What’s in the book list
Every title is a real, published book that is easy to find in libraries and bookshops: classics from Homer and Austen to Orwell and Morrison, modern favourites such as Project Hail Mary, Circe and Lessons in Chemistry, children’s and young adult books, and nonfiction from Sapiens to Atomic Habits. The Random book tab only picks real books; invented working titles for your own writing are in the separate Made-up title tab.
| Genre | Examples |
|---|---|
| Classic | Pride and Prejudice, Moby-Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird |
| Fantasy | The Hobbit, The Name of the Wind, Piranesi |
| Science fiction | Dune, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Three-Body Problem |
| Mystery and thriller | And Then There Were None, Gone Girl, The Silent Patient |
| Nonfiction and memoir | Educated, Sapiens, A Brief History of Time |
How to use the random book generator
- Choose fiction or nonfiction, a genre and an era, or leave them on Any.
- Press Generate. Click Find in a library to borrow it, or Goodreads to read reviews.
- Generate five with No repeats on for a shortlist, or a whole year’s list for a book club.
- Export your list as CSV to track what you have read.
Reading challenge generator
The Reading challenge tab gives prompts such as “a book translated from another language” or “the first book in a series”. Generate 12 for a monthly challenge or 24 for twice a month, then choose books that fit.
Book club ideas
- Let the generator choose the next pick from a genre the group agrees on.
- Alternate eras: a pre-1900 classic one month, a book from the last decade the next.
- Pair a novel with a nonfiction book on a similar theme.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real books?
Yes. All 217 are real, published books with their authors and first publication years, chosen because they are widely read and easy to find.
Can I get a random book from a specific genre?
Yes. Pick a genre such as Fantasy, Mystery, Romance or Memoir, or choose Fiction or Nonfiction, and optionally a publication era.
Where can I get the book?
Each result links to Open Library, Goodreads and WorldCat. WorldCat shows libraries near you that hold the book.
What is the reading challenge mode?
It generates prompts such as a book under 200 pages or a book translated from another language, so you can pick your own book that fits.
Why are some years marked c.?
Ancient works such as The Odyssey, The Republic and The Art of War have no exact publication date, so an approximate year is shown.