Welcome to my Dewey Lunatic Project

What is the Dewey Lunatic Challenge? The goal is to read one book from every Dewey Decimal number: a truly daunting (and likely lifelong) task! I heard about this a while back from the World’s Strongest Librarian’s blog. So taken was I with the idea of reading outside of my comfort zone that I committed in the fall of 2011. I need to read more books about new things. The problem is that I keep reading books that don’t count: the only books listed here are the one book for each number/letter. So, don’t think I’m lazy–I read a lot. Really! But only those that are on a “new” subject get listed below. 

Obviously I still have a LONG way to go. Have a recommendation for an unusual call number? Suggest a book to me on Goodreads.

Dewey Lunatic 000-099 - Computer Science, Information & General Works

Dewey Lunatic 100-199 - Philosophy & Psychology

Philosophy & Psychology

Dewey Lunatic 200-299 - Religion

Dewey Lunatic 300-399 - Social Sciences

Dewey Lunatic 400-499 - Language

Dewey Lunatic 500-599 - Science & Mathematics

Dewey Lunatic 600-699 - Technology & Applied Sciences

Dewey Lunatic 700-799 - Arts & Recreation

Dewey Lunatic 800-899 - Literature

Dewey Lunatic 900-999 - History & Geography

Dewey Lunatic Biographies

The issue with biographies by letter is that it is hard to find people with certain letters, so I plan to be liberal with the use of a first or last name of that letter. Also, I have noticed that many biographies are written for younger audiences and, again, to ease my pain in actually finding interesting biographies for this part, I will count biographies for younger audiences if they are over 100 pages. That seems fair, right?

A – Agatha Christie – Agatha Christie, an Autobiography – 05/2014

B –

C – Clark, Hugette – Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Hugette Clark and the Spending of an American Fortune by Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell, Jr. – 11/2013

D –

E –

F –

G –

H –

G –

H – Hamilton, Alexander – Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow – 07/2020

I –

J –

K –

L – 

M – Mercury, Freddie – Freddie & Me by Mike Dawson – 07/2012

N –

O –

P –

Q –

R – Russell, Charles M. – Charles M. Russell : photographing the legend : a biography in words and pictures by Larry Len Peterson 02/2015

S – Savage, Dan – American Savage : insights, slights, and fights on faith, sex, love, and politics – 02/2017

T –

U –

V –

W –

X –

Y –

Z –

Dewey Lunatic Fiction

As with biographies, it is hard to find people with certain letters, so I plan to be liberal with the use of a first or last name of that letter.

A – Fobbit: a novel by David Abrams – 02/2013

B – Death al Dente by Leslie Budewitz – 12/2013

C – Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie – 09/2012

D – The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth – 12/2012

E – Four to Score by Janet Evanovich 12/2011

F – Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford 10/2013

G – Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – 06/2012

H – Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson 02/2015

I – Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin 09/2017

J –

K – Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver – 05/2015

L – The Viper’s Nest by Peter Lerangis 01/2012

M – The Royal Wulff Murders by Keith McCafferty 10/2012

N –

O –

P – Hogfather: a novel of discworld by Terry Pratchett 12/2011

Q –

R – High and Inside by Russel Rowland 02/2014

S – Redshirts by John Scalzi 09/2013

T – Evel Knievel Days: a novel by Pauls Toutonghi 01/2013

U –

V –

W – Black Helicopters by Blythe Woolston 06/2013

X –

Y –

Z –

Last Updated: 09.13.2023