Timeless American classic. I am not a Socialist, but I can appreciate the author's portrayal/demonstration of the failings of unrestricted capitalism.

Saw the movie and finally read the book. Well written by John Steinbeck. I like that it gives an idea to the readers today what it was like back in the late 30s early 40s when. People lost their farms and had to travel to find work. It shows a real picture of what it was like to survive,and what one must do.there was a lot of hearbreak in that book. The very ending was an eye opener,but asks that question about has to be done for survival.I do not believe in book banning myself. I cannot imagine not having this book around it tells a part of history.

This is a great book. One of the best of the twentieth century and certainly a contender for the best American novel of that period (although his next book, EAST OF EDEN is even better). As for the ending, I think Steinbeck wrote the best endings to novels ever. This ending is terrifying and ambiguous. A woman who has lost her child ends up suckling a grown man during a flood - what more primal image of humanity reduced to its most basic level and needs by desperate circumstances can there be? What is so terrifying is whether it is a positive image or not. On the one hand, its about humanity's need to survive and help one another, on another its a dark image of mother nature folding manking back into her bosom. Well! I don't know but if that ain't a powerful end what is?

Strong, gritty story, but why did Steinbeck end things in such a depressing unresolved way?

One of the--if not the--best books of all time.