Skip to main content
The Great American Read

Grand Finale

The final episode will celebrate all 100 books and unveil the #1 best-loved book.

THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey). It investigates how and why writers create their fictional worlds, how we as readers are affected by these stories, and what these 100 different books have to say about our diverse nation and our shared human experience.

The television series features entertaining and informative documentary segments, with compelling testimonials from celebrities, authors, notable Americans and book lovers across the country. It is comprised of a two-hour launch episode in which the list of 100 books is revealed, five one-hour theme episodes that examine concepts common to groups of books on the list, and a finale, in which the results are announced of a nationwide vote to choose America’s best-loved book.

Download a PDF list of the 100 books here.

Explore More from The Great American Read

How Many Books Have You Read?

Have you read all 100 books? Find out by taking the reading scorecard quiz to get your score and share with your friends!

Meet the host, Meredith Vieira

As host, Meredith Vieira will take viewers on a journey across the country to uncover the nation’s 100 most-loved novels.

Join the Book Club

Get ready to read and discuss the novels, go to Facebook to join The Great American Read Book Club.

Local Reader's Testimonials

Join Betsy VanDeusen as she discusses her best-loved novel.

Jerry Sura

Join Jerry Sura as he discusses his best-loved novel.

Join Betsy VanDeusen as she discusses the importance of reading.

Join Rhonda Lundsted as she discusses her best-loved novel.

Join Colleen Gerace as she discusses her best-loved novel.

Join Tim Keenan as he discusses his best-loved novel.

The Great American Read Community Partners
The Great American Read Sponsored Locally By