13 Short Books to Read in One Sitting

Need to get caught up on reading goals? Short on time? Today I’m going to give you the not-so-short-list of short books/novellas/short stories/poems.

These works are short in length but long in enjoyment and entertainment. Several are well-known classic pieces of literature that have been studied for decades. So take pride in knowing that short doesn’t mean bad and long doesn’t mean good in the world of words.

Enjoy a selection from contemporaries, long-gone authors, poets, philosophers, men, and women. There’s sure to be something here that will catch your eye for your next quick read!

There are a few different versions and editions for many of these books. They are often published as part of collections with other short stories or poems because they are short. Therefore, take the word counts with a grain of salt. Some may be inflated because they are accompanied by a prologue or introduction. Others include other short stories and poems printed in the same book.

Also, take into consideration that everyone will read at slightly different paces. These estimates are based on 250 wpm averages. Don’t worry if you read faster or slower than that, you’ll still finish these books in no time!

So grab a book and let’s get reading…

#1. The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem

Author: Amanda Gorman

Year Published: 2021

Word Count: 20,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 20 minutes

#2. Ethan Frome

Author: Edith Wharton

Year Published:1911

Word Count: 30,000

Estimated Time to Read: 2 hours

#3. Fauci: Expect the Unexpected

Author: Anthony Fauci

Year Published: 2021

Word Count: 28,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 52 minutes

#4. The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka

Year Published: 1915

Word Count: 17,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 8 minutes

#5. The Tell-Tale Heart

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Year Published: 1843

Word Count: 10,000

Estimated Time to Read: 40 minutes

#6. The Lottery

Author: Shirley Jackson

Year Published: 1948

Word Count: 7,000

Estimated Time to Read: 28 minutes

#7. The Time Machine

Author: H.G. Wells

Year Published: 1895

Word Count: 34,000

Estimated Time to Read: 2 hours and 36 minutes

#8. A Series of Unfortunate Events (Book 1)

Author: Lemony Snicket

Year Published: 1999

Word Count: 40,000

Estimated Time to Read: 2 hours and 40 minutes

#9. Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck

Year Published: 1937

Word Count: 27,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 48 minutes

#10. Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

Year Published: 1945

Word Count: 24,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 36 minutes

#11. The Art of War

Author: Sun Tzu

Year Published: 5th century BC

Word Count: 80,000

Estimated Time to Read: 5 hours and 20 minutes

#12. The Pearl

Author: John Steinbeck

Year Published: 1947

Word Count: 25,000

Estimated Time to Read: 1 hour and 40 minutes

#13. The Call of the Wild

Author: Jack London

Year Published: 1903