Most Popular Books Read on Subway

Top 10 Books Read on the New York Subway

February 18, 2010

A self-professed group of "publishing nerds" in New York have been noting what fellow subway riders are reading for the last four months and documenting it on Cover Spy. I went through its archive and found the 10 most common titles for an illuminating — if not scientific — look.

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
Let the Great World Spin, Column McCann
Catch-22, Joseph Heller
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Freakonomics, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
Blink, Malcolm Gladwell
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
Everything Is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer

If you take public transportation, what are you currently reading?

Source: Flickr User moriza

12 Comments

Pallas Athena 3 years

I've read so many things on the train over the past four years, but I'm going to agree with KadBunny. For me, Lolita just kept me so focused that I wasn't as annoyed or bothered by people or sounds on the train.

heatherhas 3 years

Tess by Thomas Hardy. I love british lit! Can't stand most of the books on the bestseller list. People are still reading Freakonomics? It wasn't all that.

3 years

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Absolute must read!!!!!!

carrothead 3 years

i need some good reads other than architecture books! thanks!!

skigurl 3 years

i take public transit but i don't read books while i'm on the bus...i read at home every night though...mostly chick lit

boredgourdless 3 years

Me Cheeta, the "autobiography" of Tarzan's famous pal. Hysterically funny.

bigestivediscuit 3 years

And Then We Came To An End by Joshua Ferris. Think The Office, but wittier - better.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years

At the moment I'm reading Belle De Jour's Guide to Men. I love her novels, she's brilliant. :) I've got a stack of books lined up for when I finish this one though, so it'll probably be sci-fi next.

inlove23 3 years

I had to read Catch 22 in eleventh grade pre-AP. Lets just say that book is a WASTE of time!!! This is basically the entire story (save yourself ladies!): You want to leave the military but the only way you can leave is if you are mentally insane, but if you are mentally insane than you have no way of declaring it because if you are in the military and want to leave or if you call yourself "insane" than clearly you are sane". It's basically a giant circle. to pink elephant: I agree! I'm actually afraid to read right now because I'm afraid that if I get sucked into a book and when I'm taking the test the only thing I'll think of is "and .... finally met her dream man". lol.

pink-elephant 3 years

I miss time for pleasure reading. Haven't gotten to get back into it since school started back. But once things slow down a bit I'm going to give a few of these reads a try!!

KadBunny 3 years

Lolita. It's difficult taking on the mind of well a pervert but I'm engrossed in his ramblings. Just started a few hours ago; haven't met Lolita yet.

twk601 3 years

Just finished Rich Again by Anna Maxted Wasn't exactly what I expected but very interesting. This book has lots of unexpected dark and twisted aspects.

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12 Comments