As You Like It vs The Taming of the Shrew: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Stage history, Juvenile drama, English drama, Criticism and interpretation, Drama, History
As You Like It
“Orlando. As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou say'st, charged my brother on his blessing to breed me well; and there begins my sadness.”
More
This play has two principal settings: the court that Frederick has usurped from his brother, the rightful Duke, and the Forest of Arden, where the Duke and his followers (including the disgruntled Lord Jaques and the…
The Taming of the Shrew
“CHRISTOPHER SLY for a range of sly's manifestations, see Introduction pp. 51-64.”
More
This play within a play is a delightful farce about a fortune hunter who marries and tames" the town shrew. The comedy, often produced today because of its accessibility, is one of the plays Shakespeare intended for the…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Taming of the Shrew has the widest readership — 183652 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
Scores by source
| As You Like It | The Taming of the Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.8 (91152) | 3.7 (183652) |
| Hardcover | 3.7 (130) | 3.6 (212) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (52) | 4.0 (47) |
| LiveLib | — | 4.2 (3552) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| As You Like It | The Taming of the Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 91152 | 183652 |
| Editions | 467 | 1126 |
| Citations | 15 | — |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 49589 | 76789 |
| Reading it now | 2632 | 3123 |
| Written reviews | 4016 | 6441 |
| Wikipedia attention | 25780 | 29172 |
| Pages | 82 | 120 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: As You Like It or The Taming of the Shrew?
As You Like It has the higher combined reader rating across sources (As You Like It 3.8/5, The Taming of the Shrew 3.7/5).
Which is shorter to read: As You Like It or The Taming of the Shrew?
As You Like It is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: As You Like It (82 pages, ≈ 1 h 31 m); The Taming of the Shrew (120 pages, ≈ 2 h 13 m).
Which is harder to read: As You Like It or The Taming of the Shrew?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — As You Like It: Demanding; The Taming of the Shrew: Demanding.
Have both books been made into films?
As You Like It: 5 film adaptations; The Taming of the Shrew: 5 film adaptations.