Books

What's America's Best-Loved Book? PBS Will Find Out

by Emma Oulton

Have you ever wondered what America's best-loved book is? With so many fantastic options from The Color Purple to Moby Dick, when it comes to narrowing down the most beloved American book of all time, we're a little spoiled for choice. That's why PBS have devoted a whole eight episodes to its new series The Great American Read, which will feature celebrities and everyday Americans talking about what makes their favorite books so special to them.

The series will kick off with a two-hour event next May, and voting will remain open throughout the summer of 2018, while episodes are devoted to celebrating some of the top choices. The final episode in September will announce the top 10 and then crown one as American's best-loved book of all time.

Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive at PBS, announced:

"PBS and its member stations are thrilled to kick off a summer of reading with The Great American Read (w.t.), a multi-platform, system-wide initiative that explores and celebrates the diversity of thought, perspective and experiences of America through the lens of our most treasured literary classics and contemporary titles. The time is right for this nationwide reading initiative that will encourage conversations and complementary activities in communities across the country. We can’t wait to see what America chooses!"

Alongside the series, PBS will be hosting community reading programs and social media initiatives, all designed to get people engaged with some of the most beloved literature to have come out of the U.S.

Whether it's To Kill a Mockingbird or The Joy Luck Club, America's most popular book is about to be discovered.