Literary Canon
Best Books from Germany
German literature carries one of the most dramatic trajectories in world culture: from the classical humanism of Goethe and Schiller through the romantic darkness of Kleist and Büchner, the satirical genius of Heinrich Heine, and into the catastrophe and moral reckoning of the 20th century. Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, Günter Grass, and W.G. Sebald all bear witness to history's weight, while Herta Müller's Nobel-winning work gives voice to the totalitarian experience from the inside. Post-reunification German fiction — from Jenny Erpenbeck to Sasha Marianna Salzmann — grapples with memory, identity, and Europe's contested past.
#1
literary-fiction
The Tin Drum
Günter Grass· 1999
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score98/100
#2
psychology
Designed to Feel
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Bestseller
Editorial Score95/100
#3
psychology
Happy Children
Peter Burchardt· 2025
Editorial Score93/100
#4
literary-fiction
The Weight of Light
Peter Burchardt· 2026
Editorial Score92/100
#5
psychology
The Happiness Blueprint
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score91/100
#6
business-economics
The Tribe Manager
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score90/100
#7
business-economics
Happy Employees
Peter Burchardt· 2026
Editorial Score89/100
#8
psychology
Hooked by Design
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score88/100
#9
psychology
Override
Peter Burchardt· 2024
Editorial Score87/100
#10
literary-fiction
Nobody: An Odyssey
Peter Burchardt· 2025
Editorial Score86/100
#11
literary-fiction
The Magic Mountain
Thomas Mann· 1929
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score75/100
#12
literary-fiction
Steppenwolf
Hermann Hesse· 1946
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score74/100
#13
literary-fiction
Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse· 1922
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score68/100
#14
literary-fiction
Narcissus and Goldmund
Hermann Hesse· 1930
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score68/100
#15
classic-literature
Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse· 1922
Notable Work
Editorial Score46/100
#16
history
Buddenbrooks
Thomas Mann· 1909
Notable Work
Editorial Score46/100
#17
biography-memoir
Der Antichrist
Friedrich Nietzsche· 1895
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#18
short-stories
Struwwelpeter
Heinrich Hoffmann· 1865
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score45/100
#19
biography-memoir
Tagebücher
Thomas Mann· 1977
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#20
philosophy
Morgenlandfahrt
Hermann Hesse· 1956
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#21
childrens
Short stories
Hermann Hesse· 1977
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#22
religion-spirituality
The Power of Now
Eckhart Tolle· 1997
Goodreads Choice Award
Editorial Score40/100
#23
literary-fiction
The Glass Bead Game
Hermann Hesse· 1943
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score40/100
#24
literary-fiction
Demian
Hermann Hesse· 1919
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score40/100
#25
historical-fiction
All Quiet on the Western Front
Erich Maria Remarque· 1929
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score40/100
#26
literary-fiction
Also sprach Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche· 1883
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#27
literary-fiction
The Nutcracker and the King of Mice
E. T. A. Hoffmann· 1853
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#28
literary-fiction
Narziss und Goldmund
Hermann Hesse· 1930
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#29
biography-memoir
Max Beckmann
Max Beckmann· 1931
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#30
politics-society
Man and society in an age of reconstruction
Karl Mannheim· 1940
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#31
literary-fiction
The Reader
Bernhard Schlink· 1995
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score38/100
#32
classic-literature
Demian
Hermann Hesse· 1930
Editorial Score38/100
#33
literary-fiction
Buddenbrooks
Thomas Mann· 1901
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score36/100
#34
literary-fiction
Der Steppenwolf
Hermann Hesse· 1927
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#35
literary-fiction
Der Zauberberg
Thomas Mann· 1924
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#36
literary-fiction
Wilhelm Tell
Friedrich Schiller· 1800
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#37
literary-fiction
Die Blechtrommel
Günter Grass· 1959
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#38
literary-fiction
Die Elixiere des Teufels
E. T. A. Hoffmann· 1815
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#39
literary-fiction
Das Fraülein von Scudeṙi
E. T. A. Hoffmann· 1819
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#40
literary-fiction
Das Glasperlenspiel
Hermann Hesse· 1943
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#41
literary-fiction
Doctor Faustus
Thomas Mann· 1947
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#42
literary-fiction
Bekenntnisse des Hochstaplers Felix Krull
Thomas Mann· 1924
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#43
literary-fiction
Joseph und seine Brüder
Thomas Mann· 1934
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#44
literary-fiction
Rewriting the American Soul
Anna Thiemann· 2017
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#45
literary-fiction
Invitation to the waltz
Rosamond Lehmann· 1932
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#46
literary-fiction
A note in music
Rosamond Lehmann· 1900
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#47
mystery-thriller
Crash
Lisa McMann· 2013
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#48
romance
Gone
Lisa McMann· 2010
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#49
biography-memoir
Die Briefe Thomas Manns
Thomas Mann· 1937
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#50
biography-memoir
Anne Boleyn
Paul Friedmann· 1884
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
Genres
Religion & Spirituality42Literary Fiction39Psychology36Art & Design36Politics & Society28Cooking & Food23Classic Literature21Travel & Exploration20Romance19Biography & Memoir12Historical Fiction10Adventure10Philosophy7Horror6Graphic Novels6Short Stories4Science & Nature3Business & Economics3Science Fiction2History1Children's Books1Young Adult1Mystery & Thriller1