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1946 Books

From bestselling novels to critically acclaimed works, 1946 was filled with captivating stories that have stood the test of time. In this list, we highlight the most popular books of 1946, celebrating the titles that topped the charts and won the hearts of book lovers everywhere.

The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts
Written by: Arthur Miller
Outline: Arthur Miller's classic play "The Crucible" is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria, where the ruthlessness of the prosecutors and the eagerness of neighbors to testify against one another brilliantly illuminate the destructive power of socially sanctioned …
Hiroshima
Written by: John Hersey
Outline: The book, a journalistic masterpiece by John Hersey, recounts the devastating impact of the first atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, as told through the personal accounts of survivors, a timeless and compassionate document …
The Great Divorce
Written by: C.S. Lewis
Outline: C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce is a Christian allegory that explores the concepts of good, evil, grace, and judgment through a bus ride from hell to heaven. The novel presents the revolutionary idea that the gates of hell are locked …
All the King’s Men
Written by: Robert Penn Warren
Outline: All the King's Men, a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren, follows the political ascent and reign of the charismatic but manipulative populist governor Willie Stark, who is widely believed to have been inspired by the real-life story of U.S. …
Autobiography of a Yogi
Written by: Paramahansa Yogananda
Outline: Paramahansa Yogananda's acclaimed autobiography offers a captivating portrait of a renowned spiritual figure, chronicling his remarkable life experiences, encounters with renowned personalities, and profound insights into the ancient science of Yoga and the mysteries of human existence. This modern spiritual …
Existentialism is a Humanism
Written by: Jean-Paul Sartre
Outline: Sartre, a prominent European intellectual, delivered a lecture in 1945 to address misconceptions about his philosophy of existentialism. The lecture, which became a seminal text on existentialism, emphasized the centrality of human freedom and the notion that individuals create their …
Zorba the Greek
Written by: Nikos Kazantzakis
Outline: Zorba the Greek, a classic novel and international sensation, explores the friendship between a cerebral narrator and the larger-than-life, spirited Zorba, who helps the narrator appreciate the joy of living. The novel invites readers to reevaluate the most important aspects …
The Complete Stories
Written by: Franz Kafka
Outline: The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka compiles all of his short stories, including renowned works like "The Metamorphosis" and lesser-known fragments, providing a comprehensive collection of his narrative writings. Kafka's literary executor, Max Brod, released these stories after the author's …
The Member of the Wedding
Written by: Carson McCullers
Outline: Frankie, a bored 12-year-old, becomes deeply invested in her older brother's wedding, seeking to be part of something larger than herself, as she engages in lively conversations with her servant and cousin. Carson McCullers' classic novel, which has been adapted …
The Street
Written by: Ann Petry
Outline: The novel tells the poignant story of a young Black woman's spirited struggle to raise her son in the face of the violence, poverty, and racial tensions of 1940s Harlem. Widely acclaimed as a masterwork, it was Ann Petry's debut …