Many literary bloggers who take on this challenge post their personal tracking spreadsheets for free download. Search for "Master 1001 Books Boxall Spreadsheet" to find open-access Google Sheets.
| Title | Author | Year | Country | Status | Rating | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes | 1605 | Spain | Read | 5 | | Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift | 1726 | Ireland | Unread | - | | Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | 1813 | UK | Read | 4 | | The Stranger | Albert Camus | 1942 | France | In Progress | - |
If you tell me what genres you prefer (classics, modern, foreign literature), I can suggest the top 10 books from the 1001 list to start with. Alternatively, I can help you find a pre-made Excel template if you share your email address . Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Let’s be real: 1001 books is a lifestyle, not a weekend project. At one book per week, it takes nearly 20 years. But the spreadsheet turns this impossible mountain into manageable molehills.
Strategies to Tackle the 1001 Books List Using Your Spreadsheet
, first published in 2006. Edited by Boxall, a professor at the University of Sussex
Then use Google Sheets' COUNTIF function to show progress: =COUNTIF(A2:A1002, TRUE) / 1001.
By utilizing the spreadsheet, readers can:
Since its initial publication, the list has undergone several major revisions (2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018) to keep it current and inclusive. These revisions saw the removal of many English-language authors and the introduction of more non-English writers, reflecting a global perspective. When you combine all the titles across different editions, the total unique books number approximately . This means the spreadsheet is the perfect tool to manage this evolving collection.
Relying on memory or a physical checklist makes it difficult to track your progress over a multi-year reading journey. A dynamic spreadsheet changes how you approach the challenge.
For those who prefer modern reading apps, The Storygraph hosts a reading challenge titled "1001 Books To Read Before You Die - All Editions." This allows you to check off books as you read them within the app's ecosystem.
list, which has been updated multiple times since its original 2006 release. Available Spreadsheet Options The "Master List" (Combined Editions) : Often found on community forums like , this spreadsheet typically includes approximately 1,315 to 1,318 titles
that have appeared in any edition to ensure no "must-read" is missed Core Spreadsheet Features
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die: Peter Boxall, Peter Ackroyd
