How Do Best Selling Books Right Now Compare To Classic Novels?

Reading bestsellers today feels like scrolling through TikTok compared to diving into a classic novel—it’s fast, addictive, but often lacks depth. Modern bestsellers like 'Fourth Wing' or 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' are engineered for instant gratification, with snappy dialogue and plot twists that hook you immediately. They’re like candy: delicious but forgettable. Classics, though? 'Pride and Prejudice' or 'Moby-Dick' demand patience. They’re slow burns, layered with themes that stick with you for years. The prose in classics feels crafted, not just functional. Austen’s wit or Melville’s symbolism aren’t there to entertain you for a weekend; they’re meant to unravel over a lifetime.

That said, bestsellers aren’t inferior—just different. They reflect our current world’s pace and anxieties. Colleen Hoover’s books tap into raw emotional immediacy, something Dickens didn’t prioritize. Contemporary readers want relatability, not just moral lessons. But here’s the kicker: classics survive because they transcend their time. A bestseller might dominate charts for months, but a classic like '1984' stays relevant because it speaks to universal human struggles. The real magic happens when a modern book bridges that gap—think 'The Goldfinch,' which reads like a bestseller but carries the weight of a classic.

Bestsellers are fast food; classics are a home-cooked meal. One satisfies quickly, the other nourishes. Books like 'It Ends with Us' sell millions because they’re easy to digest—emotional, plot-driven, designed for mass appeal. Classics like 'Jane Eyre' require effort, but reward you with richer characters and ideas. The trade-off? Accessibility. Not everyone has the time or patience for Tolstoy, and that’s okay. But dismissing classics as 'boring' misses the point—they’re the foundation modern stories build on, whether authors admit it or not.