There are 25 authors on this list because so many authors are tied for 5th, 7th, and 10th place. Goodreads makes this possible with this snazzy chart.
My first place author is no surprise. I’ve read more from Murakami and more about Murakami than any other author. I suspect I am leaving him in the last decade of my life, though. However, I am still teaching one of his novels, and I don’t think I’m done writing about him yet.
I’m starting to work through different works from Kevin Vanhoozer, Paul Ricouer, and David Foster Wallace this year, so they will more than likely define the next decade for me.
Here’s a list of the authors I’ve read the most from.
So tell me, who is the number one author you’ve read? Who would you recommend to me?
Some great authors here; several of whom I also have read. Here are a few of my ‘favorite’ writers (fiction and non-fiction) based on number of books I’ve read:
– CS Lewis
– Eugene Peterson
– John Le Carre
– Margaret Atwood
– Steven Saylor
– Walker Percy
– Walter Mosley
– William Shakespeare
– JK Rowling
– JRR Tolkien
– Robert Caro
– John Maxwell
– Stephen King
– Neil Gaimon
– William Gibson
– Phillip Dick
I’ve read multiple books by each of these authors (in fact I’ve read everything by a few of them) and consistently enjoyed them.
So interesting. I have never tried Stephen King’s fiction. I loved his book, On Writing, though.
I… have to say I’ve probably read everything King has written, and had some sort of fun with all of it. He’s best read when one is young, though. I’ve read a lot of Murakami, and I’m now re-reading him. I have some real old-school tastes, and I’ll have to say aside from King, I’ve probably read and re-read more Alexandre Dumas than most people my age. (If one doesn’t read some French, it’s impossible to get to his back catalogue.) Your list tends to the philosophical, I notice! I just discovered Slavoj Žižek through his documentaries and he’s rather brilliant (if quirky!)
I saw Zizek speak in San Francisco a while back. It was wild, hilarious, and brilliant, just like his writing. My philosophical tastes have changed, but like you and King, he was someone I enjoyed in my youth.
I’m in Miami, and he was here not long ago. I can imagine how he would have blown my mind when I was younger.Now, it’s more like: “Yes, I know these things, I agree with you, mostly.” 😉 Who do you think is a writer that can still deeply impress a reader as they go into their 30s?
David Foster Wallace, I think, will do just that. I’m counting on it anyway. If I come across another, I will let you know.
Ah! Still haven’t tackled “infinite Jest” so you may be right
Ken Kesey
Iain Banks
Salman Rushdie
John Fowles
Kurt Vonnegut jnr
DH Lawrence
Kasuo Ishiguro
George Orwell
Jack Kerouac
and like you I’d put Murakami at the top.
Indeed. Wonderful additions. I need to read more of their work.
Love your list, but one of my favourites wasn’t mentioned: Ian McEwan. He’s absolutely brilliant.
I have never had the pleasure. I hear great things though. Do you have a favorite of his?
I actually wrote my MA thesis on time and narrative in his novels. It might sound a bit lame, but all of his books are really great. I highly recommend On Chesil Beach and Atonement (which has been made into a film), though Amsterdam and Saturday are quite good, too .
How interesting. I will definitely give him a shot. And I might revisit this conversation to hear more about your ideas.
My taste is very versatile, ranging from Agatha Christie to Shakespeare’s sonnets. If I’m in the mood for a non pretentious psychological thriller, I go for Ingrid Noll. When I need a good laugh, I’ll read Ephraim Kishon and my favorite spiritual writer is probably Philip Yancey.
I’ve just gotten into Murakami and really love his work!
Awesome. He’ll change your world!
Also, did Goodreads automatically generate this list or did you just sift through your read list?
It’s automatic. If you click on your “read” shelf, you’ll see an option for “most read authors” on the left. I just copied and pasted the chart. If you click on the numbers, you can see which books were read by that author. You can also see this list for anyone you are friends with on Goodreads.
I’ve probably read more C.S. Lewis than anyone else (unless you count plays, then it would be Shakespeare, hands down). Lewis is more than a favorite, he’s my spiritual father. I’ll have to check out Murakami and Baudrillard! http://mitchteemley.com/2014/09/02/why-i-believe-part-one/
I suspect Wodehouse and Agatha Christie would easily top the list of authors of whom I’ve read the most books. Must find the link on Goodreads to confirm this.
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Haruki Murakami is also my my top read author. Some other I’d recommend:
– Kobo Abe
– Gabriel Garcia Marquez
– Mario Vargas Llosa
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I have 7 different authors tied for #19. Ha! This is a really interesting look at things. My #1 is Stephen King (I’ve read 31 of his books) and next is V.C. Andrews. I’ll own it!
I’m going to take this idea and run with it for my blog. Thanks!
p.s. I suggest Neal Stephenson.
I love W.E. B. Griffin and the late Vince Flynn. Mostly military fiction. Outside of that my number one is Paolo Coehlo!
Nice! Have you read The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien?
No. But I will at it to my list. Thanks for recommendation​, Jessica!
*add to my list* Fast fingers!
A lot of people I haven’t read there! I’m not a fan of authors per se so I couldn’t really make a list like this. I am on third John Green book; not exactly CS Lewis but I love his tone, and i love how he makes ordinary people seem magical.
I have only read The Fault in Our Stars, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely check out his others.
Personally, I’m a tremendous fan of Stephen King, Deborah Harkness, and Ellen Hopkins.
Haven’t read most of those. Karen Kingsbury is my favorite
I love all of those authors! What an amazing choice 😉
I’m a big fan of Haruki Murakami too. I also read a lot of Neil Gaiman. Try it. 🙂
Amazing…definitely jumping on Goodreads! I’ll happily add Elizabeth Gilbert, Brene Brown, Brendon Burchard and Danielle LaPorte.x
In addition to the already mentioned authors: C. S. Boyack and Dean Koontz
Not your usual authors’ list. 🙂 Well done for Žižek! On mine must be Kurt Vonnegut, Jeanette Winterson, John Irving, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Ian McEwan. May I invite you to leave your favourite book(s) – up to 10 – in a comment to my Booklist?
https://manjamaksimovic.wordpress.com/booklist/
I would be delighted to share my favorite books with you!
And I really need to get around to reading Vonnegut. I’m not sure what’s taking me so long.
Appreciate your list; I have read only six though. Presently into theological nonfiction. (Is that an oxymoron?)
Oswald Chambers
Paul David Tripp
Charles Spurgeon
Octavius Winslow
*Dietrich Bonhoeffer, to name a few…
Less heavy reading, but not really is Ann Voskamp’s, “One Thousand Gifts.”