Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of Less
Literary Fiction· United States

Less

by Andrew Sean Greer
Aggregate Editorial Score74/100
★Pulitzer Prize
Published 2018280 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Few works of literary fiction have earned the sustained critical attention that Less (2018) by Andrew Sean Greer continues to receive. Arthur Less, a minor American novelist approaching fifty, travels around the world accepting every literary invitation he receives to avoid attending his ex-lover's wedding. Greer's Pulitzer-winning comedy is a warm, witty, and unexpectedly moving meditation on love, failure, and what it means to grow older. Themes of love, middle age, travel run through the work. The book has received recognition from Pulitzer Prize 2018.

Book Details

AuthorAndrew Sean Greer
Published2018
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages280
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780316316132
Editorial Score74/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2018, Andrew Sean Greer's Less is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with love, middle age, travel, failure gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Pulitzer Prize 2018. Its aggregate editorial score of 74/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. Readers coming to Less for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of love, middle age, travel, failure is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. Andrew Sean Greer's role in the literature of United States is well established. Less can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Pulitzer Prize
winner · national
201874
✍️
About the Author
Andrew Sean Greer
United States
View Author →

Andrew Sean Greer is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of literary fiction.

The Tribe Manager
The Leadership Companion
The Tribe Manager
Leading People the Way Evolution Intended
Manage with human nature, you get loyalty. Manage against it, you get quiet quitting.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Less about?

Arthur Less, a minor American novelist approaching fifty, travels around the world accepting every literary invitation he receives to avoid attending his ex-lover's wedding. Greer's Pulitzer-winning comedy is a warm, witty, and unexpectedly moving meditation on love, failure, and what it means to grow older.

Who wrote Less?

Less was written by Andrew Sean Greer, from United States. First published in 2018.

What awards has Less won?

Less has received the following awards and honours: Pulitzer Prize 2018.

Is Less worth reading?

Less is a widely acclaimed work with strong critical consensus, with an aggregate editorial score of 74/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in love, middle age, travel.

Where can I buy Less?

You can buy Less on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Less?

Less is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Less from?

Less originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅2010s BooksPublished in the 2010s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time