26 Books That Defined the 1960s
From Sylvia Plath to Truman Capote, the 1960s was full of superb writers who helped define the era.
Of course, the 1960s gave these writers quite a lot to discuss, from free love and individualism to mental health and the role of gender. It was a time full of transformation when questioning authority was at an all-time high. It was also a time to notice the injustice in America and to rise and fight against it.
With so many important books published at the time, it's hard to narrow down a list of influential titles. However, some books, collections, and plays stand above the rest when it comes to exploring crucial topics and changing the path of literature.
1. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley significantly impacted the cultural landscape of the 1960s. The book, narrated by Malcolm X, discusses racial tensions and equality struggles in the light of the Civil Rights Movement. This book inspired people to question mainstream thinking and the norms in society.
More specifically, it encouraged readers to challenge assumptions about race. It also empowered Black Americans to feel more empowered in their identity. Both of these things brought about more activism, particularly regarding racial injustice, a rampant issue in the 1960s that is still present today.
2. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, is based on a true story about the Clutter family murders in Kansas. This book transformed the true crime drama by telling the story from the point of view of a character who is deeply invested in the investigation. In the book, Capote humanizes all the characters, including the killers.
Not only did it transform the true crime drama, but it also translated to the times by mirroring society's social anxiety. The 1960s was an uncertain time for many reasons, including the presidential assassination, civil rights issues, and the Vietnam War. Because of this, people's anxieties about the world escalated, as they did in Capote's book.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a literary gem that is still relevant and highly read. This book explores themes such as racial injustice and empathy. It also calls into question society's duty and moral responsibility in cases of crime and equality.
In addition to questioning society's moral duty, To Kill A Mockingbird also succeeded in calling out Southern culture and highlighting the prejudices in that region. Instead of romanticizing Southern charm as other authors had done it shined a light on real issues in the South.
4. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin is a supernatural horror novel that is still an essential book for horror lovers. Audiences enjoy the psychological paranoia surrounding Rosemary's pregnancy in the story. Published in 1967, this bestselling book with cultural and religious themes was later turned into a movie starring Mia Farrow and directed by Roman Polanski. Both the film and book are considered classics.
In both the film and the movie, it is clear that Rosemary is a radical woman for that era. Not only does she take control of her autonomy, but she represents the dangers of a patriarchal society while also commenting on the decisions men are making regarding women's bodies.
5. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak loosened the rules on children's books by playing with format. It was the first book to have six pages in a row with no words, only pictures, in the middle of the story. This at-the-time unconventional book also encouraged children to explore their imaginations and embrace creativity.
Along with encouraging imagination, Where the Wild Things Are also explores emotions. It gives children the message that emotions are healthy and can be explored in their “inner worlds.” From fear to anger to loneliness, the main character, Max, showcases that expressing and feeling his emotions is healthy and necessary.
6. The Feminine Mystique by. Betty Friedan
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan challenges the 1960s definition of “women's work” and the feminine role in society. It helped accelerate and support the feminist movement of the 1960s, pushing women to seek liberation. It also sparked conversations about equality for all.
Along with sparking activism, The Feminine Mystique women were restricted by society helped to redefine femininity. Since it highlighted how it encouraged women to take control of their bodies and choices. Many women, because of this, pursued education and career opportunities.
7. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee is a play that premiered in 1962. Albee exposes the underlying tension of a conventional marriage in a transformative time. The husband and wife of the play, George and Martha, help to showcase the intricacies of marriage while also showing the complexity of all human relationships.
Besides exploring marital tensions behind picture-perfect relationships, Albee also explored sexual taboos in a very conservative time. He did this by addressing topics such as infidelity and sexual frustration. It opened up the conversation for topics that were otherwise hushed.
8. Night by Elie Wiesel
Night by Elie Wiesel is a memoir about Wiesel's experiences as a Jewish civilian during the Holocaust. Published in 1960, this book shed light on the horrors and trauma of the Holocaust. It also taught empathy, human dignity, and the importance of witnessing and remembering historical acts of violence. It also puts duty onto civilians regarding their responsibilities during witnessed cruelty.
Not only does Night serve as a remembrance of the Holocaust, but it relates directly to Black activism in the 1960s. Its themes of oppression and the fight for equality translated smoothly to the 1960s racial tensions and the Civil Rights Movement, possibly inspiring more activism.
9. Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has been widely read since publishing in 1969. This autobiographical piece by Angelou dives into her life as a young girl navigating racism and trauma. The book shows how these struggles shaped Angelou as a person. It is also known for helping to define the complexities of race and gender during the 1960s as a whole.
On a personal level, it was a clear representation of the Black experience in the 1960s. Through this book, Angelou was able to use her voice to relay the struggles and successes of the Black community during this time.
10. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates is a literary commentary on the disillusioned American Dream. Told through the marriage of April and Frank Wheeler, the story delves into the home of a post-World War II suburban couple. It explores the dissatisfaction with the life all Americans work towards. This book helped examine the human condition during a time of cultural, political, and social change.
It also explores traditional gender roles. In the book, April's unhappiness with her average suburban life opens up the discussion of society's restriction on women during the 1960s. Yates explores a private part of life and exposes its many problems regarding gender expectations.
11. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a fantastical and charming story that was published in 1964 and later made into a film. The book aligns with the 1960s non-conformity movement and encourages creativity and imagination. Not only does this book provide a delightful escape for readers, but it also promotes the rejection of societal norms and pokes fun at consumerism and capitalism.
The book also touches on morals and ethics through the character's actions. The children, as a whole, represent greed, selfishness, and the pursuit of wealth. Charlie, on the other hand, represents empathy and kindness.
12. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Godfather by Mario Puzo is a novel set in the world of organized crime. This famous novel later became a film with quotable lines. This book was published in 1969 and comprises themes such as power, family, and the American Dream. These themes are explored in an everchanging world that mirrored the time at which it was published.
This book showed the dark side of the American Dream by exploring corruption and crime. It questioned ethics through its character's betrayals and ambition. This resonated with readers who were questioning morality concerning race and gender in the 1960s.
13. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is a novel that's set in a mental institution. It mirrored the 1960s because of its theme of resistance against authority and conformity. It commented on the dehumanizing nature of institutions and encouraged rebellion through the main character of Randle P. McMurphy.
It depicted inhumane mental health treatments that helped stir a conversation about ethics when it comes to psychiatric care. Years after this book, more community-based care was established, and patient rights were established.
14. Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein is a science fiction novel published in 1961. It explores the theme of free love, which the 1960s also explored at the time. Along with free love, it encouraged individualism and spirituality, which aligned with the social and political climate of the 1960s.
The celebration of sexual freedom in this book translates well to the sexual revolution that was forming in the 1960s. The novel conveyed communal living, open relationships, and prideful sexuality that resonated with the hippies of that era. It was a topic that was not often explored in literature at that time.
15. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess was published in 1962 and greatly impacted 1960s culture. Like many other books during this time, it explores free will and the dehumanization done to us by people of authority and the system. This novel showed a dark portrayal of traditional values and structure that made people question authority.
It's also known for its impact on language. Burgess creates a whole dialect that the characters use throughout the novel. He called the language Nadsat, and it was essentially a mix of English and Russian.
16. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a children's book that was published in 1962. This beloved story was groundbreaking because it represented a minority. The main character in the story is an African American boy. Diversity in children's books was very scarce at the time, but this aligned with social changes such as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
The book ended up winning the Caldecott Medal in 1963 and numerous other awards. With it being recognized so commercially, it became a gateway for other diverse children's books to be published. It also shined a brighter light on children's literature, giving it more attention.
17. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is a novel with themes such as isolation, societal judgment, and general unease. This fits perfectly with the 1960s when people began to stray from social norms and traditions despite the consequences.
Sister characters Merricat and Constance are ostracized in the book, showcasing the theme of small-town prejudice. This directly relates to the era as people were becoming more and more aware of the consequences of being an outsider.
18. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a novel that deals with gender roles and the expectations that go along with them during the 1960s. The book dives into the human condition and mental health and helps to shape discussions on these important topics during that time. Plath's work also voiced the challenges women were facing in the 1960s.
In the book, the main character, Esther, has to navigate through a patriarchal society filled with societal expectations and restraints, much like the real women of the time. The book shows her fight for identity through these restrictions, leading readers to question gender roles in the 1960s.
19. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a classic children's book published in 1964. This book differed greatly from other children's books at the time because it delved into society's attitudes towards nature. It also touches on materialism and human's effect on the environment.
This book has become iconic and remains popular today. The image of the boy and the tree on the cover is instantly recognizable. The Giving Tree animation has even been turned into and adapted for stage.
20. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a classic novel that explores war trauma during the peace-seeking 60s. This anti-war book has an unconventional storytelling structure that aligns with the time's nonconformism. It also delves into topics such as the human condition, time, and the search for meaning in a crazy world.
The war theme in this novel conveys its senselessness. It also comments on the brutality of it all. To this day, this book helps readers question the morality of war and the effects of violence. In the 1960s, the Vietnam War sparked an anti-war movement, which ties into these themes.
21. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle was published in 1962 and follows the adventures of Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin as they travel through time and space. The scientific concepts explored in this book aligned with the 1960s' interest in space. The novel also followed other 1960s themes, such as love and individualism.
The novel also featured strong, intelligent, and adventurous women. The characters of Meg Murry and her mother, Mrs. Murry, became literary role models to young girls. This representation of females went against the stereotypes of women in society and encouraged girls to become more.
22. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion is an essay collection that was published in 1968. It discusses the cultural shifts of the 1960s and the uncertainties in an ever-changing era. Like other 1960s works, it questions tradition and discusses the political dynamics of the time.
It also essentially critiques the era by exposing underlying tensions. She delves into the realities of poverty, inequality, and violence in America. She highlights America's illusions, such as glamourous California, but then dives below the surface to shed light on the real America.
23. All My Pretty Ones by Anne Sexton
All My Pretty Ones is a poetry collection written by Anne Sexton and published in 1962. Like Plath, Sexton delved into themes such as femininity, societal expectations of gender roles, and mental health. Her intimate and emotional poetry shed light on women's struggles in the 1960s.
Anne Sexton was one of the leaders of confessional poetry. This genre is intensely raw and autobiographical. With each collection and poem, Sexton encouraged other poets to dig deep, show vulnerability, and create honest poetry.
24. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy was published in 1961 but is still widely read today. The novel follows Binx Bolling, who struggles with detachment and the monotony of everyday existence. It helped and continues to help people search for purpose in an ever-changing world.
The novel also comments on America's materialism. It pokes fun at the emptiness of pursuing a life of wealth and status. Percy does this effectively through Binx's obsession with movies throughout the book.
25. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was published in 1963. It aligns with the time's social anxieties and questions about 1960s ethics. This satire helped define the 1960s by assisting readers to think about the concerns of the social and cultural landscape of the era.
This novel became a cautionary tale about science and technology. Vonnegut explores the idea of scientific research for war and destruction. This resonated with readers at a time when scientific research was being done about The Cold War and the Space Race.
26. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov was an innovative novel published in 1962. This book was unique because of its unreliable narrator and untraditional structure. It defied literary norms, aligning with the rejection of authority in the 1960s.
To this day, Pale Fire inspires writers to write outside the box and challenge traditional formatting. Nabokov, with his layered symbolism, complex structure, and clever wordplay, successfully expanded the possibilities of storytelling in the literary world.
