You should not fall in to the trap of wrestling with the Moden Library rankings. Such lists are mere public relations stunts, designed solely to boost the authoring organization’s persona and possibly their budget. They have so little do to with art that a true adherent of literature should revolt in disgust.

The Modern Library’s “Reader’s List” is even more worthless, as evidenced by a top 3 that consists exclusively of the edicts of cult leaders. Ayn Rand at least had the good taste to pretend to be writing literature, but L. Ron Hubbard’s inclusion is entirely unfathomable. These are books whose existence is motivated in no small part by power and money and should be regarded accordingly.