Does it need an internet connection?

Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser.

Why are the same books always near the top?

The ranking is ordered by downloads from Project Gutenberg, which build up over time, so it tends to change slowly.

Does a download equal a reader?

No. A download is a request for a file, so the figure measures requests rather than people who finished the book.

Is every listed book free to use everywhere?

Not necessarily. Project Gutenberg follows United States copyright law, and an item public domain in the US may not be elsewhere.

Project Gutenberg Top Downloads Screensaver

The Project Gutenberg Top Downloads screensaver shows the most-downloaded public-domain books on Project Gutenberg, ranked by real download counts from the key-less Gutendex API. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.

How the Project Gutenberg Top Downloads screensaver works

The saver reads Gutendex / Project Gutenberg directly in your browser — no key and no account.

The most-downloaded public-domain books on Project Gutenberg, ranked by real download counts from the key-less Gutendex API..

It refreshes on a schedule, so what you see stays current.

Colours and the accent can be changed in settings; nothing is stored beyond your own browser.

What the Gutenberg download ranking measures

Project Gutenberg is a library of more than 75,000 free ebooks, digitised and proofread by volunteers; its founder, Michael Hart, is credited with inventing ebooks in 1971. Gutendex is a JSON web API for Project Gutenberg ebook metadata, and each book record carries a download_count field. Its book list is ordered by default by popularity, determined by the number of downloads from Project Gutenberg, which is what lets a program rank the library by how often titles are fetched.

A download is a request for a file, not proof that a person read the book. The count says nothing about how long anyone kept the file open, so small differences between neighbouring ranks should not be taken too seriously. Because the ranking rests on cumulative downloads, a title that has been available and widely read for years can hold its place in a way a newer addition cannot.

Public-domain status here follows United States law: Project Gutenberg states that it follows US copyright law and that not every item public domain in the US is public domain in other countries. A book listed may therefore still be protected elsewhere. The board is best read as a picture of enduring demand for free books rather than a measure of current taste.

A worked example

The most-downloaded public-domain books on Project Gutenberg, ranked by real download counts from the key-less Gutendex API.

Settings & tips

Accent and Background recolour the display.
Data comes straight from Gutendex / Project Gutenberg in your browser.
Press ESC to leave fullscreen.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real data?: Yes — it comes from Gutendex / Project Gutenberg and is refreshed on a schedule.
Is a key needed?: No. This source is fully key-less.
Does it need an internet connection?: Yes — it reads a live source, so it needs a connection to update.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser.
Why are the same books always near the top?: The ranking is ordered by downloads from Project Gutenberg, which build up over time, so it tends to change slowly.
Does a download equal a reader?: No. A download is a request for a file, so the figure measures requests rather than people who finished the book.
Is every listed book free to use everywhere?: Not necessarily. Project Gutenberg follows United States copyright law, and an item public domain in the US may not be elsewhere.

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