating volumes still waiting on his shelf. He compares editions, naming Oxford Classics as his favorite because they’re flexible and easier to hold than some stiffer Penguin editions.

Books He Recommends

Spencer’s strongest recommendations include Kokoro, one of his all-time favorites, and The Master and Margarita, which he loves for its strange, magical story of the devil arriving in Soviet Moscow. He also praises One Hundred Years of Solitude, Anna Karenina, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Stoner, Siddhartha, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Some books were harder to connect with. Frankenstein never clicked for him, despite its classic status, though he hopes to try it again. Demons was a major challenge: the first 200 pages left him feeling lost, but the book became rewarding once he found his footing.

Unfinished and Unread Books

Several books failed to grab Spencer on the first try. He has attempted Wuthering Heights several times and started, then abandoned, War and Peace. His unread books include Don Quixote, Dracula, The Brothers Karamazov, and East of Eden.

He jokes about buying books before reading the ones he already owns. He also admits that putting together a final ranking is so difficult that he begins to regret the idea.

Top Five

Spencer’s personal top five are:

1. Kokoro
2. The Master and Margarita
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude
4. The Death of Ivan Ilyich
5. Anna Karenina

He stresses that the ordering is personal and that he enjoyed books lower on the list, too.

Personality Featured

Spencer, the host.