Collider writer Jeremy Urquhart presents a ranked list of 25 of history's finest books, acknowledging the inherent impossibility of narrowing down centuries of literature into such a small selection. His methodology deliberately mixes established literary classics with modern works on their way to classic status, entertaining but lighter fiction, and idiosyncratic personal selections to create a more varied and interesting list rather than adhering strictly to traditional canons.

The ranking begins with George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" at position 25, described as an essential read whose themes of totalitarian control remain surprisingly current despite its age. Bram Stoker's "Dracula" follows at 24, positioned as a foundational work that defined the horror genre. Urquhart frames the entire exercise as necessarily incomplete, emphasising that the list attempts to highlight quality and diversity in literary merit rather than claiming universal authority on which books deserve the title of greatest.