Why short books are underrated
Short books are not “lesser” books. Many of the most powerful stories ever written are under 200 pages, because the author had to make every sentence count. They are also perfect for breaking a reading slump: finishing a book in two days gives you momentum for the next one.
Page counts vary by edition, so treat the numbers below as approximate.
Short classics
1. Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck (~110 pages)
Two friends, one dream and a heartbreaking ending. Easy to finish in an evening.
2. The Old Man and the Sea — Ernest Hemingway (~130 pages)
A quiet, powerful story about endurance and dignity.
3. Animal Farm — George Orwell (~110 pages)
A sharp political fable that remains one of the most discussed short books ever written.
4. The Metamorphosis — Franz Kafka (~70–100 pages)
A man wakes up transformed into a giant insect. Strange, darkly funny and surprisingly moving.
5. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde — Robert Louis Stevenson (~90 pages)
A gripping Victorian mystery about the darker side of human nature.
6. The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald (~180 pages)
Glamour, longing and some of the most beautiful sentences in American fiction. Read our Great Gatsby review.
7. A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens (~100 pages)
Not only for December. A brisk story of second chances that works any time of year.
Modern and contemporary short reads
8. The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho (~170 pages)
A fable about following your dreams. See our review of The Alchemist.
9. The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (~95 pages)
A short, illustrated story about friendship and seeing with the heart.
10. Convenience Store Woman — Sayaka Murata (~160 pages)
A quirky Japanese novel about a woman who feels most at home working in a convenience store, and society’s pressure to “fit in”.
11. Breakfast at Tiffany’s — Truman Capote (~90 pages)
A charming, bittersweet novella about the unforgettable Holly Golightly.
Short nonfiction
12. Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl (~160 pages)
A profound reflection on purpose, written by a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist.
13. We Should All Be Feminists — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (~50 pages)
Adapted from a talk, this brief essay can be read in under an hour and makes a great discussion starter.
14. Steal Like an Artist — Austin Kleon (~160 small pages)
A quick, illustrated guide to creativity and finding your own voice.
A sample weekend reading plan
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Friday evening | Read the first third (about 45 minutes) |
| Saturday morning | Read with breakfast (about 1 hour) |
| Saturday evening | Read the middle section (about 1 hour) |
| Sunday | Finish the book and write three lines about it |
Want to estimate how long a specific book will take? Try our reading time calculator.
Tips for a great reading weekend
- Put your phone in another room for each reading session.
- Choose a comfortable spot with good light.
- Prepare snacks and drinks in advance so you don’t break your flow.
- Write a short reflection afterwards. Our book review guide shows you how.
How long these books actually take
“Short” can mean different things, so here’s an estimate for some of the picks above, based on approximate word counts and an average reading speed of 250 words per minute:
| Book | Approx. words | Reading time |
|---|---|---|
| The Old Man and the Sea | 27,000 | about 1 h 50 m |
| Of Mice and Men | 30,000 | about 2 h |
| Animal Farm | 30,000 | about 2 h |
| The Alchemist | 39,000 | about 2 h 35 m |
| The Great Gatsby | 47,000 | about 3 h 10 m |
Even the longest of these fits easily into two relaxed sessions. For more books and the maths behind the estimates, see how long it takes to read a book, or test your own speed with our reading speed test.
Final thoughts
A short book is the easiest way to feel the satisfaction of finishing something. Pick one from this list this Friday, and you could be starting your next book by Monday.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good short book to read in one day?
Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, The Metamorphosis and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde can each be read in a few hours.
What counts as a short book?
There is no official definition, but books under about 200 pages or 50,000 words are usually considered short. Novellas typically range from about 20,000 to 40,000 words.
Are short books good for beating a reading slump?
Yes. Finishing a book quickly creates a sense of progress that often makes it easier to start the next one.
