logo

86 pages 2 hours read

Yann Martel

Life of Pi

Yann MartelFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Book Brief

logo
Yann Martel

Life of Pi

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001
Book Details
Pages

460

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Pacific Ocean • 1970s

Publication Year

2001

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a philosophical novel that follows Pi Patel, a young boy from Pondicherry, India, who survives a shipwreck and is stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. As Pi battles the elements and grapples with his understanding of faith and science, he recounts his harrowing journey and eventual rescue in Mexico to skeptical officials.

Mysterious

Adventurous

Contemplative

Inspirational

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

4.2

1,681,898 ratings

71%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Yann Martel's Life of Pi captivates with its imaginative storytelling and profound themes, achieving a compelling narrative blend of adventure and spirituality. The protagonist’s survival tale with a tiger fascinates and provokes thought, though some critics find its philosophical ponderings heavy-handed. The book's imaginative scope and emotional depth largely win praise, despite occasional pacing issues.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Life of Pi?

A reader who enjoys Life of Pi by Yann Martel is typically drawn to captivating survival tales and philosophical musings. They would also appreciate the magic realism found in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude and the spiritual journeys in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.

4.2

1,681,898 ratings

71%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

460

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Pacific Ocean • 1970s

Publication Year

2001

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.