Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Bestseller by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feel
Why Evolution Built Your Emotions, and How to Make Them Work for You
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Literary Canon

Best Books from Poland

Poland's literary tradition is shaped by centuries of partition, occupation, and resistance. Czesław Miłosz, one of the great poet-essayists of the 20th century, wrote The Captive Mind as an anatomy of intellectual collaboration with totalitarianism; Wisława Szymborska won the Nobel Prize for poetry of lapidary wit and philosophical depth; Olga Tokarczuk became the first Polish writer since Szymborska to win the Nobel, for a body of fiction that fuses mythology, history, and feminist consciousness in ways that have no equivalent in European literature.

#1
Cover of The Bad Beginning
literary-fiction

The Bad Beginning

Lemony Snicket· 1999
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#2
Quo Vadis? Powieść z czasów Nerona
literary-fiction

Quo Vadis? Powieść z czasów Nerona

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1895
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#3
The Spy Who Loved Me
literary-fiction

The Spy Who Loved Me

Ian Fleming· 1962
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#4
Cover of You Only Live Twice
literary-fiction

You Only Live Twice

Ian Fleming· 1964
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score45/100
#5
The Man with the Golden Gun
literary-fiction

The Man with the Golden Gun

Ian Fleming· 1965
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#6
The study of sociology
politics-society

The study of sociology

Herbert Spencer· 1873
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#7
Solaris
science-fiction

Solaris

Stanisław Lem· 1961
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#8
Casino Royale
literary-fiction

Casino Royale

Ian Fleming· 1953
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#9
From Russia, with love
literary-fiction

From Russia, with love

Ian Fleming· 1957
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#10
The deluge
literary-fiction

The deluge

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1888
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#11
Goldfinger
literary-fiction

Goldfinger

Ian Fleming· 1958
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#12
Live and let die
literary-fiction

Live and let die

Ian Fleming· 1954
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#13
Doctor No
literary-fiction

Doctor No

Ian Fleming· 1958
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#14
Cover of Diamonds are Forever
literary-fiction

Diamonds are Forever

Ian Fleming· 1956
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#15
Moonraker
literary-fiction

Moonraker

Ian Fleming· 1955
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#16
Cover of Dune Messiah
literary-fiction

Dune Messiah

Frank Herbert· 1969
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#17
Pan Michael An historical novel
literary-fiction

Pan Michael An historical novel

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1893
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#18
Ogniem i mieczem
literary-fiction

Ogniem i mieczem

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1890
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#19
Thunderball
literary-fiction

Thunderball

Ian Fleming· 1961
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#20
For Your Eyes Only
literary-fiction

For Your Eyes Only

Ian Fleming· 1959
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#21
Cover of On Her Majesty's Secret Service
literary-fiction

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Ian Fleming· 1963
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#22
The Civilization of China
literary-fiction

The Civilization of China

Herbert Allen Giles· 1911
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#23
Modern English writers
literary-fiction

Modern English writers

Williams, Harold Herbert Sir· 1918
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#24
Cover of Education Through Art
psychology

Education Through Art

Herbert Edward Read· 1934
Library Journal
Editorial Score40/100
#25
Cover of Reason and Revolution
politics-society

Reason and Revolution

Herbert Marcuse· 1941
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#26
The principles of sociology
politics-society

The principles of sociology

Herbert Spencer· 1880
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score40/100
#27
Cover of Solaris
science-fiction

Solaris

Stanisław Lem· 1961
TIME 100 Best Novels
Editorial Score39/100
#28
W pustyni i w puszczy
literary-fiction

W pustyni i w puszczy

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1912
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#29
The Knights Of The Cross Or Krzyzacy
literary-fiction

The Knights Of The Cross Or Krzyzacy

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1897
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#30
Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, the magical car
literary-fiction

Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, the magical car

Ian Fleming· 1964
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#31
Cover of Children of Dune
literary-fiction

Children of Dune

Frank Herbert· 1976
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#32
Cover of The sentimental novel in America, 1789-1860
literary-fiction

The sentimental novel in America, 1789-1860

Herbert Ross Brown· 1940
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#33
Gants Ṭevye der milkhiger
literary-fiction

Gants Ṭevye der milkhiger

Sholem Aleichem· 1921
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#34
Cover of Octopussy and the Living Daylights - Octopussy/The property of a lady/The living daylights/007 in New York
literary-fiction

Octopussy and the Living Daylights - Octopussy/The property of a lady/The living daylights/007 in New York

Ian Fleming· 2002
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#35
Cover of The Rats
literary-fiction

The Rats

James Herbert· 1974
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#36
Cover of Domain
literary-fiction

Domain

James Herbert· 1984
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#37
Tradition and Hugh Walpole
literary-fiction

Tradition and Hugh Walpole

Clemence Dane· 1929
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#38
The eighteenth-century novel in theory and practice
literary-fiction

The eighteenth-century novel in theory and practice

Charles Herbert Huffman· 1920
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#39
The green child
literary-fiction

The green child

Herbert Edward Read· 1945
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#40
Three cities
literary-fiction

Three cities

Sholem Asch· 1933
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#41
Cover of The shutter of snow
literary-fiction

The shutter of snow

Emily Holmes Coleman· 1930
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#42
So Runs the World
classic-literature

So Runs the World

Henryk Sienkiewicz· 1898
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#43
The were-wolf
classic-literature

The were-wolf

Clemence Housman· 1895
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#44
Pocahontas
classic-literature

Pocahontas

Virginia Carter Castleman· 1907
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#45
The Dragon in the Sea
science-fiction

The Dragon in the Sea

Frank Herbert· 1654
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score35/100
#46
Cover of Fire Bringer
fantasy

Fire Bringer

David Clement-Davies· 1999
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score35/100
#47
Cover of The Austere Academy
mystery-thriller

The Austere Academy

Lemony Snicket· 2000
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#48
Cover of The Slippery Slope
mystery-thriller

The Slippery Slope

Lemony Snicket· 2003
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#49
The Hostile Hospital
mystery-thriller

The Hostile Hospital

Lemony Snicket· 2001
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
#50
Cover of Sugartown
mystery-thriller

Sugartown

Loren D. Estleman· 1984
Library Journal
Editorial Score35/100
The Tribe Manager
The Leadership Companion
The Tribe Manager
Leading People the Way Evolution Intended
Manage with human nature, you get loyalty. Manage against it, you get quiet quitting.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

Genres

Literary Fiction45Art & Design41Mystery & Thriller34Psychology25Science Fiction24Cooking & Food20Politics & Society16Religion & Spirituality16Travel & Exploration12Historical Fiction11Classic Literature10Horror10Biography & Memoir9Adventure8Short Stories7Romance4Fantasy3Graphic Novels3Philosophy1

Notable Authors

Stanisław Lem2 booksFrank Herbert16 books

Poland Literature — FAQ

What are the best books from Poland?

The top-ranked books from Poland include The Bad Beginning, Quo Vadis? Powieść z czasów Nerona, The Spy Who Loved Me — all highly scored by international editorial consensus.

Which Poland authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Poland has produced several Nobel Prize laureates. Our rankings highlight these winners alongside other critically acclaimed authors from the country.

How many books from Poland are ranked on 50 Best Books?

We currently rank 50 books from Poland, spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more.

What literary traditions is Poland known for?

Poland's literary tradition includes Literary Fiction, Art & Design, Mystery & Thriller — genres where the country has produced world-class authors.

Where can I read more about Poland literature?

Explore our dedicated guide at /best-books-in/poland for a comprehensive overview of Poland's literary landscape, key authors, and recommended reading order.