best book reviews of all time

The Greatest Books of All Time

This is one of the 343 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Set in 19th-century Russia, this novel revolves around the life of Anna Karenina, a high-society woman who, dissatisfied with her loveless marriage, embarks on a passionate affair with a charming officer named Count Vronsky. This scandalous affair leads to her social downfall, while parallel to this, the novel also explores the rural life and struggles of Levin, a landowner who seeks the meaning of life and true happiness. The book explores themes such as love, marriage, fidelity, societal norms, and the human quest for happiness.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Set in the racially charged South during the Depression, the novel follows a young girl and her older brother as they navigate their small town's societal norms and prejudices. Their father, a lawyer, is appointed to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, forcing the children to confront the harsh realities of racism and injustice. The story explores themes of morality, innocence, and the loss of innocence through the eyes of the young protagonists.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

The poems and drawings of shel silverstein.

This book is a collection of whimsical and often thought-provoking poems and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics from everyday childhood experiences to fantastical, imaginative scenarios. The poems, paired with distinctive line drawings, are known for their humor, creativity, and the author's unique perspective on life. They often contain a deeper message or moral, making the book a beloved classic for both children and adults.

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

The novel follows the lives of three young women in New York City from 1945 to 1965 as they navigate the ruthless world of show business and the cost of fame. Each woman becomes dependent on "dolls," a slang term for pills, as they deal with the pressures of their careers, personal lives, and societal expectations. The narrative explores themes of ambition, addiction, and the destructive side of fame, providing a gritty, unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry.

The Shining by Stephen King

A recovering alcoholic accepts a job as a winter caretaker at a remote Colorado hotel, hoping the isolation will help him reconnect with his wife and young son, and work on his writing. However, the hotel has a dark history and a powerful malevolent presence that influences him into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future. As the winter weather leaves them snowbound, the father's sanity deteriorates, leading to a terrifying climax.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

A young prince from a tiny asteroid embarks on a journey across the universe, visiting various planets and meeting their strange inhabitants. Along the way, he learns about the follies and absurdities of the adult world, the nature of friendship, and the importance of retaining a childlike wonder and curiosity. His journey eventually leads him to Earth, where he befriends a fox and learns about love and loss before finally returning to his asteroid.

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

The fellowship of the ring, the two towers, the return of the king.

This epic high-fantasy novel centers around a modest hobbit who is entrusted with the task of destroying a powerful ring that could enable the dark lord to conquer the world. Accompanied by a diverse group of companions, the hobbit embarks on a perilous journey across Middle-earth, battling evil forces and facing numerous challenges. The narrative, rich in mythology and complex themes of good versus evil, friendship, and heroism, has had a profound influence on the fantasy genre.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Set in a dystopian future, this novel presents a society where women are stripped of their rights and are classified into various roles based on their fertility and societal status. The protagonist is a handmaid, a class of women used solely for their reproductive capabilities by the ruling class. The story is a chilling exploration of the extreme end of misogyny, where women are reduced to their biological functions, and a critique of religious fundamentalism.

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The novel follows the story of a young girl named Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe as they embark on a cosmic journey to rescue Meg and Charles Wallace's father. The father, a scientist, has been missing since he discovered a new planet using the concept of Tesseract, which is a wrinkle in time. Guided by three mysterious celestial beings, the children travel across different dimensions, face evil forces, and learn about the power of love and self-sacrifice.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Set in early 19th-century England, this classic novel revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the five unmarried daughters. The narrative explores themes of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage within the society of the landed gentry. It follows the romantic entanglements of Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest daughter, who is intelligent, lively, and quick-witted, and her tumultuous relationship with the proud, wealthy, and seemingly aloof Mr. Darcy. Their story unfolds as they navigate societal expectations, personal misunderstandings, and their own pride and prejudice.

All the President's Men by Bob Woodward , Carl Bernstein

The greatest reporting story of all time.

"All the President's Men" is a non-fiction book that details the investigative journalism conducted by two reporters who uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon's resignation. The book provides a detailed account of the reporters' struggles to uncover the truth, the obstacles they faced, their persistence, and the ultimate revelation of a political scandal that shook the United States.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The classic tribute to hope from the holocaust.

This book is a memoir written by a psychiatrist who survived the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The author shares his experiences in the camps and his psychological approach to surviving and finding meaning amidst extreme suffering. He introduces his theory of logotherapy, which suggests that life's primary motivational force is the search for meaning, and argues that even in the most absurd, painful, and dehumanized situation, life can be given meaning.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

This novel tells the story of a former African-American slave woman who, after escaping to Ohio, is haunted by the ghost of her deceased daughter. The protagonist is forced to confront her repressed memories and the horrific realities of her past, including the desperate act she committed to protect her children from a life of slavery. The narrative is a poignant exploration of the physical, emotional, and psychological scars inflicted by the institution of slavery, and the struggle for identity and self-acceptance in its aftermath.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

A true account of a multiple murder and its consequences.

This true crime novel tells the story of the brutal 1959 murder of a wealthy farmer, his wife and two of their children in Holcomb, Kansas. The narrative follows the investigation led by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that ultimately leads to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers. The book explores the circumstances surrounding this horrific crime and the effects it had on the community and the people involved.

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

Memoirs of a boy soldier.

This memoir recounts the harrowing experiences of a young boy forcibly recruited into the Sierra Leonean army during the country's brutal civil war. The narrative follows his journey from an innocent child fascinated with rap music to a hardened child soldier, who is eventually rescued by UNICEF and rehabilitated. The book provides a stark, firsthand account of the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Set in a distant future, the novel follows Paul Atreides, whose family assumes control of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only producer of a highly valuable resource, jurisdiction over Arrakis is contested among competing noble families. After Paul and his family are betrayed, the story explores themes of politics, religion, and man’s relationship to nature, as Paul leads a rebellion to restore his family's reign.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

A young orphan boy, living with his cruel older sister and her kind blacksmith husband, has an encounter with an escaped convict that changes his life. Later, he becomes the protégé of a wealthy but reclusive woman and falls in love with her adopted daughter. He then learns that an anonymous benefactor has left him a fortune, leading him to believe that his benefactor is the reclusive woman and that she intends for him to marry her adopted daughter. He moves to London to become a gentleman, but his great expectations are ultimately shattered when he learns the true identity of his benefactor and the reality of his love interest.

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead.

"Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown is a transformative exploration of vulnerability and its power to cultivate courage, connection, and resilience in our lives. Through extensive research and personal anecdotes, the author delves into the societal pressures that prevent individuals from embracing vulnerability, and offers practical strategies to overcome shame and fear. Brown encourages readers to embrace vulnerability as a strength and a pathway to wholehearted living, ultimately empowering them to lead more authentic and fulfilling lives.

Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell

Set in a dystopian future, the novel presents a society under the total control of a totalitarian regime, led by the omnipresent Big Brother. The protagonist, a low-ranking member of 'the Party', begins to question the regime and falls in love with a woman, an act of rebellion in a world where independent thought, dissent, and love are prohibited. The novel explores themes of surveillance, censorship, and the manipulation of truth.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

This memoir is a profound and heart-wrenching account of the author's impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland, during the 1930s and 1940s. The story is filled with tales of survival in the face of extreme poverty, an alcoholic father, a struggling mother, and the deaths of three siblings. Despite the harsh circumstances, the narrative is infused with a sense of humor and hope, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

From the big bang to black holes.

A Brief History of Time is a popular science book that explores a broad range of topics in cosmology, including the Big Bang, black holes, light cones and superstring theory. The author does not shy away from complex theories and concepts, but explains them in a way that is accessible to non-scientific readers. The book also discusses the possibility of time travel and the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Throughout, the author emphasizes the ongoing quest for a unifying theory that can combine quantum mechanics and general relativity into one all-encompassing, coherent theoretical framework.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns.

In a dystopian future where books are banned and burned by the government to prevent dissenting ideas, a fireman named Guy Montag, whose job is to burn books, begins to question the society he serves. After a series of events, including meeting a free-thinking teenager and witnessing a woman choosing to die with her books, Montag begins to secretly collect and read books, leading to his eventual rebellion against the oppressive regime. The narrative serves as a critique of censorship, conformity, and the dangers of an illiterate society.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Based on a true story.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is a memoir that follows the life of a young man who, after the cancer-related deaths of his parents, is tasked with raising his 8-year-old brother. The book explores themes of death, family, and the responsibilities that come with sudden adulthood. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, showcasing the protagonist's journey through grief, financial struggles, and the challenge of raising a child, all while trying to navigate his own young adulthood.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

The story follows a young boy, Harry Potter, who learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious deaths, the dark wizard who wants to kill him, and the magical stone that holds immense power.

Selected Stories of Alice Munro by Alice Munro

This collection of short stories offers a comprehensive view of the author's narrative talent, showcasing her ability to create complex characters and situations that reflect the human condition. Set in various locations, from small Canadian towns to exotic foreign locales, each story delves into the intricate relationships, personal struggles, and quiet triumphs of its characters. The author's writing is marked by her keen observation, psychological insight, and the ability to convey the extraordinary within the ordinary, making each story a unique exploration of life's complexities.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This novel follows the poignant journey of two teenagers, both cancer patients, who meet in a support group and fall in love. Their shared experiences and unique outlook on life and death bring them closer together, and they embark on a trip to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author they both admire. Through their journey, they explore the harsh realities of living with a terminal illness while also experiencing the beautiful and tragic aspects of first love.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

This novel follows the story of a young girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world full of peculiar creatures and bizarre experiences. As she navigates through this strange land, she encounters a series of nonsensical events, including a tea party with a Mad Hatter, a pool of tears, and a trial over stolen tarts. The book is renowned for its playful use of language, logic, and its exploration of the boundaries of reality.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The novel is a poignant exploration of a young African-American man's journey through life, where he grapples with issues of race, identity, and individuality in mid-20th-century America. The protagonist, who remains unnamed throughout the story, considers himself socially invisible due to his race. The narrative follows his experiences from the South to the North, from being a student to a worker, and his involvement in the Brotherhood, a political organization. The book is a profound critique of societal norms and racial prejudice, highlighting the protagonist's struggle to assert his identity in a world that refuses to see him.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

The book is a coming-of-age story about a sixth-grade girl who is growing up without a religious affiliation, due to her parents' interfaith marriage. The protagonist is in search of a single religion while also confronting typical pre-teen issues such as buying her first bra, having her first period, coping with crushes and the changes that come with growing up. The book explores themes of friendship, religion, love, and self-identity.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

This novel is a multi-generational saga that focuses on the Buendía family, who founded the fictional town of Macondo. It explores themes of love, loss, family, and the cyclical nature of history. The story is filled with magical realism, blending the supernatural with the ordinary, as it chronicles the family's experiences, including civil war, marriages, births, and deaths. The book is renowned for its narrative style and its exploration of solitude, fate, and the inevitability of repetition in history.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

The book is a satirical critique of military bureaucracy and the illogical nature of war, set during World War II. The story follows a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier stationed in Italy, who is trying to maintain his sanity while fulfilling his service requirements so that he can go home. The novel explores the absurdity of war and military life through the experiences of the protagonist, who discovers that a bureaucratic rule, the "Catch-22", makes it impossible for him to escape his dangerous situation. The more he tries to avoid his military assignments, the deeper he gets sucked into the irrational world of military rule.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The story of a childhood.

This graphic novel is a memoir that provides a personal account of the author's childhood and young adult years in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. The story portrays the impact of war, political upheaval, and religious extremism on ordinary people, while also exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Despite the harsh realities the protagonist faces, the narrative also includes moments of humor and warmth, providing a nuanced view of life in Iran during this tumultuous period.

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

A young girl named Fern saves a runt piglet from being slaughtered and names him Wilbur. When Wilbur grows too large, he is sent to live in her uncle's barn, where he befriends a clever spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur's life is in danger again, Charlotte weaves messages into her web to convince the farmer that Wilbur is too special to kill. The book explores themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the cycle of life.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

The children's crusade: a duty-dance with death.

The novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran who has become "unstuck in time," experiencing his life events out of order. This includes his experiences as a prisoner of war in Dresden during the Allies' firebombing, his post-war life as a successful optometrist, his abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore, and his eventual death. The book is a critique of war and a demonstration of the destructive nature of time, with a nonlinear narrative that reflects the chaos and unpredictability of life.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

The novel follows the life of twin brothers born from a secret union between an Indian nun and a British surgeon in Ethiopia. Their mother dies during childbirth and their father disappears, leaving them to be raised by two doctors at the mission hospital where they were born. The story spans several decades and continents, and explores themes of love, betrayal, medicine, and the complexity of family ties. One of the brothers, a gifted surgeon, flees to America after a political revolution in Ethiopia, while the other remains and struggles with the challenges of practicing medicine in a developing country.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley

As told to alex haley.

This book is an autobiography narrating the life of a renowned African-American activist. It delves into his transformation from a young man involved in criminal activities to becoming one of the most influential voices in the fight against racial inequality in America. The book provides a deep insight into his philosophies, his time in prison, conversion to Islam, his role in the Nation of Islam, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his eventual split from the Nation. It also addresses his assassination, making it a powerful account of resilience, redemption, and personal growth.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

A savage journey to the heart of the american dream.

This book is a semi-autobiographical novel that chronicles the adventures of a journalist and his attorney as they embark on a drug-fueled trip to Las Vegas. The narrative is a wild and hallucinatory exploration of the American Dream, filled with biting social commentary and outrageous antics. The protagonist's quest for the American Dream quickly devolves into an exploration of the darker side of human nature, highlighting the excesses and depravities of 1960s American society.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Stories of bengal, boston, and beyond.

"Interpreter of Maladies" is a collection of nine short stories, each exploring different aspects of life, love, and identity. The stories are set in both India and America, and the characters often grapple with issues of cultural identity, displacement, and the complexities of relationships. Themes like marital issues, communication breakdowns, and the struggle to fit in are prevalent throughout the stories, offering a poignant and nuanced glimpse into the human experience.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

This book is a real-life account of a young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis during World War II, written in diary format. The girl and her family are forced to live in a secret annex in Amsterdam for two years, during which she writes about her experiences, fears, dreams, and the onset of adolescence. The diary provides a poignant and deeply personal insight into the horrors of the Holocaust, making it a powerful testament to the human spirit.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Or, the confession of a white widowed male.

The novel tells the story of Humbert Humbert, a man with a disturbing obsession for young girls, or "nymphets" as he calls them. His obsession leads him to engage in a manipulative and destructive relationship with his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Lolita. The narrative is a controversial exploration of manipulation, obsession, and unreliable narration, as Humbert attempts to justify his actions and feelings throughout the story.

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

"Love Medicine" is a novel that explores the lives of several generations of a Native American family living on a reservation in North Dakota. The narrative is presented through a series of interconnected stories, each told from the perspective of different family members, and spans over 60 years, from 1934 to 1999. The book explores themes of love, family, identity, and the struggle between tradition and modernity. It provides a deep and poignant look into the complexities of Native American life and culture, and the challenges faced by the community.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

This book is a collection of humorous, autobiographical essays that explore the author's experiences and observations in his life. The first part of the book focuses on his upbringing in North Carolina, his Greek heritage, his relationship with his eccentric family, and his early jobs. The second part of the book details his move to Normandy, France, his struggle to learn the French language, and his observations of French culture. The author's self-deprecating humor and sharp wit provide a satirical view of his life's journey.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The book follows the life of Calliope Stephanides, a Greek-American hermaphrodite, who narrates her epic story starting from her grandparents' incestuous relationship in a small village in Asia Minor to her own self-discovery in 20th century America. The novel delves into themes of identity, gender, and the American dream, while also providing a detailed history of Detroit through the eyes of three generations of an immigrant family.

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

The novel tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who was born at the exact moment when India gained its independence. As a result, he shares a mystical connection with other children born at the same time, all of whom possess unique, magical abilities. As Saleem grows up, his life mirrors the political and cultural changes happening in his country, from the partition of India and Pakistan, to the Bangladesh War of Independence. The story is a blend of historical fiction and magical realism, exploring themes of identity, fate, and the power of storytelling.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

This novel is a multi-generational epic that follows the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families in the Salinas Valley in California. The story is deeply rooted in biblical allegory, particularly the tale of Cain and Abel, as it explores themes of love, guilt, freedom, and the inherent good and evil in human nature. The narrative provides a profound, complex portrayal of family and individual struggles with morality and love, while also reflecting on the social changes affecting America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Moneyball by Michael M. Lewis

The art of winning an unfair game.

This book tells the story of a baseball team manager who uses statistical analysis to assemble a competitive team on a tight budget. Despite facing criticism and skepticism, his unconventional methods prove successful, challenging traditional ideas about the value of players and the nature of the game. The book highlights the importance of data-driven decision making in sports, and its potential to disrupt established norms and practices.

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

The novel follows the life of Philip Carey, a club-footed orphan who struggles with his disability and his passionate and unrequited love for a destructive woman. His journey takes him from a strict religious upbringing in England to an adventurous life in Paris where he attempts to become an artist before finally settling into a career in medicine. The story is a powerful exploration of human desire, ambition, and the search for meaning in life.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

This novel follows the story of a young man and his friend as they embark on a series of cross-country road trips across America during the late 1940s and early 1950s. The protagonist, driven by a desire for freedom and a quest for identity, encounters a series of eccentric characters and experiences the highs and lows of the Beat Generation. The narrative is a testament to the restlessness of youth and the allure of adventure, underscored by themes of jazz, poetry, and drug use.

Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

The book is a memoir that recounts the author's experiences and observations living in Kenya, then British East Africa, from 1914 to 1931. It is a lyrical meditation on her life amongst the diverse cultures and wildlife of Africa. The author shares her trials and tribulations of running a coffee plantation, her deep respect for the people and land of Africa, and her intimate understanding of the subtle nuances of African culture and society.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

In this classic mystery novel, ten strangers are invited to a secluded mansion on a private island by a mysterious host who is nowhere to be found. As the guests begin to die one by one, mirroring a creepy nursery rhyme that hangs in each of their rooms, they realize that the killer is among them. As suspicion and fear escalate, they must uncover the murderer before no one remains.

Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth

The novel is a first-person narrative, a monologue by a young Jewish man, Alexander Portnoy, who is speaking to his psychoanalyst. He shares his struggles with his identity as a Jewish man in America, his sexual fantasies and frustrations, his complex relationship with his overbearing mother, and his experiences of guilt and shame. The book uses humor and frank language to explore themes of identity, sexuality, and the Jewish experience in America.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

The classic that launched the environmental movement.

This influential environmental science book presents a detailed and passionate argument against the overuse of pesticides in the mid-20th century. The author meticulously describes the harmful effects of these chemicals on the environment, particularly on birds, hence the metaphor of a 'silent spring' without bird song. The book played a significant role in advancing the global environmental movement and led to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides in the United States.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The political genius of abraham lincoln.

This book explores the political acumen of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on how he assembled his cabinet from political adversaries, many of whom initially dismissed him for his perceived lack of experience and ungainly appearance. The narrative delves into how Lincoln used his rivals' talents to navigate the tumultuous times of the Civil War, maintaining unity and leading the nation towards the abolition of slavery. It underscores Lincoln's extraordinary ability to turn rivals into allies, demonstrating his leadership and his profound impact on American history.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

This epic novel traces the lineage of two half-sisters from 18th century Ghana to present day America. One sister is sold into slavery and shipped to America, while the other is married off to a British slaver and remains in Africa. The book follows their descendants through the generations, exploring the lasting impact of slavery and colonialism on Black lives. The narrative showcases the struggles, resilience, and triumphs of each generation, providing a deep and personal view into the historical events and societal changes that shaped their lives.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Set in the 1870s, the novel revolves around Newland Archer, a young lawyer from New York's high society, who is engaged to the beautiful and conventional May Welland. His life takes a turn when he meets May's cousin, the Countess Ellen Olenska, who has returned from Europe after leaving her scandalous husband. Torn between his duty and passion, Archer struggles with the constraints of the society he is a part of. The book offers a vivid portrayal of the struggle between individual desires and societal expectations in the upper-class New York society of the late 19th century.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

The book follows the lives of two Jewish cousins, one a skilled escape artist and the other a talented artist, before, during, and after World War II. They create a popular comic book superhero, which brings them fame and fortune. However, their success is complicated by personal struggles, including the escape artist's attempts to rescue his family from Nazi-occupied Prague and the artist's struggle with his sexuality. The narrative explores themes of escapism, identity, and the golden age of comic books.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, the novel follows the story of a young girl who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others. In the midst of the horrors of war, she forms a bond with a Jewish man her foster parents are hiding in their basement. The story is narrated by Death, offering a unique perspective on the atrocities and small acts of kindness during this period. The girl's love for books becomes a metaphor for resistance against the oppressive regime.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

"Rubyfruit Jungle" is a coming-of-age novel that explores the life of a young girl growing up in poverty in the American South, who realizes she is a lesbian. The protagonist is a fiercely independent and ambitious woman who overcomes societal norms and prejudices to pursue her dreams. The narrative provides an honest and humorous look at sexuality and identity, while also addressing the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This novel tells the story of Oscar de Leon, an overweight Dominican boy growing up in New Jersey who is obsessed with science fiction, fantasy novels, and falling in love, but is perpetually unlucky in his romantic endeavors. The narrative not only explores Oscar's life but also delves into the lives of his family members, each affected by the curse that has plagued their family for generations. The book is a blend of magical realism and historical fiction, providing a detailed account of the brutal Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic and its impact on the country's people and diaspora.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The novel follows the story of a teenager named Holden Caulfield, who has just been expelled from his prep school. The narrative unfolds over the course of three days, during which Holden experiences various forms of alienation and his mental state continues to unravel. He criticizes the adult world as "phony" and struggles with his own transition into adulthood. The book is a profound exploration of teenage rebellion, alienation, and the loss of innocence.

The Color of Water by James McBride

A black man's tribute to his white mother.

This book is a moving memoir that tells the story of a biracial man raised in a housing project in Brooklyn by his white, Jewish mother. The narrative alternates between the author's perspective and his mother's, providing a nuanced view of issues related to race, religion, and identity. The author's mother, a Polish immigrant, married a black man in the 1940s and raised twelve children in the midst of poverty and racial tension. Despite the hardships, she instilled in her children the importance of education and self-reliance. The book is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and love of this remarkable woman.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

This novel explores the complex relationships between four Chinese-American mothers and their American-born daughters. The narrative switches between the perspectives of the eight women, revealing their pasts, their struggles with cultural identity, and the misunderstandings that have grown between the generations. The mothers, who all experienced hardship in their native China, want their daughters to have better lives and thus push them to excel in America. The daughters, in turn, struggle to reconcile their American surroundings with their Chinese heritage.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

The novel revolves around the lives of the Lambert family, an old-fashioned midwestern couple and their three adult children. The parents, Alfred and Enid, are dealing with Alfred's Parkinson's disease and their own marital problems, while their children are each facing their own personal and professional crises. The narrative explores the themes of family dynamics, societal expectations, and the struggles of modern life. The story climaxes with the family's last Christmas together at their childhood home.

The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson

Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america.

This book intertwines the true tales of two men during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. The narrative alternates between the story of Burnham, his challenges and successes in building the fair, and the chilling story of Holmes, who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. It's a vivid portrayal of the Gilded Age and a chilling exploration of one of America's first known serial killers.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The book is set in a seemingly perfect community without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, where everything is under control. The protagonist is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world. He discovers the dark secrets behind his fragile community and struggles to handle the burden of the knowledge of pain and the concept of individuality. He must decide whether to accept the status quo or break free, risking everything.

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

This novel is a powerful exploration of the life of a Native American community in the 1950s, focusing on a determined night watchman who fights against a Congressional effort to dispossess his people of their land. Inspired by the author's own grandfather, the story weaves together the lives of several characters, each navigating personal and collective struggles amidst the backdrop of historical injustices. Through a narrative that blends the spiritual with the political, the book not only portrays the resilience and complexity of its characters but also offers a poignant critique of the policies that sought to undermine Native American identity and sovereignty.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

His dark materials, book 1.

The book follows the journey of a young girl in a parallel universe where people's souls exist outside of their bodies as animal companions, called daemons. When her friend is kidnapped by a mysterious organization, she sets off on a quest to rescue him, armed with a truth-telling device known as the golden compass. Along the way, she encounters a variety of characters, including witches, armored bears, and aeronauts, and uncovers a sinister plot involving the children of her world.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set in the summer of 1922, the novel follows the life of a young and mysterious millionaire, his extravagant lifestyle in Long Island, and his obsessive love for a beautiful former debutante. As the story unfolds, the millionaire's dark secrets and the corrupt reality of the American dream during the Jazz Age are revealed. The narrative is a critique of the hedonistic excess and moral decay of the era, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The story of an african american woman whose cells changed the course of medicine.

The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor African American tobacco farmer whose cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. Henrietta's cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can't afford health insurance. The book explores the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

The novel is a haunting tale of three friends, who grow up together at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they mature, they discover a dark secret about their school and the purpose of their existence, which is to become organ donors for the rest of society. The story is a profound exploration of what it means to be human, the morality of scientific innovation, and the heartbreaking reality of love and loss.

The Liars' Club by Mary Karr

The memoir is a gritty, often hilarious look at a childhood in a dysfunctional family in a small Texas town. The narrative follows the author's experiences growing up in the 1960s in a family rife with alcoholism, mental illness, and violence. It is a story of resilience and survival, as the author navigates her chaotic home life, the sexual abuse she suffered, and her mother's mental instability, eventually finding solace in literature and writing. Despite the harsh realities it depicts, the book is filled with humor and love, offering a poignant exploration of the bonds of family and the power of storytelling.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

This novel follows the story of a hard-boiled detective in Los Angeles who becomes embroiled in a complex case when he befriends a drunk named Terry Lennox. After Lennox's wife is found dead, Lennox disappears to Mexico and the detective is left to unravel the mystery. The detective then takes on another case of a missing husband, which becomes intertwined with the Lennox case, leading to a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. The detective's pursuit of the truth leads him through a gritty and corrupt world, testing his resolve and morality.

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

Al-qaeda and the road to 9/11.

"The Looming Tower" is a comprehensive historical examination of the events leading up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. It delves into the origins of Al-Qaeda, the rise of Osama bin Laden, and the failure of U.S. intelligence agencies to prevent the attacks. The narrative is extensively researched and provides a detailed account of Islamic fundamentalism, the complex politics of the Middle East, and the role of the United States in the region. The book also explores the personal stories of key figures on both sides of the conflict.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

And other clinical tales.

The book is a collection of clinical tales about patients suffering from a variety of neurological disorders. The author, a neurologist, shares his experiences with these patients, whose conditions range from common ailments like amnesia and aphasia, to rare disorders like visual agnosia and Tourette's Syndrome. The stories are both compassionate and insightful, revealing the complexities of the human brain and the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of debilitating illness.

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

A natural history of four meals.

The book delves into the question of what we should have for dinner. It explores the paradox of the omnivore's dilemma, detailing the food chains that link farm to table, and explaining how the industrial revolution has changed the way we eat. The book also discusses the implications of our modern diet on our health and the environment, suggesting that we should return to more traditional methods of food production and consumption. It advocates for a more conscious and sustainable approach to eating.

The Power Broker by Robert Caro

Robert moses and the fall of new york.

This book is a biography of Robert Moses, a powerful figure in New York City and state politics, who wielded immense influence over the urban development of the area in the mid-20th century. Despite never holding elected office, Moses was responsible for the creation of numerous parks, highways, bridges, and public works throughout the city and state. The book delves into the methods Moses used to achieve and maintain his power, his impact on the city, and the controversial legacy he left behind.

The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

"The Right Stuff" is a non-fiction novel that explores the lives and experiences of the first Project Mercury astronauts selected for the NASA space program in the 1960s. The book delves into the personal and professional lives of these astronauts, highlighting their courage, competitiveness, and the immense pressure they faced. It also provides a detailed account of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.

Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin

This novel explores the role of the Christian Church in the lives of African-Americans, both as a source of repression and moral hypocrisy and as a source of inspiration and community. It also, more broadly, examines the role of the Pentecostal Church in the African American experience. The narrative focuses on a fourteen-year-old boy's struggle to discover his identity amidst a family filled with secrets and a life marked by a religious community's strict moral code.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

In a post-apocalyptic world, a father and his young son journey through a desolate landscape, struggling to survive. They face numerous threats including starvation, extreme weather, and dangerous encounters with other survivors. The father, who is terminally ill, is driven by his love and concern for his son, and is determined to protect him at all costs. The story is a haunting exploration of the depths of human resilience, the power of love, and the instinct to survive against all odds.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

The narrative follows a man who, after the death of his mother, falls into a routine of indifference and emotional detachment, leading him to commit an act of violence on a sun-drenched beach. His subsequent trial becomes less about the act itself and more about his inability to conform to societal norms and expectations, ultimately exploring themes of existentialism, absurdism, and the human condition.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The novel is a poignant tale set in the 1920s post-World War I era, focusing on a group of American and British expatriates living in Paris who travel to Pamplona, Spain for the annual Running of the Bulls. The story explores themes of disillusionment, identity, and the Lost Generation, with the protagonist, a war veteran, grappling with impotence caused by a war injury. The narrative is steeped in the disillusionment and existential crisis experienced by many in the aftermath of the war, and the reckless hedonism of the era is portrayed through the characters' aimless wanderings and excessive drinking.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The book is a profound work that explores the concept of race in America through the lens of the author's personal experiences. It is written as a letter to the author's teenage son, offering him a stark portrayal of his place in a society that is marked by racial injustice. The narrative provides a deeply personal analysis of American history and its lasting impact on the African American community, with the author sharing his experiences of fear, violence, and struggle. It is an exploration of the physical and psychological impacts of being black in the United States, and a call for a deeper understanding of the nation's racial history.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The book is a collection of linked short stories about a platoon of American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. The story is semi-autobiographical, based on the author's experiences in the war. The narrative explores the physical and emotional burdens the soldiers carry during the war, as well as the lingering effects of war on veterans. It delves into themes of bravery, truth, and the fluidity of fact and fiction.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

A man's search for his wife's missing cat evolves into a surreal journey through Tokyo's underbelly, where he encounters a bizarre collection of characters with strange stories and peculiar obsessions. As he delves deeper, he finds himself entangled in a web of dreamlike scenarios, historical digressions, and metaphysical investigations. His reality becomes increasingly intertwined with the dream world as he grapples with themes of fate, identity, and the dark side of the human psyche.

The World According to Garp by John Irving

The novel follows the life of T.S. Garp, the illegitimate son of a feminist mother, who becomes a writer. Garp's life is filled with unusual experiences and characters, from his unconventional conception to his untimely death. He navigates through a world filled with sexual violence, infidelity, and gender issues, and his life story is punctuated by his own literary creations. His mother's feminist ideals and the tragic events of his life deeply influence his writing and worldview.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark.

This classic play revolves around the young Prince of Denmark who is thrown into a state of emotional turmoil after his father's sudden death and his mother's quick remarriage to his uncle. The prince is visited by the ghost of his father who reveals that he was murdered by the uncle, prompting the prince to seek revenge. The narrative explores themes of madness, revenge, and moral corruption as the prince navigates the complex political and emotional landscape of the Danish court.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

This book is a raw and honest exploration of grief and mourning, written by a woman who lost her husband of 40 years to a heart attack while their only child lay comatose in the hospital. The narrative delves into the year following her husband's death, a year marked by grief, confusion, and a desperate hope for things to return to normal. The author's poignant reflections on death, love, and loss serve as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This novel explores the life of Okonkwo, a respected warrior in the Umuofia clan of the Igbo tribe in Nigeria during the late 1800s. Okonkwo's world is disrupted by the arrival of European missionaries and the subsequent clash of cultures. The story examines the effects of colonialism on African societies, the clash between tradition and change, and the struggle between individual and society. Despite his efforts to resist the changes, Okonkwo's life, like his society, falls apart.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

A world war ii story of survival, resilience, and redemption.

This book is a gripping true story of a WWII veteran, who was an Olympic runner before the war. His plane crashes in the Pacific during a reconnaissance mission, and he survives for 47 days on a raft, only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and sent to a series of brutal prisoner of war camps. Despite the immense suffering, he remains unbroken, maintaining his dignity and hope, and eventually finds redemption after the war.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Or, meg, jo, beth, and amy.

This classic novel follows the lives of the four March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - as they navigate the challenges and joys of adolescence and adulthood in 19th century New England. As they grow, they grapple with issues of poverty, gender roles, love, and personal identity, each in her own unique way. The story is a testament to the power of family, sisterhood, and female resilience in a time of societal constraints.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

This novel follows the lives of two friends, a working-class Englishman and a Bangladeshi Muslim, living in London. The story explores the complex relationships between people of different races, cultures, and generations in modern Britain, with themes of identity, immigration, and the cultural and social changes that have shaped the country. The narrative is enriched by the characters' personal histories and the historical events that have shaped their lives.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Set in the early 20th century, the novel is an epistolary tale of a young African-American woman named Celie, living in the South. She faces constant abuse and hardship, first from her father and then from her husband. The story unfolds through her letters written to God and her sister Nettie, revealing her emotional journey from oppression to self-discovery and independence, aided by her relationships with strong women around her. The narrative explores themes of racism, sexism, domestic violence, and the power of sisterhood and love.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Atonement is a powerful novel that explores the consequences of a young girl's false accusation. The narrative follows the lives of three characters, the accuser, her older sister, and the sister's lover, who is wrongly accused. This false accusation irrevocably alters their lives, leading to the accused's imprisonment and eventual enlistment in World War II, while the sisters grapple with guilt, estrangement, and their own personal growth. The novel is a profound exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the destructive power of misinterpretation.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

This classic novel is a tale of love, revenge and social class set in the Yorkshire moors. It revolves around the intense, complex relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Catherine's father. Despite their deep affection for each other, Catherine marries Edgar Linton, a wealthy neighbor, leading Heathcliff to seek revenge on the two families. The story unfolds over two generations, reflecting the consequences of their choices and the destructive power of obsessive love.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Four siblings are evacuated from London during World War II and sent to live with an old professor in the countryside. In his house, they discover a magical wardrobe that serves as a portal to the land of Narnia, a world filled with mythical creatures and ruled by an evil White Witch. The children are soon caught up in a struggle to free Narnia from the witch's eternal winter, aided by the majestic lion Aslan. The story combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and Christian allegory.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The novel follows a young Nigerian woman who emigrates to the United States for a university education. While there, she experiences racism and begins blogging about her experiences as an African woman in America. Meanwhile, her high school sweetheart faces his own struggles in England and Nigeria. The story is a powerful exploration of race, immigration, and the complex nature of identity, love, and belonging.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

This novel follows the life of Janie Crawford, a young African-American woman, in the early 20th century. She embarks on a journey through three marriages and self-discovery while challenging the societal norms of her time. The narrative explores her struggle for personal freedom, fulfillment, and identity against the backdrop of racism and gender expectations, ultimately emphasizing the importance of independence and personal growth.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Set in a dystopian future, the novel explores a society where human beings are genetically bred and pharmaceutically conditioned to serve in a ruling order. The society is divided into five castes, each with its specific roles. The narrative follows a savage who rejects the norms of this new world order and struggles to navigate the clash between the values of his upbringing and the reality of this technologically advanced, emotionless society. His resistance prompts a deep examination of the nature of freedom, individuality, and happiness.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This novel is a powerful story set against the backdrop of tumultuous events in Afghanistan, from the fall of the monarchy through the Soviet invasion and the rise of the Taliban regime. It follows the life of a wealthy boy and his best friend, a servant's son, their shared love for kite flying, and a terrible incident that tears their lives apart. The narrative explores themes of guilt, betrayal and redemption as the protagonist, now an adult living in America, is called back to his war-torn homeland to right the wrongs of his past.

A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

"A Visit from the Goon Squad" is an interconnected collection of stories about a group of characters whose lives intersect in the music industry. The narrative spans several decades, tracing the characters' journey from their youth to middle age. It explores themes of time, change, and the impact of technology on human relationships and the music industry. The novel is known for its experimental structure, including a chapter written as a PowerPoint presentation.

Reader's Digest , 100 Books

Reader's Digest has created a list of greatest books of all time. Their website says:

To land in the top 100, a book needed to truly stand out in the stacks. We considered best sellers, award winners, and books that are highly rated by readers and critics alike. Many have been made into blockbuster movies. (Make sure to check out these exciting book to movie adaptations coming out this year!) Going on, many are taught in schools today. Many have snagged spots on other “best of” lists published by the likes of the New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, PBS, Time magazine, and more. And most have had profound impacts on literature, culture, or the world in general.

Reader's Digest mentions that the list is updated periodically by writers specialize in book content. Book selections are made by editors at Reader's Digest.

This list was originally published in 2022 and was added to this site 6 months ago.

This list has a weight of 70% . To learn more about what this means please visit the Rankings page .

• Voters: specific voter details are lacking
• Voters: are mostly from a single country/location
• List: seems biased towards newer, more modern books but not specified

If you think this is incorrect please contact us .

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The 10 Best Book Reviews of 2022

Merve emre on gerald murnane, casey cep on harry crews, maggie doherty on cormac mccarthy, and more.

Way back in the mid-aughts when I first started writing about books, pitching a print publication was the only reliable way for book critics to get paid, and third-person point of view was all the vogue. Much has changed in the years since: Newspaper and magazine book sections have shuttered, many digital outlets offer compensation when they can, and first-person criticism has become much more pervasive.

I don’t celebrate all these changes, but I’m certain of one thing in particular: I love book reviews and critical essays written in the first-person. Done well, they are generous invitations into the lives of critics—and into their memory palaces. With that in mind, most of my picks for the best book reviews of 2022 were written in the first person this year.

Brought to you by Book Marks , Lit Hub’s “Rotten Tomatoes for books.”

Adam Dalva on Stefan Zweig’s Chess Story , translated by Joel Rotenberg ( Los Angeles Review of Books )

Dalva’s review of Chess Story is a great example of the power of a first-person point of view—he doesn’t just examine the book, he narrates his own journey to understand it.

“In my own quest to understand Chess Story, I gradually realized that I would have to learn the game it centers on. And that has led me into a second obsession, much more problematic: I have fallen passionately in love with online bullet chess.”

Merve Emre on Gerald Murnane’s Last Letter to a Reader ( The New Yorker )

Merve Emre’s analysis of Gerald Murnane’s final book is a beautiful piece of writing. I love how she opens on a note of suspense, pulling you into a story you can’t stop reading.

“On most evenings this past spring, the man who lives across the street sat at his small desk, turned on the lamp, and began to write as the light faded. The white curtains in his room were seldom drawn. From where I sat, I had a clear view of him, and he, were he to look up from his writing, would have had a clear view of a house across the street, where a woman with dark hair and a faintly olive complexion was seated by a window, watching him write. At the moment he glanced up from his page, the woman supposed him to be contemplating the look, or perhaps the sound, of the sentence he had just written. The sentence was this: ‘Since then I have tried to avoid those rooms that grow steadily more crowded with works to explain away Time.’”

Minyoung Lee on Joseph Han’s Nuclear Family ( Chicago Review of Books )

Lee brings her own experience to bear in this insightful review of a novel about Korean Americans in the diaspora. (Disclosure: I founded the Chicago Review of Books in 2016, but stepped back from an editorial role in 2019.)

“In diaspora communities, it’s not uncommon to find cultural practices from the homeland, even after they’ve become unpopular or forgotten there. This is colloquially referred to as ‘the immigrant time capsule effect.’ It can be experienced in many of the ethnic enclaves in the U.S. My first impression of Los Angeles’ Koreatown when I visited in the 2010s, for example, was that it felt very much like Seoul in the 1980s. Grocery stores were even selling canned grape drinks that were popular when I was a child but that I haven’t seen since.”

Chelsea Leu on Thuận’s Chinatown , translated by Nguyen An Lý ( Astra )

Astra magazine’s “ bangers only ” editorial policy led to some spectacular reviews, like this Chelsea Leu number that opens with a fascinating linguistics lesson.

“It was in high school Latin that I learned that language could have moods, and that one of those moods was the subjunctive. We use the indicative mood for statements of fact, but the subjunctive (which barely exists in English anymore) expresses possibilities, wishes, hopes and fears: ‘I wouldn’t trust those Greeks bearing gifts if I were you.’ More recently, I’ve learned there exists a whole class of moods called irrealis moods, of which the subjunctive is merely one flavor. André Aciman’s recent essay collection, Homo Irrealis, is entirely dedicated to these moods, celebrating the fact that they express sentiments that fly in the face of settled reality.”

Casey Cep on Harry Crews’ A Childhood: The Biography of a Place ( The New Yorker )

Cep is a magician when it comes to capturing a sense of place, as evidenced by her book about Harper Lee, Furious Hours , and this review of a book about another Southern writer, Harry Crews.

“Dehairing a shoat is the sort of thing Crews knew all about, along with cooking possum, cleaning a rooster’s craw, making moonshine, trapping birds, tanning hides, and getting rid of screwworms. Although he lived until 2012, Crews and his books—sixteen novels, two essay collections, and a memoir—recall a bygone era. The best of what he wrote evokes W.P.A. guides or Foxfire books, full of gripping folklore and hardscrabble lives, stories from the back of beyond about a time when the world seemed black and white in all possible senses.”

Victoria Chang and Dean Rader on Roger Reeves’ Best Barbarian ( Los Angeles Review of Books )

Last year I professed my love for “reviews in dialogue” between two critics, and Chang and Rader continue to be masters of the form in this conversation about Roger Reeves’ second poetry collection.

“Victoria: Do you have thoughts on the flow of the poems or allusions? I have a feeling you will talk about the biblical references. But I’m most curious to hear what you have to say about the purpose of the allusions and references. Is the speaker agreeing with them, subverting them, both? Is the speaker using them as a way to press against or think against, or toward? I know you will say something smart and insightful.”

“Dean: That is a lot of pressure. I’ll try not to let you down.”

Maggie Doherty on Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris ( The New Republic )

I didn’t think anyone could persuade me to read another Cormac McCarthy novel after The Road, but Maggie Doherty makes every book sound fascinating by making it part of a bigger, true story.

“Such is the paradox of The Passenger , a novel at once highly attuned to the pleasures of collective life and resistant to the very idea of it. Unlike the violent, stylized books for which McCarthy is best known, this new novel is loose, warm, colloquial. It explores the sustaining, if impermanent, bonds formed among male friends. It’s full of theories and anecdotes, memories and stories, all voiced by some of the liveliest characters McCarthy has ever crafted. The Passenger is McCarthy’s first novel in over 15 years; its coda, S tella Maris , is published in December. Together, the books represent a new, perhaps final direction for McCarthy. The Passenger in particular is McCarthy’s most peopled novel, his most polyphonic—and it’s wonderfully entertaining, in a way that few of his previous books have been. It is also his loneliest novel yet.”

Allison Bulger on Vladimir Sorokin’s Telluria , translated by Max Lawton ( Words Without Borders )

I’m always interested in how critics find new ways to start a review, and Bulger’s opening lines here are a particularly sharp hook.

“Of all the jobs esteemed translator Larissa Volokhonsky has rejected, only one text was physically removed from her apartment on the Villa Poirier in Paris.

‘Take it back,’ she said. ‘Rid me of its presence.’

“The cursed title was Blue Lard (1999) by Vladimir Sorokin, known to some as Russia’s De Sade, and Volokhonsky’s revulsion was par for the course. It would be twenty years before another translator, Max Lawton, would provide eight Sorokin works unseen in the West, including Blue Lard , in which a clone of Khrushchev sodomizes a clone of Stalin.”

Summer Farah on Solmaz Sharif’s Customs ( Cleveland Review of Books )

Farah’s nuanced review of Solmaz Sharif’s new poetry collection further illustrates the potency of a first-person voice.

“Our poets write of our martyrs and resist alongside them; sometimes, I wonder, what life will be like after we are free, and what a truly free Palestine looks like. Last spring, the hashtag “#غرد_كأنها_حرة” circulated on Twitter, a collection of Palestinians imagining life as if our land was free; people imagined themselves moving from Akka to Ramallah with ease, returning to their homes their grandparents left in 1948, and traveling across the Levant without the obstacle of borders. This stanza acknowledges there is more work to be done than just ridding ourselves of the obvious systems that oppress us; decolonization and anti-imperial work are more holistic than we know. Sharif’s work is about attunement to the ways imperialism is ingrained into our lives, our speech, our poetry; this moment is direct in that acknowledgement.”

Nicole LeFebvre on Dorthe Nors’ A Line in the World ( On the Seawall )

LeFebvre opens this review like she’s writing a memoir or a personal essay—an unexpected joy that would be very hard to do in third-person.

“Each morning when I wake up, I hear the gentle crash and lull of waves on a beach. ‘Gather, scatter,’ as Dorthe Nors describes the sound. My eyes open and blink, adjusting to the dark. The sun’s not up yet. I scoot back into my partner’s body, kept asleep by the rhythmic thrum of the white noise machine, which covers the cars idling in the 7-Eleven parking lot, the motorcyclists showing off their scary-high speeds. For a few minutes, I accept the illusion of a calmer, quiet life. ‘Gather, scatter.’ A life by the sea.”

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, May 20

The 115 best books of all time.

The written word is a pillar of human civilization — it signals complex thinking, it’s a tool to record history, and it allows for the development of ideas. Throughout our existence, so much has been written down, whether carved into stone or printed on paper, immortalizing thrilling tales and imparting wisdom. Many are lost, weathered by time or withered in flames like in the case of the Library of Alexandria; though plenty remain for us to peruse.

Let’s take a trip through time and discover the world’s literary trends by looking at 115 of the best books of all time! It took a while to compile this list (there is simply too much great writing!) but you’ll see that there’s a bit of everything: from poetry to plays to novels, from Chinese classics to Renaissance gems.

Ancient civilizations

1. the story of sinuhe by unknown (c. 1800 bc) .

More than three thousand years before the Bard was born, the Egyptian Shakespeare wrote the Hathor worshipper’s answer to Hamlet — and we don’t even know their name. Anonymously authored, the elegant and haunting Story of Sinuhe has been hailed as ancient Egypt’s best. This epic poem follows the titular Sinuhe, an official who goes AWOL when he gets some explosive intel about the assassination of his king. His new life in Canaan brings him glorious victories, a high-society marriage, and honorable sons…. but the guilt of his exit continues to eat away at him, and he never stops longing for his homeland. 

2. Epic of Gilgamesh by Sin-liqe-unninni (c. 1700 BC) 

This four thousand year-old page-turner flies under the radar compared to high school staples like the Odyssey, but the Epic of Gilgamesh is nothing short of, well, epic . It’s a must-read whether you love the redemptive power of a good bromance or have a taste for quirky math (the titular Gilgamesh is one-third moral and two-thirds divine)! Our genetically improbable protagonist begins the story as a a king who brutalizes his people — in other words, a true antihero. He rules over the city of Uruk with an iron fist until the gods themselves mold the wild man Enkidu out of clay and water to strike the wicked king down. But when Enkidu  finally confronts his target, the two destined enemies become fast friends — inspiring Gilgamesh to mend his ways and go on a monster-hunting quest with his new bestie. 

3. The Odyssey by Homer (c. 700 BC) 

4. Aesop’s Fables by Aesop (c. 500 BC)

City mouse and country mouse. Sour grapes. Slow and steady wins the race. Brought to life by an enslaved prisoner of war, Aesop’s Fables have shaped our everyday idioms and helped define how we see the world. These deceptively simple tales have clear moral messages that are served with a dash of darkness: in Aesop’s starkly enchanted world, anthropomorphic animals cavort, gambol, and sometimes die ignoble deaths, struck down by their own foolishness and arrogance. Whether you’re in the mood for Tweet-brief bedtime reading or hankering for a blunt reminder of life’s harshness, these timeless tales that have enriched the worlds of toddlers and philosophers alike will have you covered.

5. Oedipus the King by Sophocles (430 BC) 

This bleak masterclass in dramatic irony gave its name to the most famous of Freudian complexes, and it’s been reminding readers — and playgoers — for ages that sometimes you just can’t fight fate. The great tragedian Sophocles wrote it more than 2,000 years ago, so forgive us if we don’t issue any spoiler warnings. In any case, we all know how this story ends — with the unlucky Oedipus blinded and weeping blood, after accidentally killing his father and marrying his mother. The bitter fascination of reading Oedipus the King lies in following him to that grisly and inevitable conclusion. Trust us — the dread that grips you because you know exactly what’s coming will make your blood run colder than many a horror movie. 

6. The Mahabharata by Vyasa (c. 300 BC)

If you’re not quite sure where to start, we recommend diving into the Bhagavad Gita . In this philosophically rich, 700-verse passage from the sixth book, the warrior prince Arjuna struggles to master his emotions on the eve of battle. His enemies, after all, are also his own kinsmen. Can his friend and charioteer — who also happens to be a reincarnated god — help him find a way out of his turmoil?

7. Adelphoe by Terence (160 BC)

This quirky Roman classic proves two things: the ancients knew how to get a laugh out of theatergoers, and bumbling fathers and rebellious sons are literally) an age-old recipe for comedy. Adelphoe kicks off with a parenting experiment: rural patriarch Demea has two sons, and he sends one to be raised by his city-dwelling brother Micio while rearing the other himself. Thus the two brothers grow up apart: Ctesipho lives it up in Athens with his indulgent uncle, while Aeschinus stays in the countryside, under his despotic father’s thumb. In short, one brother becomes repressed, and the other has become a louche. But when Ctesipho falls in love with an enslaved musician, he turns to his brother for help. When Demea and Micio find out what their boys are up to, will they finally agree on the right way to raise kids?

8. The Aeneid by Virgil (c. 20 BC)

For Odysseus, the Trojan War led to a ten-year nightmare involving six-headed monsters, vengeful sea-gods, and a scorned witch capable of turning men into pigs — and he was one of the winners! Which makes you wonder what it was like to be on the losing side. Let’s just ask the Trojan hero Aeneas, whose own post-war adventures spawned another epic poem.

The star of the Aeneid , he flees Troy just after the murder of its king. For a while, destiny seems to be on Aeneas’ side: a prophecy dictates he’ll establish a glorious nation in Rome, and his own mother is none other than Venus herself. But even with divine blood flowing through him, he can’t count on support from all the gods: Juno, in particular, seems intent on turning his journey to Italy into a real ordeal. We know that Aeneas will make it to Rome. But what will he suffer in the process — and who will suffer with him?

9. The Satyricon by Petronius (c. 90 AD) 

10. The Tale of an Anklet by Unknown (c. 450 AD)

This Tamil answer to the Odyssey features one unforgettable heroine. Kannaki starts out as a long-suffering wife, but by the time the story’s done, she’s transformed into a goddess who sets cities on fire with her rage. But let’s rewind quickly to the start of The Tale of an Anklet , where she and the handsome Kovalan are married and living in bliss — as far as she’s concerned. Kovalan seems to feel differently: why else would he leave his wife at home to take up with a beautiful courtesan? 

But when Kovalan faces financial ruin, Kannaki swallows her betrayal and prepares to bail him out. She offers him a jeweled anklet to pawn — but he’s falsely accused of stealing it from the queen. Can Kannaki save him from a flawed justice system, or will she be forced to seek revenge for the husband who broke her heart? From the bitterness of love to the brokenness of law, this gorgeous, heartrending drama brings age-old issues to passionate life.

Post-classical literature

11. one thousand and one nights by unknown (c. 700)  .

This collection of Arabic-language folk tales shows the transformative power of a good cliffhanger — used right, it can apparently save your life! Over the course of, well, a thousand and one nights, the quick-witted storyteller Scheherazade (the latest in a long succession of King Shahryar’s unfortunate brides) draws on her imagination to stave off death. Embittered by a previous wife’s infidelity, King Shahryar has been marrying a new one every night — only to put her to death the next morning. Scheherazade, though, is different from these other one-night queens: she actually volunteered for the job. Every night, she regales her paranoid husband with a story but refuses to finish it — forcing him to push back her beheading in favor of the grand finale. And then she starts another one to keep him on the hook.

One Thousand and One Nights lets you listen in on these high-stakes bedtime stories. Scheherazade’s repertoire spans the spectrum from cozy childhood favorites ( Aladdin , anyone?) to historical, tragic, and erotic tales fit to stir a royal imagination. It turns out, the way to a king’s heart isn’t through his stomach — it’s through the magic of plot!

12. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (c. 1010)

Unfortunately for Genji, his gifts seem to bring him more sorrow than joy: he falls in love with the worst possible woman — his own stepmother, Lady Fujitsubo. Unable to forget her, he kidnaps her niece, the preteen Murasaki, to raise as a replacement Fujitsubo — all while continuing his affair with the real Fujitsubo. Elegant, immersive, and dense, this strange and captivating classic blurs the line between truth and fiction. Did Murasaki, the author, name herself after her heroine? Or is Muraski the character a reflection of the woman who brought her to life?

14. Lais by Marie de France (c. 1100) 

If you’ve ever wanted to live out a courtly romance or daydreamed about saving lives as a dragon-slaying knight, you can thank Marie. This 12th-century poet — the first woman in French history to write verse — virtually invented chivalry through her Lais . Though we sadly don’t even know her real name today, we do know that her view of romance was subtle and even sometimes sinister — never sappy. In these twelve short narrative poems, werewolves suffer heartbreak, vassals betray their lords, and jealous husbands lash out against innocent wives with unimaginable cruelty. Love, Marie knew, could be as corrupting as it was powerful, making cunning and sophisticated beasts out of men. 

15. The Knight in Panther’s Skin by Shota Rusteveli (c. 1190) 

Up to a century ago, The Knight in Panther’s Skin was a part of every Georgian bride’s dowry. In this heart-stirring epic, medieval Georgia’s premiere poet uses a fictionalized Middle Eastern setting to glorify Queen Tamar, who presided over the kingdom’s golden age.

The poem opens on the warrior Avtandil as he takes on an unusual mission. Normally tasked with commanding the Arabian king’s armies, he’s been asked to spearhead a strange manhunt. His target? A mysterious knight dressed in a panther’s skin, whom the king’s men found weeping by a river — before he killed them and disappeared. Dangerous as he is, is this shadowy stranger a friend or a foe? The answer may surprise the noble Avtandil — and force him to turn against the king he’s served so faithfully.

16. The Song of the Nibelungs by Unknown (c. 1200) 

Beyond the fascinating plot, this poem immortalized Siegfried and Hagen, Gunther’s loyal right-hand man, as the embodiment of the German spirit when the country unified in the late 1800s. Its influence on European culture attests to its status as one of the most impressive works of German Medieval literature ever created. 

17. The Poetic Edda by Unknown (13th century) 

You can thank this anonymous batch of poems for The Hobbit — not to mention the superhero Thor. The Poetic Edda , one of the most important sources for Nose mythology, surfaced in Iceland sometime during the 13th century. It’s since cast a vast shadow on western literature, with writers from Tolkien to Jorge Luis Borges touting it as a major influence.

This verse collection brings the deeds of gods and heroes to life. You’ll hear a witch’s prophecy foretelling Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods, see the All-father Odin match wits with the wisest of giants, and follow Heimdall, the divine watchmen, as he journeys through the land of mortals — fathering many children along the way. In the starkly beautiful world these poems sketch out, vows are binding, honor is everything, and not even the gods are safe from a painful death. 

17. Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong (c. 1300)

If this glorious tale had to be described in three words, they would be: epic, tragic, and historical. One of the pillars of Chinese classical literature, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a mythicized account of 80 years of political intrigue and warfare between three dynastic families over rulership of Northern China. As beloved generals and cunning strategists form leagues and battle it out, we learn of their love, their righteousness, and their camaraderie. The riveting plot ends with a twist that’s too well-crafted to be true — although the story is based on real events. 

This masterpiece and its philosophical explorations transcends time and borders, and it remains one of the most well-known novels in East Asian cultures today.  

18. Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (1320)

Dante’s lyrical and intricate depictions of immorality are pertinent throughout history, inspiring writers in the craft of storytelling while provoking reflection among readers. It’s truly one of the greatest literary works of all time.

19. Piers Plowman by William Langland (c. 1380)

Taking a large leap across France, Spain and the Channel from Italy we arrive in England, where Langland recorded his take on Christianity in a colossal, alliterated poem.

Rather than delving into death as Dante had several decades prior, this poem explores human behaviors and morality through the visions of a man called Will. In his dreamscape, Will meets all kinds of “people” who are personified virtues — from the Seven Deadly Sins to Dowel (“do well”) and Dobet (“do better”). The metafictional quality of presenting vision within vision, the complexity of Middle English literature, and the depth of theological knowledge make Piers Plowman a difficult but very rich and sophisticated text. 

20. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1400)

From knights to monks to cooks — Chaucer’s elaborate collection of 24 stories unravels the journey that people make to Canterbury and its majestic cathedral. While they embark on the same journey, the protagonists of these tales are as different as can be — each hails from a different background and represents a different tier in the social hierarchy of feudal society. 

The Canterbury Tales are fascinating to read on their own, providing a magical portal to medieval villages and quests that came to be the inspiration for countless Hollywood movies. These odysseys shine the most, however, when they are experienced together, because that’s when Chaucer’s brilliance at displaying the complexities of society reveals itself. 

21. The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan (c. 1405)

In The Book of the City of Ladies ,  Reason, Rectitude, and Justice appear to the narrator — Pizan herself — and ask her to build a city just for women. It turns out that building this city requires the dismantling of the narrator’s own preconceived notions of gender and societal norms. 

The resulting monumental literary work includes stories of legendary female figures in history and mythology — from the Virgin Mary to Helen of Troy — as Pizan reveals to readers that women are every bit as capable as men. Elegantly written and daringly conceived, this book will be a place of refuge for believers of gender equality. 

22. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (c. 1601)

Though you may be familiar with the plot by virtue of The Lion King, it’s always worth getting back to basics with the source material — inasmuch as you can call Shakespeare’s longest and arguably most influential play “basic.”

For those unfamiliar, we’ll back it up: Hamlet is the son of the recently deceased king of Denmark, whose sudden death has been hastily papered over by his brother and successor, Claudius. Hamlet, of course, is suspicious, especially after a vision of his father claims that Claudius murdered him to take the throne. To distract others from his plan of revenge, Hamlet pretends that he’s gone mad, and what follows is a tangled web of deceit, violence, and tragedy for the royal family and their compatriots — especially as it becomes increasingly difficult to tell whether Hamlet is still faking his madness, or has genuinely gone off the deep end.

23. The Plum in the Golden Vase by Unknown (c. 1610) 

Arguably the world’s most famous erotic novel, The Plum in the Golden Vase seems to shape-shift depending on the angle you view it from. It’s a lavishly illustrated handbook of sexual peccadilloes and a harshly punitive morality tale; an irreverent fanfic for a foundational novel and an eminent classic in its own right. You can think of it as the late Ming answer to Lolita : artful in its execution, perverse and learned in its tone.

The Plum in the Golden Vase shines a spotlight (or a blacklight) on a minor figure from The Water Margin , the adventuresome ancestor of Chinese martial arts fiction. This, however, is a very different novel: light on honor among thieves and heavy on steamy social satire, its characters are much more likely to die by aphrodisiac poisoning than by the sword. The fabulously wealthy, fatally dissolute merchant Ximen Qing shares his bed with a rotating cast of six lovers — and counting. Needless to say, his appetites don’t always make for the most…  harmonious of households. As the novel tracks his social life with savage wit, the women around him take center stage, in all their cruel, bawdy complexity. 

24. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1615)

Part two of the novel introduces an impostor — a writer who pretends to be Don Quixote the knight and publishes recounts of his imaginary adventures. As the metafiction develops, the lines and meanings of imagination and reality blurs even more, leaving only one thing crystal clear: Cervantes’ mastery of the art of storytelling. 

25. The Imposter by Molière (1644)

The Imposter is a satirical play that stars Tartuffe, a pious and well-respected man who has won the love and adoration of Orgon, the head of a well-to-do family. As Tartuffe wines and dines with this family, it quickly comes to light that Tartuffe is not who he pretends to be; that behind his facade of civility is an array of selfish intentions. As the story goes on, Orgon’s family make many attempts to reveal Tartuffe’s true nature.

In a time when religiousness was never a quality not deserving of respect, the preachy and pretentious character of Tartuffe was so well-crafted that his name came to mean “hypocrite” in contemporary French. Molière also faced backlash from the Church and Christain community at the time, but his brilliance as a playwright refuses to be disregarded, and his play stands as a literary classic. 

Literature in the modern age

26. robinson crusoe by daniel defoe (1719).

In a rebellious act that has inspired the wanderlust of many, Robinson Crusoe denies the stability of life in England to travel the world. Thankfully, his colonial adventures feature encounters foreign to modern travellers: slave trades, cannibalism, and shipwrecks on foreign islands. Through this flurry of events, Crusoe comes to appreciate his own upbringing and culture more.

First published under the pseudonym Robinson Crusoe, Defoe’s vivid narration fooled many of its contemporary readers into thinking it was a travel memoir, which back then was a very popular genre. Defoe’s creativity marks this stunning novel as a trailblazer for adventure fiction .

27. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (1726)

28. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (1749)

Widely considered to be one of the earliest English comic novels, Tom Jones is also an elaborate bildungsroman detailing the upbringing of the titular Tom. Born to an unwed mother and raised by the kindhearted squire Allworthy, Tom grows into a spirited but similarly compassionate young man, eventually falling in love with a neighboring squire’s daughter, Sophia. But after being foiled by a rival for her affections, Tom sets off on a series of adventures through England that are equal parts thrilling and purely comical, from accidental encounters with both of his alleged parents to a very Oscar Wilde-esque ending (though of course, Fielding preceded Wilde by 150 years!) wherein his true parentage is revealed at last.

29. Candide by Voltaire (1759)

As a boy, Candide was taught that everything in the world happens for a reason: that things good and bad serve their purpose in the grand scheme of it all. But as he ventures out into the world and comes face to face with hardships and sufferings, Candide begins to wonder if this optimistic philosophy is a manifestation of ignorance and indifference. 

Underneath this coming-of-age story is Voltaire’s brave effort to hold a mirror up to society, and make it examine its flaws. Hardly any author in his time dared to oppose the accepted virtues of the educated class  — Voltaire even refused to take credit for this masterpiece until years after the publication — and none did it with as much wit and passion as Voltaire did. 

30. Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne (c. 1767)

31. Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin (1791) 

One of the longest and most treasured classics of Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber centers around the life and loves of Jia Baoyu — heir of one of the most powerful families in the land. As with every dynastic family, there will always come a decline. And the Jias’ final days seem to be around the corner, as the political arena shifts and its heir appears bent on listening to his heart rather than his parents. 

From battles of the matriarchs, to noble garden parties and corrupt murder trials, this tale unravels the deepest and darkest corners of Chinese high society in the time of the Qing dynasty — all inspired by the author’s own prestigious upbringing. Dream of the Red Chamber ’s fame as a pillar of Chinese fiction extends far beyond its culture, astounding readers throughout the world with its thematic depth and allegorical intricacies. 

32. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

You are probably familiar with Pride and Prejudice , the love story of the bright and beautiful Elizabeth Bennet and the stoic and aristocratic Mr. Darcy. If you read it when you were younger, it perhaps presented itself as a mere love story set in Regency England. But of course, that barely scratches the surface of all the book holds. Austen had gracefully weaved snarky commentary about wealth, social class, and individuality into the narrative. Austen’s attention to detail and her wonderful wit ultimately show how thought-provoking and entertaining a story can become if it falls into the hands of the right author. 

33. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)

34. Ivanhoe by Walter Scott (1819)

Often credited with renewing modern interest in the medieval period and its “romantic” culture, Ivanhoe tracks the adventures of its eponymous hero, who is disinherited by his Anglo-Saxon father for his allegiance to Richard the Lionheart. Undeterred, Ivanhoe accompanies his king on the Crusades as tensions mount back in England — and this is only the beginning of a rollicking ride full of trials and tournaments, secret identities and stormed castles, hard-won loves and loyalties, and much more. Coupling nineteenth-century sensibilities and style with a story that could otherwise have come straight from the quill of Chrétien de Troyes, Ivanhoe is a historical masterpiece that will enthrall fans of action, politics, and chivalric romance alike.

35. Faust by Goethe (1832)

We’ve all heard the phrase “a deal with the devil” — or, if you’re sufficiently literary, “a Faustian bargain.” The notion of a cursed contract did indeed originate with Faust, and was immortalized in this play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (though the story has much earlier roots). Goethe’s Faust, as he’s referred to, is a voracious scholar who desires to learn and achieve all that is possible in the human realm — yet suffers for the knowledge that he cannot. As another axiom goes, be careful what you wish for; Mephistopheles then appears to Faust, offering him all the worldly knowledge and pleasures that he can imagine, in exchange for Faust’s service in hell after death. Famously signing the contract in his own blood, Faust agrees… but how will their pact actually unfold? You’ll have to read this mesmerizing play to find out.

36. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844)

37. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)

Arguably the first ever female bildungsroman, Jane Eyre is the story of a frail orphan girl who grows into a highly principled young woman. After a difficult childhood, Jane’s luck takes a turn when she’s employed by the wealthy and mysterious Edward Rochester, whose company she comes to enjoy a great deal. But just as Jane and Rochester become engaged to be married, increasingly frequent and disturbing occurrences take a toll on their relationship, and the revelation of a shocking secret forces Jane to reevaluate everything she once believed. (But fear not, dear reader; for all its Gothic overtones, this novel is still a superb romance above all.)

38. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery (1848)

An incisive satirist, William Makepeace Thackery intended this book as both social commentary and a deconstruction of conventional literary heroism. Vanity Fair follows the intertwined lives of two women, Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp, as they forge their own paths in Regency society. Amelia is a sweet, simple girl who devotes herself to her husband, despite his flaws; Becky is a savvy social climber who uses her feminine wiles to further her personal interests, even after she is married. The stark contrast between them serves not so much to ridicule the characters, however, as to criticize the society that would make respectability so impossible — and to point out the rife ignorance, hypocrisy, and opportunism even in supposedly upper-class circles.

39. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850)

40. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

“I hate metaphors. That’s why my favorite book is Moby-Dick .” Of course, anyone who’s actually read Moby-Dick will recognize the irony of this Ron Swanson quote — not only is the book packed with symbolism, but Melville’s prose is wonderfully ornate (albeit a little too descriptive when he gets into cetology, the study of whales). The surface story of Moby-Dick is thus: our narrator, Ishmael, boards a whaling ship and quickly discovers its maimed captain is bent on a mission of revenge. The captain, Ahab, spends the next three years searching for the white whale, Moby-Dick, unable to shake his convictions even as he and his crew start to unravel. A timeless tale of delusion and destruction, Moby-Dick does a particularly good job of juxtaposing the gritty everyday realities of whaling with the philosophical allegory of Ahab’s pursuit.

41. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (1862)

Though a 1,500-page tome promising certain misery might sound like an untenable read, we implore you to tackle this brick of a book for Victor Hugo’s glorious and masterful depiction of politics and the inherent tragedy of the human condition. The plot incites, as many likely know, with the peasant Jean Valjean stealing bread to feed his family and being imprisoned for 19 years. Upon his release, he remakes himself as an honest businessman, eventually growing wealthy and even rescuing a young girl, Cosette, from her abusive caretakers the Thénardiers.

All this occurs on the brink of Paris’s June Rebellion of 1832, a cause for which a young revolutionary named Marius risks his life. This event unexpectedly and movingly brings together a number of figures from the rest of the book… which is honestly impossible to explain in a mere synopsis. Just know this: for all the astonishing beauty and gut-wrenching emotion of the musical, Hugo’s source material makes it look like a joke on a candy bar wrapper. If you’re interested in a truly transcendent portrayal of humanity and history (and have enough time on your hands to fully appreciate it), please read Les Misérables .

42. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)

43. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1866)

What is the true nature of man? According to Dostoyevsky, the answer might be “dark and twisted, yet still plagued by his conscience.” This is the tragic combination that befalls Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished young man who believes that he can rob and murder an elderly pawnbroker without any psychological consequences… only to botch the job and immediately begin agonizing over it (the “punishment” to which the title refers). As Raskolnikov descends further into madness and misery, he grapples with whether to turn himself in, especially with a policeman on his tail and his mother and sister’s reputations at risk. This classic tale of morality, mentality, and social values aptly criticizes the then-prominent notions of nihilism and egoism, while also making profound statements about what it means to be human.

44. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1877)

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Such is stated the first of many contentious issues addressed in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina , considered by many to be the greatest and best book of all time. The plot revolves around a tumultuous affair between the high-society Anna and cavalry officer Vronsky, with a parallel narrative detailing the religious and ethical quandaries of country landowner Levin. But even as these characters’ lives become increasingly intertwined, and their circumstances increasingly desperate — especially for Anna, whose fate has become a well-known literary reference point — this novel is so much more than an 800-page soap opera. Tolstoy’s exploration of relationships, family, sin, virtue, and the cultural contrast between city and country produces incredibly nuanced and brilliant ideas, many of which are still relevant today.

45. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)

46. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)

If you’ve ever heard someone referred to as “a real Jekyll and Hyde character,” you probably know this story has something to do with the duality of man… but what you may not know is how this duality comes to be. In Stevenson’s gothic novella , it’s the result of the scientific Dr. Jekyll’s attempts to indulge in his vices undetected — specifically, by drinking a potion that transforms him into the horrific Mr. Hyde. But the more frequently Jekyll yields to his alter-ego, the more powerful Hyde becomes, until even Jekyll cannot control him. The ensuing tale is both a thrilling feat of supernatural horror and a potent allegory that warns against giving into one’s dark side, even occasionally, for fear that one may never escape its compulsions.

47. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

Long before Twilight and True Blood, vampires were no cause for swooning — or rather, they were, but in a manner more alarming than amorous. This is the iteration of vampires introduced by Bram Stoker’s genre-defining Dracula , an epistolary novel that traces the history and horrific deeds of the one and only Count Dracula. As more humans come into contact with Dracula, they start to understand what he is, and that he aims to infect and drink the blood of as many people as possible. Only Abraham van Helsing, a professor and bona fide vampire expert, has the power to stop him — and aided by his intrepid cohorts, that’s exactly what they set out to do.

48. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (1903)

49. Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (1904)

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said of this book, "I'd rather have written Nostromo than any other novel.” The story commences with the titular Nostromo, an Italian seaman, transporting a wealth of silver so that it cannot corrupt the local affairs of Sulaco (a port city in a fictional Colombia-like country). But when Nostromo’s ship is compromised, he stashes the silver on a nearby island, leading everyone to believe it was lost at sea. What follows is an incredibly affecting account of Nostromo’s increasing disillusionment and paranoia, as he realizes that other men see him as a pawn and grows obsessed with his hoarded silver. If you loved The Great Gatsby , but wanted it to be even darker and more geopolitical — as Fitzgerald apparently did — you’ll devour Nostromo faster than you can say “quicksilver.”

50. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence (1913)

The third of his published novels, Sons and Lovers brought D.H. Lawrence a new level of success and acclaim. It also established his reputation for bucking social mores — a talent which would eventually see him indicted for obscenity. Drawing from the author’s working-class upbringing, the book tells the story of Paul Morel, the son of an abusive father and a beloved mother. Escaping the trappings of the mining town where he grew up, Paul leaves for London and begins climbing the social ladder, even finding romance. But as the book’s title suggests, his attempts to separate his emotional identities of son and lover are futile, especially as his mother’s once-treasured affection poisons Paul against other women.

51. The Trial by Franz Kafka (1915)

52. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham (1915)

A wrenching, partially autobiographical account of the author’s own life, Of Human Bondage follows young Englishman Philip Carey in his quest to find meaning and love. Traumatized by the deaths of his parents, Philip struggles throughout his childhood; in later years, he rebels and pursues art instead of attending Oxford, but eventually returns to England for medical school. It is there that he meets his femme fatale, Mildred Rogers, who will break his heart over and over as Philip flits from job to job. But this sorrowful tale has a surprisingly uplifting ending, containing a powerful message about the bonds of society and expectations and how we can shed them by taking life one day at a time.

53. The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford (1915)

With this book, Ford Madox Ford reinvigorated two crucial narrative elements that would go on to become huge parts of modern literature: flashbacks and the unreliable narrator. Basically, he was the original Gillian Flynn — a comparison that seems even more apt upon knowing the plot of The Good Soldier . It consists of domestic drama between two seemingly perfect couples: John and Florence Dowell, and Leonora and Edward Ashburnham. Edward, the soldier, seems committed to Leonora, but in truth she manipulates and controls him; Edward, meanwhile, is actually having an affair with Florence. John, the narrator, gravely recounts the deterioration of both marriages and the tragic repercussions of their repressive Edwardian era… but also, all is not as it seems, and what’s on the page is seen in a whole new light by the book’s end.

54. The Real Story of Ah-Q by Lu Xun (c. 1920)

Accompanying The Real Story of Ah-Q in this collection are short stories just as poignant and impactful. Lu Xun’s unconventional view of development and his ability to flesh out nuances from simple plots makes his stories bleakly insightful.  

55. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1920)

Newland Archer — one of 1900s New York’s most eligible bachelors, with his upper-crust background and his established career as a lawyer — has been looking for a beautiful, traditional wife, and it appears May Welland is just the girl. She also grew up in high society, understands etiquette, and fits perfectly into his picture-perfect family. And yet, it is May’s cousin, Ellen Olenska — a dynamic character returning from her failed marriage in Europe — who catches Newland’s attention. The Age of Innocence follows Newland and his unprecedented dilemma between the two women — and by extension his struggle between upholding the prestige of old money, and seeking the real value behind the labels of social class. 

56. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)

If you are only going to read one book from this elephantine list, it should be James Joyce’s literary jewel Ulysses . The tale mirrors that of Homer’s the Odyssey (hence the title), only this time, it’s set entirely during one of Leopold Bloom’s days in Dublin. A cast of characters — namely Bloom’s friends and wife — make up others who draw comparisons to the mythical ones in the Odyssey. While Joyce’s ability to bring a literary classic and its themes into modernity is astounding, the true beauty of this action-packed novel is its writing. Scattered across his paragraphs are intertwining perspectives and puzzles enamelled with pun and alliterations. Joyce’s illustration of the human mind, its processes, and its guardians is impeccable and unmatchable. 

57. A Passage to India by E. M. Foster (1924)

58. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Is it possible to now think of the Roaring Twenties and not think of The Great Gatsby ? Fitzgerald’s magnum opus has been adapted to the big screen numerous times, and its “green light at the end of the dock” symbolism is perhaps too well-known to all of us. But let’s still go through a quick summary: Nick Carraway moves to West Egg in Long Island and learns about his new, mysteriously well-to-do neighbor, Jay Gastby. Through endless house parties, Nick comes to know this man, his odd past, and his tragic love story with the lady of East Egg, Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald’s tale of sightless dream-chasing is the epitome of something small and yet mighty: with his succinct prose, the extravagance of post-WWI America is stripped bare, revealing the heartlessness underneath it all. 

59. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

When Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself, she had no idea what a momentous day was in store for her — though of course, much of this book’s momentousness must be attributed to Virginia Woolf’s brilliant prose. But even besides the writing, it’s a fantastic little slice-of-life story: Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class, middle-aged woman in London, decides to host a party for her fellow society people, and spends most of the day prepping for said party. But what would have been a mundane tale in the hands of a less thoughtful author becomes remarkable in Woolf’s, her stream-of-consciousness narrative shifting ever so subtly between past and present, and rendering Clarissa’s emotions with unprecedented vibrancy.

60. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926)

61. In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust (c. 1927)

Composed of seven volumes written throughout a decade, In Search of Lost Time is a long novel detailing the development of the unnamed narrator from childhood to adulthood and his struggles to define himself. Said protagonist desires to be an author but is unsure of how to get there, he is seeing his relationships with his family in a new light while he’s discovering new connections with others. Memory is a recurring theme in this novel, especially the involuntary ones, whereby Proust shows how little details can trigger an outpour of thoughts and emotions. His impressive narrative revolutionized the way novels are written — Proust’s emphasis lies not in creating an airtight and sensational plot, but in exploring with astonishing depth the emotional experiences and development of his protagonist. 

62. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (1929)

This classic Southern gothic novel might seem like a typical family saga, but its grim conditions and dark twists are unlike those of other tales. The story of The Sound and the Fury proceeds as follows: the Compson family are disgraced former aristocrats attempting to adapt now that they’ve lost their money, religion, and elevated reputation. Unfortunately, the four children of the Compson family perpetuate its fatal flaws of greed, selfishness, and outdated values and ideas about the world at large. As the story shifts among them, as well as back and forth in time, it becomes clear that the Compsons are beyond repair — but nevertheless, they continue to press on. With a tragic story on par with Macbeth (from which the book takes its title) and Faulkner’s revolutionary prose, it’s no wonder this story still looms so large in American literature.

63. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

64. I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1934)

When it comes to historical novels, none is as well-celebrated as Robert Graves’s story of the Roman emperor, Claudius. Written in the first person perspective, this novel feigns an autobiography written by the nervous leader. Claudius is unlike his predecessors — he critically examined theirs and the corrupt system’s failures, exposing all the dramatic intrigue and high politics of this lauded empire to the world. He himself is spun into this entangled battle for the throne, although perhaps less willingly that his opponents. If you enjoy the political battles of Game of Thrones , you’ll without a doubt enjoy this novel , which would not only provide you with a good bit of entertainment, but also introduce to you the intricate structures of Roman civilization. 

65. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934)

Miller’s sombre novel was not well-received when it was first published — in fact it was banned in the US and not published until the late 1960s, decades after its conception. The basic storyline is simple — it’s a blend of Miller’s memories as a struggling writer in Paris, and fictional elements that he added. Miller focused on his feelings and perceptions, propelling the stream-of-consciousness style of writing that was gaining popularity among writers of the time. What made the book so controversial was its featuring of sexuality, which, along with descriptions of the desperation, the poverty, and the grief present in the lives of those without a clear sense of direction, is part of Miller’s candor. If a book can hold the soul of a writer, perhaps none is as potent as Tropic of Cancer . 

66. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) 

67. Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

The controversial author of Brideshead Revisited , Evelyn Waugh also wrote this rip-roaring satire that made waves when it was published in 1938. This time, Waugh’s target is the media, particularly the newspaper industry. As a promising little civil war erupts in the African Republic of Ishmaelia, Lord Copper sends his reporter in the continent to cover it — to hilarious consequences. Wickedly funny and not at all politically correct as it skewers Fleet Street and its overeager occupants, Scoop is a comedy that will never be old news. 

68. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) 

First, there were ten who arrived on the island. Among the guests of the house in And Then There Were None were Mrs. Rogers, a homely cook; Anthony Marston, a handsome and irresponsible young man; Emily Caroline Brent, an old and religious spinster; Dr. Armstrong, a Harley Street doctor; and Philip Lombard, a soldier with money. Strangers to one another, they nevertheless shared one similarity: they had all murdered in the past. And when people begin dropping like flies and their numbers begin to thin on the island, they begin to suspect that they are the ones being murdered. But who is the murderer in their midst? That’s the question that will leave your head spinning in this timeless example of a mystery novel done right by no other than the Queen of Mystery herself.

Contemporary literature

69. native son by richard wright (1940).

70. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (1940)

Carson McCullers’ debut novel — written when she was only 23! — was an instant classic when it was published. The author’s sheer prodigiousness is astonishing enough, but it is the rich wisdom and gentle insight that makes The Heart is a Lonely Hunter truly remarkable. You’ll probably never meet a protagonist quite as memorable as John Singer, a deaf and nonverbal man who sits in the same café every day. Here, in the deep American South of the 1930s, John meets an assortment of people: the café owner, Biff Brannon; Mick Kelly, a young girl who wants nothing more than to play music; Jake Blount, a desperate alcoholic; and Dr. Copeland, a frustrated and idealistic black doctor. 

John is the silent, kind keeper of their stories — right up until an unforgettable ending that will blow you away, placing The Heart is a Lonely Hunter squarely beside such southern classics as Grapes of Wrath and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

71. The Stranger by Albert Camus (1942)

Albert Camus’ own summary of The Stranger is perhaps the best way to describe this iconic book: “I summarized The Stranger a long time ago, with a remark I admit was highly paradoxical: ‘In our society any man who does not weep at his mother's funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death.’ I only meant that the hero of my book is condemned because he does not play the game.” And so The Stranger duly opens with Meursault, our hero, learning of the death of his mother. From this point onward, the reader is led in a strange dance of absurdism and existentialism that makes Meursault confront something even crueler than mortality: society’s expectations. 

72. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene (1948)

73. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)

Big Brother is watching you: both the governmental slogan that has become synonymous with this iconic novel, and the eerie sense you’ll get as you’re reading it. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a landmark work in the dystopian genre for its affecting portrayal of a totalitarian state that strictly controls and surveils its citizens — though of course, few are content with such an existence. Our narrator, Winston Smith, is one such citizen; employed by the “Ministry of Truth” (which actually serves the opposite cause), Winston fully grasps the corruption of the government, yet feels powerless to stop it. Yet what’s most compelling about this book isn’t Winston’s individual experience, but the exceptional detail and social commentary Orwell injects into the story — potently warning readers of a reality that could all too easily come to pass.

74. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (1951)

One of the most iconic coming-of-age novels in literature, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is still a must-read today — and Holden Caulfield is still one of the most recognizable protagonists ever. Told from Holden’s point of view, this classic at first seems like a simple tale about a boy wandering the streets of New York with no plan in mind and nothing to do. Yet any reader who digs deeper will encounter a cry of teenage disillusionment — not to mention a moving story that confronts the reality of growing up. 

75. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1952) 

76. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952) 

One of the perennial staples on “Books You Must Read Before You Die” lists, and possibly the best of John Steinbeck's books , East of Eden fully deserves its acclaimed place in American literature today. A family saga that spans generations, it follows two families — the Trasks and the Hamiltons — whose fates desperately entwine in the wild American West. It’s also a modern retelling of the Book of Genesis — particularly the fabled and tragic story of Cain and Abel. Ambitiously epic and thought-provoking, East of Eden is simply Steinbeck at his masterful, astonishing best. 

77. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Firemen mean something different in Guy Montag’s world: they start fires. And (every bookworm out there, cover your eyes now) books are the illegal, radical property to be burned. As one such fireman, Guy is in charge of destroying every book remaining… until a series of events occurs in rapid succession, making Guy question the job for the first time. This is one of the most famous books ever written — a revolutionary and fiery work about the cost of censoring knowledge and the beauty of the written world. Just don’t read it next to your stove, because what’s the temperature at which books burn? Well, Fahrenheit 451 . 

78. In the Castle of My Skin by George Lamming (1953)

Don’t walk into it expecting a straightforward story: Lammings’ style could be termed impressionistic, and he narrates many of his personal anecdotes and vignettes from the perspective of others. But this experimental effect is often dazzling, and it’s made In the Castle of My Skin one of the most important works of postcolonial literature in history. 

79. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) 

Though William Golding’s Lord of the Flies wasn’t initially well-received and sold poorly, Golding had the last laugh: Lord of the Flies is today one of the must-read books in every school curriculum. Its story about a group of schoolboys who have crashed on a lonely island is enduring not only for its shocking plot developments, but also the way that it reveals the truths of human nature at our basest. Today, it remains one of the most terrifying depictions of how quickly a society can fail — and a reminder of the fragility of the systems that we build to reassure ourselves. 

80. Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (c .1955) 

Lord of the Rings may be one of the most influential series ever written — not least for the way that it basically created the modern fantasy genre as we know it. The towering shadow that J.R.R. Tolkien cast over all fantasy books that followed in its path aside, Lord of the Rings should be read simply because it’s a rollicking good story. So if you also fall under the spell of Middle-Earth as you venture into Mordor with Frodo and his companions, don’t fear: there’s still a prequel ( The Hobbit ) and an origin story ( The Silmarillion ) to go. 

81. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)

82. On the Road by Jack Kerouac (1957)

On the Road is the example of a good book that didn’t take years and years to produce: Jack Kerouac wrote it all in a mad three-week period in 1951. Decades later, it is regarded as a classic of the postwar Beat movement that captures the heart and soul of an entire generation. You’ll meet Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty: alter egos for Kerouac himself and his friend, Neal Cassady — On the Road is, at its heart, a semi-autobiographical account of Kerouac’s own travels across America. From New York to San Francisco, Sal and Dean tear through the streets  to a jazz rhythm all their own. Do they have any inkling of what they’re going to do with their lives? Heck no — but that’s the charm of On the Road , which will speak to the wanderlust in you, as it has done to millions of other readers since 1957.

83. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958) 

As the name of the novel suggests, protagonist Okonkwo might’ve had a good start in his youth as wrestling champion of his clan, but horrid things are waiting on the horizon for him. As he climbs to the top of the social hierarchy, Okonkwo faces tough decisions between his pride and his morality. Things become complicated as white men come in and begin tearing apart the fabric of his society. 

Things Fall Apart is a modern African classic: it’s poignant, nuanced, and moving. Okonkwo is not different from ancient literary heroes — he has virtues, he has gods to please, and he has obstacles to overcome. That’s a thought many wouldn’t have about Africans in the 50s and 60s, and Achebe was amongst the first writers who sought to challenge this. 

84. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

Set in rural Alabama, this book centers around Scout as her father, Atticus Finch, takes on an important trial. He’s been tasked with defending a black man falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman — not an easy case in the South in the 30s. Scout’s innocence may have been shaken by these events, but she comes to ground herself watching Atticus’s passionate defense, something that continues to inspire lawyers to this day. 

85. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961) 

Although it takes place in World War II (and was loosely based on Heller’s own experiences), Catch-22 was actually a reaction to the Korean war and McCarthyism. This iconic satire follows Captain Yossarian, a bombardier who, along with his fellow service people, is attempting to navigate the absurdities of war in order to fulfill their service requirements so they can be sent home. Told in a non-linear, third person omniscient with plenty of anachronisms, it can seem a bit much to follow at first, but we promise it’s well worth the effort. This novel has been a staple of anti-war literature for decades, and with its perfectly tuned wit and wisdom, it’s not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon.

86. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (1961)

It’s tempting to describe The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie as gender-bent Dead Poets Society , but that would be doing Jean Brodie a disservice — she predated the Robin Williams film by nearly three decades! Still, the comparison isn’t a bad one: set in Edinburgh during the 1920s and 30s, the novel explores what happens when a young teacher decides to take an active and unconventional interest in the futures of six of her students. Told through the eyes of these students, and full of tantalizing flashforwards, this book is a complicated, nuanced portrayal of mentorship and coming of age.

87. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (1962)

88. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1962)

Following in the chilling tradition set by 1984 and A Brave New World, Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange is its own terrifying vision of the future. In Anthony Burgess’ dystopia, the world is overrun by juvenile delinquents and ultra-violent gangs in the city. Anarchy reigns on any given day, but when Alex — a sociopathic “droog” who nevertheless longs for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony— is captured and taken in by the authorities, he’ll have to confront what free will really means to him, and what he’d give up himself to keep it. 

89. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)

Written at the height of Stalin’s regime, The Master and Margarita is a daring, defiant satire that weaves together the spiritual and the supernatural to create a fantasy world at once chillingly real and utterly unique.

The story begins with the Devil arriving in atheistic Soviet Moscow, though the plot is split between those events and another thread taking place in ancient Jerusalem. As if that wasn’t surreal enough, there’s also a walking, talking black cat in league with the Devil, causing all sorts of trouble. This novel is a vivid portrait of life under Soviet regime, and an important reminder of the need for unfettered artistic expression.

90. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (1967)

What follows is a gripping account of both the investigation as well as the impacts this event has upon the fate of the college itself. It’s a fascinating look into the impact that tragedy can have on ordinary circumstances, and a mystery that will leave you aching for answers that will never come.

91. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967) 

In this surrealist tale, José Arcadio Buendía flees his city with his wife after committing murder, and is now seeking refuge. Rather than finding life in a new city, he decides to found his own utopia — Macondo. This little town functions in its own odd way, separate from the rest of the world, save for a few interactions via a band of gypsies. But solitude doesn’t necessarily mean peace, as José’s descendants would discover, and neither can that solitude remain forever… 

One Hundred Years of Solitude is an outstanding blend of the fantastical and the real. Marquez’s prose will take you on a magical and sensational journey to discover the complex political developments of Latin America .

92. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1974) 

In this rendition of reality, Earth is at war with the alien-kind called Taurans. In preparation for this drawn out conflict, William Mandella is drafted and enters a rigorous training program, starting first on Earth and then later on a foreign planet. Mandella hopes to survive the training and the war to return to his family, but his life will never be the same again, whether because of the time dilation between the planets, or because of the new lens that he will see life through, after participating in a lengthy and pointless war. 

Hats off to Haldeman for his creativity: he spectacularly spun his experiences as a drafted soldier in the Vietnam war into the moving interstellar story of The Forever War . 

93. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1978) 

94. So Long A Letter by Mariama Ba (1979)

So Long A Letter is a book of letters written by a Senegalese widow, Ramatoulaye Fall, to her friend during the time — four months and ten day, to be exact, as dictated by her religion and tradition — that she mourns her husband. As she explores her own emotions, Ramatoulaye reveals the complexities of the polygamous society that she lived in. Personal, raw, and unexpectedly relatable, this elegant novella extends beyond the illustration of the plight of women in 20th century Africa; Ramatoulaye’s sentiments and wonders are felt by all women. 

95. Collected Poems by Sylvia Plath (1981) 

Sylvia Plath’s Collected Poems collates 274 pieces that she wrote from 1956 to the time of her death. Her poetry is intense and personal; in her writing she explored her relationships with her family and the state of her mentality. At a time where depression and bipolar disorder is hardly talked about as serious conditions, Plath’s verses bring ringing clarity to the detrimental effects that they may have on a person’s life. If you are a lover of poems , if you want to be moved by powerful, intricate images, then you will not want to miss out on this collection of poems. 

96. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (1981)

Using magical realism as a way to make the notion of common identity more tangible, Rushdie’s novel provides a fascinating inroad into the transition into modernity of a culture that has existed for many centuries. 

97. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1982)

Set in early 1900s Georgia, The Color Purple is a striking story about the debilitating conditions of black women during the years of intense segregation. Celie and Nettie grew up in a broken household, and have long been separated and are living disparate lives. Despite the distance between them, they seek solace in one another through letters, and support each other through the abuses of domestic life and social tensions that they undergo as African American women. 

The Color Purple deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Walker’s refusal to shy away from the difficult issues of violence and sexual abuse — problems that she presented from the perspective of the victims in the rawest and most powerful form available.

98. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (1984)

In this philosophical novel, readers follow the “light” life of surgeon and womanizer Tomas. He lives to enjoy himself as much as possible because he believes his experience is a one-time and completely unique thing. In stark contrast to that is the perspective of Tereza, his wife, who’s a photographer who is faithful and puts “weight” on her every decision. Through the couple's struggles to harmonize themselves, with 1960s Czechoslovakia’s internal turmoil rife in the background, The Unbearable Lightness of Being reflects the intellectual rediscovery and transition into postmodernity that Eastern Europe at that historic time. 

99. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987) 

It follows Sethe, a woman who escaped slavery by fleeing to Ohio eighteen years before the novel starts. Still, “Sweet Home,” the picturesque farm that was the scene of her many living nightmares, continues to haunt her. And it’s not the only shadow casted over her life. Sethe’s home is also haunted by the ghost of her baby whose tombstone displays a lone word: Beloved.

Beloved is a suspenseful, heartbreaking, and intimate story. It deserves a spot on all “best books of all time” lists for the way it stands as a monument to the “Sixty Million and More,” as the book’s dedication reads, who lost their lives to the Atlantic slave trade.

100. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)

Kazuo Ishiguro is a Nobel Prize-winning author, and The Remains of the Day is a Man Booker Prize winner with a film adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, and which received eight Oscar nominations. No big deal, right?

Ishiguro’s impressive novel centres on Stevens, a butler who’s spent most of his life in service at Darlington Hall, a stately home near Oxford, England. When Stevens receives a letter from an old colleague who now lives in Cornwall, he decides to set out on a motoring trip through the West Country to visit her. Along the way, he reflects on England’s past, his own past, and his long-standing career serving Lord Darlington.

101. Angels in America by Tony Kushner (1991)

Angels in America is a two-part play and exploration of homosexuality and the AIDS crisis in America in the 1980s. The plays can be presented together or separately, and have been adapted for Broadway and as an HBO miniseries. 

The story starts with a gay couple living in Manhattan — Prior and Louis. When Louis discovers that Prior has AIDS, he finds himself unable to cope. He leaves Prior to have an affair with Joe, a Mormon, Republican clerk whose valium-addicted, agoraphobic wife is desperate to save their marriage. Several other storylines blossom as the play unfolds, many of which intersect and involve angels and ghosts.

If you need any more convincing of the power behind Kushner’s work, John M. Clum, a playwright and professor of theatre studies has called Angels in America , "A turning point in the history of gay drama, the history of American drama, and of American literary culture.” 

102. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992)

The six protagonists of The Secret History are a group of Classics students studying at a small, elite college in Vermont. Under the guidance of their favorite professor, the students begin to collectively challenge the norms of academia and society as a whole, questioning the way they’ve been taught to see the world. They blur the lines between good and evil, looking for the morally grey around them. But as they start to push the boundaries they’ve always known, their own moral compasses begin to veer, and unspeakable acts follow.

103. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (1995) 

It’s 1975, and India has just declared a State of Emergency. In the midst of this bleak upheaval and political turmoil, the fates of four unlikely strangers intertwine: a courageous widow, a young, uprooted student, and two sailors who have escaped the violence of their native village — who all end up living in one, small apartment as they contend with their uncertain futures.

Just as the title suggests, A Fine Balance does a wonderful job paralleling the realism of the testing, cruel, and corrupt circumstances with compassion, humor, and insight into the power of love and friendship.

104. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1996)

Written by Canadian poet Anne Michaels, Fugitive Pieces is a two-part novel that begins with an absolutely heart wrenching image: the war has just swept through a Polish city where seven-year old Jakob Beer’s family has just been murdered. The only reason he has survived is because he buried himself under mud until the coast was clear. A Greek geologist eventually comes across Jakob and rescues him — but the man doesn’t actually realize that Jakob is a human until the boy begins to weep.

The first part of the book continues to follow Jakob as he becomes a traveling artist, while the second explores different facets of WWII’s repercussions: it centers around Ben, a Canadian professor whose parents both survived the Holocaust. 

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Winner of the Lannan Literary Fiction Award, and Winner of the Guardian Fiction Award, Fugitive Pieces depicts tough subject matters with captivating elements of mystery and evocative prose. 

105. The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy (1999)

The World’s Wife is a modern, feminist reflection on many of history’s most well-known figures. Or rather, the great women behind those historical figures. From Mrs. Darwin to Queen Kong and Mrs. Midas, the counterparts of famous men are finally getting their day in the sun! 

Take it from publisher Pan Macmillan: “Original, subversive, full of imagination and quicksilver wit, The World's Wife is Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy at her beguiling best.”

106. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (1999)

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine short stories, and winner of both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.

From marriage problems to the peculiar experience of returning to a home you hardly remember, these stories provide a window into the culturally complex lives of first and second generation immigrants. The thread that weaves the story together is that of adaptation: they portray the lives of Indians and Indian Americans striving to find a connection between their roots and the “new world.”In the title short story, an Indian American family tours the India of their ancestors, accompanied by an interpreter who gets an unexpected insight into the family’s life. 

107. Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001) 

On a hot summer day in post-World War Two England, 13-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses — and misinterprets — a private moment between her older sister Cecilia, and the son of their housekeeper, Robbie Turner. But with the precocious confidence of a young storyteller, Briony begins to weave what she believes she saw into fantasies that have long-lasting and rippling effects on her family. Told in three parts — the latter two during the Second World War and present-day England — Atonement is a brilliant and provocative reflection on the nature of writing itself.

108. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2002) 

The even-numbered chapters are about an aging war-vet called Nakata, who has an uncanny ability to find lost cats. One of his searches leads him out onto the road for the first time.

Both odysseys are vividly mysterious, and populated with imaginative accomplices and unexpected encounters that are characteristic of Murakami’s distinct and bizarre style .

109. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (2003) 

15 year-old Christopher John Francis Boone hates the color yellow and being touched by others. In fact, he’d much rather spend his time around animals and avoid complicated human emotions. He can also fire off all the countries of the world, their capitals, and every prime number up to 7,057. He thrives on logic, patterns, and carefully laid out rules. 

One day, in an unexpected turn of events, his neighbor’s dog dies. While Christopher is not a fan of plot twists, he decides to take a leaf out of his favorite, deerstalker-wearing detective’s book, and to solve — you guessed it — The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time .

110. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) 

Set against a backdrop of chaos and tumult — such as the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy through the Soviet military intervention, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime — this story details the unlikely friendship between Amir, the son of a well-to-do-family, and Hassan, the son of Amir’s father’s servant. 

A sweeping tale of family, love, and friendship, it’s not uncommon for someone to clutch their heart or take on a sombre expression when someone brings up The Kite Runner . It’s an emotionally devastating read that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

111. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2005)

Zusak’s spectacular humanization of this ominous narrator emphasizes perfectly the inhumanity of war and discrimination in a never seen before lightm despite this commonly-used setting. 

112. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2006) 

“Epic,” “ambitious,” “triumphant,” “masterful” are all adjectives that have widely been used to describe Half of a Yellow Sun — and for good reason! Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s haunting (another adjective for you!) novel is dedicated to retelling a seminal moment in modern African history: the Nigerian Civil War in the 1960s, and Biafra’s struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria. 

Readers are guided through this conflict from the perspectives of three main characters: 13 year-old Ugwu, a revolutionary-minded houseboy who works for a university professor; Olanna, a young woman who’s abandoned her cushy life in Lagos to take up a passionate affair with said university professor; and Richard, a shy Englishman who quietly falls in love with Olanna’s twin sister. 

As the war unfurls around them, Ugwa, Olanna, and Richard are all forced to flee for their lives, facing challenges and struggles that test their spirits, ideals, and trust for one another.

113. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (2007)

Oscar Wao has big dreams: he wants to become the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien, and to fall in love. But the fukú curse stands in his way, as it has for generations of Waos, dooming his family to ill fates for centuries. 

Told from the perspective of multiple characters, and interspersed with plenty of fantasy and sci-fi references, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao manages to capture a number of themes with warmth and honesty — from heartbreak to loss, and most strikingly, the Domincan-American experience — earning it the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

114. The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak (2009)

One takes place in the thirteenth century, detailing the experiences of Rumi when he first met Shams of Tabriz, his mentor.

The other story is set in present day, and is about Ella Rubenstein, an unhappily married woman who’s just landed a job as a reader for a literary agent. One of the books she’s tasked to read is about Shams of Tabriz’s search for Rumi, and the transformation of the latter from an unhappy cleric into a passionate advocate of love. Ella becomes fascinated by the book, and as she reads, she can’t help but feel as though this book landed in her hands for a reason... 

115. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014)

When performing King Lear on stage one night, a Hollywood actor drops dead. Shortly after, civilization begins to collapse. This event is the middleground of Station Eleven , as the book pendulates back and forth between the actor’s early years and a dystopian future in which the world as we know it has changed forever. 

Hauntingly real and spellbindingly imaginative, it charts a theatre troupe called the Traveling Symphony as they roam wastelands and attempt to hold onto what it means to be human.

If you’d rather look at the latest hits, check out the 21 best books written in this century . Also, you might find the Kindle Cloud Reader useful in helping you make a dent to your reading lists. 

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100 Best Book Club Books of All Time (By Year)

If you’re looking for the next book for your book club, this is a list of the 100 Best Book Club Books of All Time . The books are listed in reverse chronological order (so newer books are first), based on publication year.

The list has a preference for titles released in more recent years, but includes notable titles that were published in earlier years as well that have remained firmly on book club reading lists.

Happy reading and if you think there’s something missing, feel free to drop me a line in the comments below!

For more book club reads, see the Best Book Club Books of 2021 or the Best Book Club Books of 2020 .

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The Housemaid is Watching

She’s Not Sorry

The Seven Year Slip

Darling Girls

It Finally Happened + Summer Romances

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The Housemaid Book Series Recap

2024’s Best Book Club Books (New & Anticipated)

Bookshelf: Development Diary

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Great list! I have heard a lot about some of the books from this list. I have read only 3 but I plan to add some to my TBR. Thank you for sharing!

My book group have read many of the books on this list, and I personally have read and loved even more of them – thanks for producing this list, I’ll certainly check out some of the ones I haven’t read!

I only count 91 books. Are there more to come?

This is an incredible list! I’m definitely inspired to make better use of my Kindle. Great blog and site Jennifer!

What a great list of books!! I have read quite a few on this list…24!!! And others on this list are already on my nightstand waiting impatiently. Not sure if you have a section of “If you like this book, you should read this”. I follow authors so something like that would be helpful. Either way, this list is amazing and the goal now is to read them all. Thank you! Your site is beautiful!!

What an amazing list!! We must be of like minds because I have read 24 of them…like The Handmaid’s Tale and my favorite, A Thousand Splendid Suns!! I am not sure if you have a section like “If you like this book, you should read this” but that would be really helpful. Either ways this is a great list and the goal now is to read all of them. Thank you for such a beautiful site!!!

Mollie Reads

Book Lists, Book Reviews, and Editing Tips

January 25, 2024

66 Best Book Club Books of All Time | 2024 5-Star Reads

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

What makes a good book club book ? Whether you’re just starting a book club or you’ve been a part of one forever, I’ve got you covered! These are the best book club books of all time.

They’re well written, propulsive, atmospheric, full of lovable characters you want to root for, and ripe for a good discussion.

Best 5-Star Book Club Books to Spark Amazing Discussions

From the most uplifting book club books and the best fiction and nonfiction book club books to the shortest book club books and the best picks for women, these are the books every book club should read !

1. Top 20 Best Book Club Books of All Time 2. The Best Classic Book Club Books to Choose 3. The Most Popular Book Club Books for Women to Enjoy 4. The Best Nonfiction Book Club Books of All Time 5. The Best Book Club Books for Discussion 6. Addictive Book Club Reads to Keep the Pages Turning 7. Uplifting Book Club Books to Give You All the Feels 8. Short Book Club Books to Squeeze in to Your Reading Year 9. What Makes a Good Book Club Book? 10. My Favorite Book Club Planning Tool (Bookclubs) 11. What Are Book Clubs Reading Now in 2024?

Top 20 Book Club Books Your Group Needs to Read

Each book club has a different focus and purpose, and there are so many books to choose from. Even so, I have a top recommended reading list for book clubs .

These 20 books are hands down my favorite book club books of all time.

Peace like a river by leif enger.

Oh, Peace Like a River is powerful. It just stays with you. This historical fiction book will make you cry, smile, and leave you with the most heartwarming feeling ready to gush with your fellow bookworms.

Also, pssst: Leif Enger is coming out with another book this year and it’s on my most anticipated books of 2024 reading list . We’ll see if I Cheerfully Refuse is up to snuff for my 2024 book club books list.

Read the synopsis here .

Peace Like a River was published on August 2, 2001, from Grove Pr.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah is one of the most amazing books for book club! It’s about a Nigerian woman who moves to the United States. I learned so much because of this book—and there’s so much room for discussion for book club, specifically about race, cultural identification, immigration, and so much more!

Plus, it’s beautifully written, and the characters are so complex and interesting. Definitely check this book out if you want a hard-hitting book to really “marinate” on for your book club.

Americanah was published on May 14, 2013, from Alfred A. Knopf.

📚 Book Club Tip: Figuring out what book to choose for book club is tricky enough, but managing all the logistics of book club can quickly fill up your time when you could be reading. My favorite book club app is a free web and mobile app called Bookclubs . Since launching my virtual book club , I’ve been able to facilitate and encourage communication easily, from automated meeting reminders to interactive member polls to quickly vote on our next book club book. Check out Bookclubs to better reach your book club reading goals, track reading history, and host group discussions!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

This historical literary fiction book is the perfect book club pick! Honestly, any Ann Patchett is a great book club book, imo.

And here’s a hint: If you like to get into audiobooks , this is one of my absolute favorite audiobooks ! Tom Hanks narrates. Need I say more?

Anyway, from the sibling dynamics and family saga to the compelling prose and the setting of the house being almost a character in and of itself, The Dutch House is without a doubt among the top 5-star book club books.

The Dutch House was published on September 24, 2019, from Harper.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is for the literary fiction–leaning book club. It’s about much more than video games—it’s a complicated story about friendship and love, too.

This book is also the winner of the Goodreads best books of 2022 , fiction category. So you shouldn’t have to convince your book club too much. 😉

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published on July 5, 2022, from Knopf.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This Tender Land is one of the most heartfelt epic adventure and coming-of-age stories I’ve ever read! This is definitely one of the good, clean books for book clubs you could pick in 2024.

There’s many themes you could dive into for book club, including a sense of belonging, found family, loyalty, love, betrayal, and hope.

Not to mention the setting (1930s Minnesota to St. Louis ) and the historical impact of the Great Depression . . . what a book!

This Tender Land was published on September 3, 2019, from Atria Books.

One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel’s books are perfect for book club, in my opinion! They’re compelling and easy to read, but they tackle some heavier themes with plenty of room for discussion.

If you’re looking for unique book club books, One, Two, Three should be at the top of your list.

The character development, premise, and disability representation is all incredible. I’m also reading her newest book, Family, Family , which comes out in a few weeks, is also on my most anticipated 2024 new releases list. I think it will make a great book club pick, too.

One, Two, Three was published on June 8, 2021, from Henry Holt and Co.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Berry Pickers is an immersive family drama that pulled me in immediately.

There’s so much to discuss for book club, from family ties and carrying the emotional burdens of your family to forgiveness, loyalty, and what it looks like to belong.

There are heavy themes here, of course, but The Berry Pickers is a wonderful, short book for book club.

The Berry Pickers was published on April 4, 2023, from Catapult.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Obviously I loved This Time Tomorrow , which is the perfect literary time-slip novel! I loved gushing about this book with my friends, and I know it would make a great book club book.

This Time Tomorrow is a lighthearted page-turner, but there’s some heavier topics to discuss as well, like aging and loving yourself through that process, seeing your parents through the lens of time, reevaluating what you want in life and who you love . . . the list goes on and on!

This Time Tomorrow was published on May 17, 2022, from Riverhead Books.

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals is one of the best books I’ve ever read (check out my book review here!), but I also think it’s a great book club pick. If you’re looking for quirky or unique book club books, this is the one.

A literary tragicomedy (one of my favorite genres) is ideal for book club because it’s lighthearted and funny at times but also has heavy themes and a bit more depth. The POV of the ghosts at the local cemetery gives this book an different spin, which is fun to discuss in book club!

Unlikely Animals was published on April 12, 2022, from Ballantine Books.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Thank you to @prhaudio and Pamela Dorman Books for the complimentary book! This is a cozy book to curl up with, and it is very character driven. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club is a heartwarming, heartbreaking book that will leave you and your book club thinking about it for months to come.

If you’re a part of a midwestern book club, you should definitely add this one to your book club reading list.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club was published on April 18, 2023, from Pamela Dorman Books.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If you’ve been following my reading journey online at all, you know this is one of my most favorite books of all time. The Shadow of the Wind has a chilling mystery, intrigue, a romantic and gothic setting, and characters you root for.

This gothic thriller is the perfect book for book club. After you read it, you will want to hug this book, trust me! You’ll also want to dive into the premise and the plot while gushing about the book lover setting.

The Shadow of the Wind was published on May 1, 2001, from Penguin Books.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful, quirky, unique book perfect for book club.

It might take a second to get the gals in your book club on board with an Octopus POV, but trust me, this is an endearing, heartwarming, feel-good book that also tackles some tough issues.

This is a relatively short book club read, but it’s one that will stick with you for a long time. It was also a nominee for best fiction and best debut for 2022 on Goodreads .

Remarkably Bright Creatures was published on May 3, 2022, from Ecco.

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Another Emma Straub! All Adults Here is a great book club pick for women’s fiction. If you like the dysfunctional family gossip feel mixed with lovable characters, you will love All Adults Here .

When I read this book, I didn’t want it to end. Your book club will feel the same way—and if some of the members don’t agree, it will make for an interesting discussion!

All Adults Here was published on May 4, 2020, from Riverhead Books.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Station Eleven is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read, and if you like to annotate your books for book club, this is the one for you. This post-apocalyptic literary fiction book will give you all the feels and provide a lot of discussion about humanity, art, self-preservation, and so many interesting hypotheticals!

Bonus: You can do a book adaptation night after reading the book and watch the TV show together (which is incredible, by the way!).

Station Eleven was published on September 9, 2014, from Knopf.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes is a wonderful character-driven book about marriage, family, and the power of forgiveness.

As you may already know, I loved it . With the family drama and emotional honesty masterfully crafted, this is the perfect book club book.

I thought about this book for a long time after reading, which is always a sign of a great book club pick.

Ask Again, Yes was published on May 28, 2019, from Scribner.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

Thank you to Doubleday for the complimentary book! The Most Fun We Ever Had is a wonderful book club book because there are so many different characters within a family, and it feels like you’re a fly on the wall for all the drama!

Even though this is somewhat chunky for a typical book club pick, Claire Lombardo’s writing style makes it easy to fly through this book.

Back when I went to an IRL book club, we read this book together, and it was such a fun one to do!

The Most Fun We Ever Had was published on June 25, 2019, from Doubleday.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the complimentary book! Black Cake is a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for historical fiction and debut novel from 2022, so you know it’d be a great book club pick. I loved this one, and with the TV show coming out soon, I think it would make a great book club selection.

Historical and literary fiction with a mystery and driving secret? These are the best ingredients for the perfect book club book.

Black Cake was published on February 1, 2022, from Ballantine Books.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This is the book my virtual book club is reading right now! It’s definitely perfect for a cozy winter book club read —the descriptions of winter in the wilderness of Alaska are otherworldly. The Snow Child is a retelling of a Russian fairy tale.

This historical fiction book is irresistibly absorbing, tender, and oh my goodness, Eowyn Ivey can write a beautiful scene. The premise is so magical!

The Snow Child was published on February 1, 2012, from Reagan Arthur Books.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I read Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine several years ago, but it still sticks with me. Eleanor is a complex, intriguing, flawed character who experiences such transformation throughout the book.

There’s a lot to unpack in this story—mental health being the biggest topic. Broken characters and tragicomedy literary fiction stories with endings that don’t tie up in a perfect little bow are my kryptonite.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine was published on May 9, 2017, from HarperCollins.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! Vera Wong is the most perfect character, and a cozy mystery is a really fun genre to explore for book club! I absolutely adored it. Check out my review !

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is funny, heartwarming, and just plain endearing.

If you have an in-person book club and like to include more elaborately themed dinners, snacks, or drinks, this would be a really fun book to select. The food and the tea and all the cozy meals made me soo hungry and ready to curl up with a warm beverage. 😂

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was published on March 14, 2023, from Berkley.

The Best Classic Book Club Books to Choose

If your book club is more of a classic, high brow type, you need to check out these top classic book club books.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a beloved American classic and coming-of-age story at the turn of the century. Anyone who’s read it was moved to tears. Just a poignant, special book that will stick with you.

If you want to know what life was like for folks, especially young girls, in Brooklyn in the early 20th century, this is the book for you.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was published on August 18, 1943, from HarperCollins.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

If your book club hasn’t read Jane Austen yet, it’s time! Start with Persuasion .

It’s highly regarded as the most approachable Austen book, and there’s plenty to dive into about a variety of themes, including second chance love, letting go of expectations, and the issues of social mobility, and so much more.

Persuasion was first published on December 20, 1817, from Oxford University Press.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre is another amazing classic to revisit with your book club! The audiobook is incredible, too.

The heartbreak, mystery, and romance is up to par with every modern literary mystery, and it’s fascinating to discuss Victorian society with other readers!

Jane Eyre was first published on October 16, 1847, from Penguin.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a beautiful coming-of-age story that touches on so much, including masculinity vs. femininity, power, race, and identity.

If you read the American folklorist Zora Neal Hurston back in high school, it’s time to revisit it as an adult!

Their Eyes Were Watching God was first published on January 1, 1937, from Amistad.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

If your book club likes a good gothic mystery or thriller and you all want to read more classics, Rebecca should definitely be on your list.

This book will probably be slower than your average domestic thriller, but the payoff is worth it. This is an engrossing, atmospheric read for everyone in your book club to enjoy.

Rebecca was first published on 1938, from Little, Brown and Company.

The Most Popular Book Club Books for Women to Enjoy

I think any of my top 20 best book club books are generally great picks for women, but here are some of the most popular women’s domestic fiction books for book club.

These are a lot of the titles you’ll see on Oprah’s book club list, Reese’s book club list, and Read With Jenna’s book club picks. Hey, if it’s good enough for Oprah Winfrey, it’s good enough for me!

Most of them are fun romantic comedies to fly through, family dramas, mysteries, or have some sentimental element—typically struggles with class, religion, marriage, or friendship.

There are usually other themes at play, but these are the most popular.

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

The Nest is a family drama and literary fiction book perfect for book club!

There’s so much to unpack, and the omniscient POV makes the reader feel like a fly on the wall, getting aaalll the juicy gossip.

This book is tender, funny, and definitely has some morally grey characters.

The Nest was published March 22, 2016, from HarperCollins.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Thank you to @libro.fm and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for this complimentary book! Nora Goes Off Script is also on my best books for summer reading list , so perhaps this is a book you nominate for your book club in July or August!

This book is sweet, easy to read, and will definitely get your book club talking. It’s one of the most heartwarming romance books , funny, charming, and Nora and her kids are so precious.

Nora Goes Off Script was published on June 7, 2022, from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Quick note: Annabel Monaghan has another book coming out in 2024 called Summer Romance (releases June 4, 2024). It looks sooo good, and it’s definitely on my most anticipated 2024 book releases list .

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

The romance community loves Beth O’Leary! I thought The Switch was so adorable and charming, and it’s such a quick contemporary romance read.

The Switch was a nominee for Best Romance in 2020 on Goodreads , so you should be able to easily convince your book club members!

The Switch was published on April 16, 2020, from Quercus.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

In Five Years is a wonderful contemporary romance time travel book!

There are some heavier themes, so sensitive readers should be sure to check content warnings. But in general, I think this book would make a great book club pick.

I love books that make you think about interesting hypotheticals. What would you do if you could see glimpses into your future? How would you change? The premise for this one is really interesting.

In Five Years was published on March, 10, 2020, from Atria Books.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

If your book club wants to read nonfiction that feels like fiction, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone should be your next pick! The mental health examination and behind-the-scenes world of a therapist is fascinating.

There’s so much to unpack in this memoir, and Lori Gottlieb’s background as a journalist really makes the book so engaging.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone was published on April 2, 2019, from Harper.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere is perfect for book club because it’s an intriguing and compelling domestic drama. There’s so much to dig into, from motherhood and adolescence to race, following the rules of society, and the tragic power of misunderstandings.

If you want to shake up your book club with a fun domestic drama you can pick apart and analyze, this is a great pick for you.

Little Fires Everywhere was published on September 12, 2017, from Penguin Press.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

If your book club likes to read backlist books and you missed the hype train on Where’d You Go, Bernadette , you simply must revisit it for book club! This is such a fun contemporary women’s fiction book to read with your friends.

The mystery will keep you turning pages, and the humor and characters will stay with you for a long time!

Where’d You Go, Bernadette was published on August 14, 2012, from Little, Brown and Company.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

It wouldn’t be a “best of all time” list without throwing Emily Henry into the mix! Beach Read is the ultimate feel-good romance with drama, heavier themes to discuss, and characters you fully swoon over—all to gush about at book club!

I think any book by Emily Henry would be perfect for book club (you know I loved Happy Place so, so much), but Beach Read seems to have the most universal appeal.

Beach Read was published on May 19, 2020, from Berkley.

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

I’ve loved Rosie Walsh ever since I interviewed her on the podcast , way back when. This is a really fun contemporary fiction with a little romance and a little mystery thrown in.

Ghosted is a page-turner, and Rosie Walsh’s writing style is very similar to Liane Moriarty (another wonderful book club author!).

Ghosted was published on May 1, 2018, from Pamela Dorman Books.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising would be one of the most amazing books for book club in the summer! If you like a beachy, atmospheric family drama with rich-kid-summer vibes, Malibu Rising is for you.

All Taylor Jenkins Reid books would be great for book club, but this historical fiction/contemporary romance has a lot of interesting elements to discuss in a group.

Malibu Rising was published on May 27, 2021, from Ballantine Books.

The Best Nonfiction Book Club Books of All Time

I am, i am, i am: seventeen brushes with death by maggie o’farrell.

To me, the best nonfiction books for book club are the ones that feel like fiction. And that’s definitely the case with I Am, I Am, I Am . This memoir is made up of memories curated in the most interesting way.

This is an astonishing memoir with so many stories to get your book club talking. Sensitive readers should definitely look into content warnings, but overall, this is a win.

I Am, I Am, I Am was published on August 2, 2017, from Knopf.

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is the winner of the Good Reads Choice Award for Best Memoir & Autobiography in 2018, so really, I don’t need to convince you.

Tara Westover’s words are addictive. This book is so hard to read and so hard to put down.

This memoir is vulnerable, raw, and mesmerizing. From religion and mental health to her troubled background and the theme of hope threaded throughout the book, there’s so much to dive into with this book.

Educated was published on February 20, 2018, from Random House.

Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg

Editor of Genius is an excellent nonfiction book club pick for book club members who love F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe.

For literary lovers who find the behind-the-scenes creation process of publishing to be really interesting, Editor of Genius is one of the best book club suggestions.

Editor of Genius was published on January 1, 1978, from Riverhead Trade.

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire is a wild, true story! You may think it’s a little clinical to read about Susannah’s most intimate moments during her “month of madness,” but it was actually quite enthralling the whole way through.

I would love to read this book with my book club. The psychology and emphasis on mental health is so interesting, and Susannah’s inspiring family brought me to tears multiple times.

Brain on Fire was published on November 13, 2012, from Free Press.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Whether your book club members are introverts or live with or work with introverts, Quiet is a really interesting book to explore. This book truly has the power to change how we see ourselves and others.

Susan Cain talks about “restorative niches,” the places introverts retreat to when they need to recharge their energy. Discussing terms like this and exploring them together in a group really will change the way you think about introverts.

Quiet was published on January 24, 2012, from Crown Publishing Group.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Forms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

Daring Greatly is an incredible book to read for book club if you’re looking for a nonfiction or self-help book. Brené Brown is a great author to pick in general!

If your book club is new and you’re hoping to get to know one another a bit better, why not dive into a book on vulnerability? This book explores shame, fear, vulnerability, and how we’re hard-wired to connect with others.

Daring Greatly was published on September 11, 2012, from Avery.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits is the ideal book club pick for a club full of motivated members who love to be productive. If you’re trying to form positive habits together—like reading more books in 2024 !—this would be a great book to read and discuss together.

Learn about habit stacking and how to set up and form micro goals and habits to change your life for the better. Doing this in a group and having accountability is a game-changer.

Atomic Habits was published on October 16, 2018, from Avery.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Thank you to @libro.fm and Simon Schuster for this complimentary book! This book won’t be for every book club because of the sensitive and heavier topics discussed. Plus, it’s a bit of a controversial read. You’ll need to make sure your group is okay with the content warnings first!

But for any group of people who love reading celebrity memoirs and discussing child stardom, I’m Glad My Mom Died is a fascinating read.

There’s a lot to get your group talking in this one, from TV and acting culture to mental health, creating boundaries in toxic relationships, and so much more. It’s also deeply moving, intriguing, and funny.

I’m Glad My Mom Died was published on August 9, 2022, from Simon Schuster.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Another Jeannette! The Glass Castle is one of my favorite memoirs of all time. This book is gorgeously written and reads like fiction.

It’s such a beautiful book about resilience and redemption and how Jeannette Walls defeats the odds to chase her dreams while growing up in a dysfunctional (and vibrant!) family.

The Glass Castle was published on January 1, 2005, from Scribner.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

Another family dysfunction memoir! 😂 But really, Kelly Corrigan so intimately captures a mother-daughter relationship in Glitter and Glue . Her awareness and humor is what makes this book!

If your book club is made up of moms, you’ll have some great talking points about what motherhood really means, whether or not we become our mothers, and so on.

Glitter and Glue was published on February 4, 2014, from Ballantine Books.

The Best Book Club Books for Discussion

All great book club books are perfect for book club because they get members talking. They shake things up! They make you think.

These books, however, take the discussion to another level. These are the books you won’t soon forget—the ones that tackle big themes and topics.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Long Bright River was a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery and Thriller in 2020 . I loved this heart-wrenching story with remarkable characters.

There’s a lot of room for important discussion, especially about the opioid crisis in small towns, but also about sisterhood bonding, the concept of addiction, the importance of community and neighbors, and the layered and well-developed characters.

Long Bright River was published on January 7, 2020, by Riverhead Books.

True Biz by Sara Nović

Thank you to Random House for this complimentary book! True Biz is a great book club pick because it’s (1) compulsively readable and (2) fascinating if you’re a reader who’s generally unfamiliar with Deaf culture and American Sign Language.

I learned so much from this book, and I was thoroughly entertained!

This book will get your book club talking about Deaf and Hearing culture, disability and civil rights, isolation, love, loss, familial trust, race and how racism shows up in Deaf culture . . . the power of human connection, and so much more! It’s also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, which a lot of book clubs are interested in.

True Biz was published on April 5, 2022, from Random House.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Once Upon a River is an enthralling, whimsical historical fiction story with a little magical realism thrown in. Who doesn’t love that kind of book? There’s a lot to unpack in book club for this book.

This book weaves folklore and science, and it’s suspenseful, romantic, and atmospheric. You’ll have the best time discussing whether the story is magic or myth—miracle or science.

Once Upon a River was published on December 3, 2018, from Atria.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

Thank you to Alfred A. Knopf for this complimentary book! Another Emily St. John Mandel book—are we surprised? The Glass Hotel is a dreamlike literary fiction book, and it’s (no surprise, again) beautifully written.

If you read this book by yourself and don’t discuss it at all, you really miss out on an enriched reading experience.

Your book club can really pick apart the ideas of love and delusion, the concept of consequences and how they change the course of our lives, the way we search for meaning, and so much more. Plus, there’s a mystery thrown in that will keep you reading!

The Glass Hotel was published in March 24, 2020, from Alfred A. Knopf.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende has been regarded as the queen of magical realism for so long! This is a historical fiction, Spanish literature book that you could read slowly and discuss often with a reading schedule. The House of the Spirits could be on your historical fiction book club reading list, too.

It’s an incredible saga to dive into, and there’s a lot of political and personal turmoil to discuss. The themes of magic, true love, and fate are thrown in—perfect fodder for book club!

The House of the Spirits was published on 1982 from Dial Press.

These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card

Thank you to @libro.fm and Simon & Schuster for this complimentary book. These Ghosts Are Family is an incredible generational saga about a Jamaican family. There’s so much to discuss here, from how trauma informs our decisions, migration, forming your identity outside of family, the history of slavery, and so much more.

If you like juicy stories about family secrets, you will love this book.

These Ghosts Are Family was published on March 3, 2020, from Simon & Schuster.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this complimentary book! Anxious People is a literary fiction and mystery book with a lot of heart and humor. We love a poignant comedy! Fredrik Backman has a way with words and is so good at communicating universal truths—which is why his books are perfect for book club.

Any book that is essentially an in-depth look at the human condition is going to be a great book club pick.

Anxious People was published on April 25, 2019, from Simon & Schuster Canada.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Thank you to Celadon Books for this complimentary book! The Fury is an incredible book club pick! This murder mystery thriller is captivating from start to finish, and the narrator/POV is one of the freshest voices I’ve read in a long time. We get to know him from the time he was a young man, and he tells the story so intimately.

A tale of murder and a spin on the classic whodunit, The Fury will be a fun story for your book club members who love juicy secrets among the rich and terrible!

The Fury was published on January 16, 2024, from Celadon Books.

Addictive Book Club Reads to Keep the Pages Turning

All good book club books should be page-turners, but these are my favorite book club books that come to mind when I think of propulsive, addictive, unputdownable books.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

It had to be said!! Gillian Flynn’s books are made for book club, IMO. If you haven’t read Sharp Objects yet, just know it will have you on the edge of your seat.

The suspense, the secrets, the character development . . . it’s all complex and compelling from the start to the last page!

If your book club tends to love a dark, psychological thriller, you have to try this book.

Sharp Objects was published on September 26, 2006, from Broadway Paperbacks.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale is one of my favorite historical fiction books of all time. This is one of those must-read books for book club about strong women.

The Nightingale isn’t particularly short, but you will tear through this book. It’s incredibly easy to read—I know many people who read this book for the first time in one sitting.

The Nightingale was published in February 3, 2015, from St. Martin’s Press.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The Guest List is a fun, atomospheric whodunit that will have you turning pages as fast as possible! I couldn’t put this book down. A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly!? Are you kidding?

This would be a great book club pick for an in-person book club that likes to do a theme with food and drinks. The decadence on an island off the coast of Ireland adds to the festive vibe (that is, until everything goes wrong).

The Guest List was published on February 20, 2020, from William Morrow.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for this complimentary book! Such a Fun Age is compulsively readable and perfect for book club discussion. I devoured this book so quickly—all the way to the last page. The micro-aggressions in this book were so perfectly captured—it’s such a smart social commentary.

If you want to read a fun page-turner that also touches on deeper topics like race and privilege, you should definitely nominate Such a Fun Age for your book club pick.

Such a Fun Age was published on December 31, 2019, from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Thank you to @libro.fm and HarperTeen for this complimentary book! This book is so compelling—you will fly through it because it’s a novel-in-verse young adult book.

Clap When You Land is a story of sisterhood, familial ties, identity, and the power of forgiveness. Even though it’s a page-turner, your book club can dive into a deeper exploration of grief.

Clap When You Land was published on May 5, 2020, from HarperTeen.

Uplifting Book Club Books to Give You All the Feels

Sweep: the story of a girl and her monster by jonathan auxier.

Sweep is a beautiful historical fiction middle grade book that will, simply put, make you cry in the best way.

Your book club may be hesitant at first since this is a middle grade book, but it’s one of the most heartwarming middle grade books you’ll ever read.

Sweep was published on September 25, 2018, from Puffin Canada.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

From the sleepy seaside small town in Maine to the lovable characters and the transformational storyline, Evvie Drake Starts Over is one of the best feel-good contemporary romance books.

It’s sweet, funny, and heartwarming as the main protagonist, a young woman named Evvie, deals with life after the death of her husband. It sounds heavy, but it’s quite lighthearted and charming.

Evvie Drake Starts Over was published on June 25, 2019, from Ballantine Books.

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! I loved this neurodivergent romance book , and so will your book club! If you’re familiar with the sunshine x grump trope in romance, Last Call at the Local has two sunshine characters fall in love, and it’s literally the most charming feel-good novel!

Set in a cozy Irish pub, Raine meets Jack, and it’s the cutest. Raine has ADHD and Jack has OCD, so there’s a lot to learn and discuss about neurodiverse characters with your book club

Last Call at the Local was published on January 2, 2024, from Berkley.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

Thank you to @prhaudio and The Dial Press for this complimentary book! The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella was a cute, charming, feel-good contemporary romance book! I really enjoyed this one—I was interested the whole time, and even though there’s some heavier topics discussed, it felt lighthearted and sweet.

I really think most people who have experienced burnout or bone-deep exhaustion will find this book to be refreshing, thoughtful, and inspiring.

The Burnout was published on October 10, 2023, from The Dial Press.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Thank you to @prhaudio and Berkley for this complimentary book! This roadtrip book with a dear, sweet, unlikely friendship just made me smile the whole time. The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise has such a fun premise and a heartwarming transformation among the two main characters.

There’s a mystery thrown in, but really, this book is about friendship. Perfect for book club.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise was published on March 28, 2023, from Berkley.

Short Book Club Books to Squeeze in to Your Reading Year

My sister, the serial killer by oyinkan braithwaite.

My Sister, the Serial Killer is an absolute trip! This mystery thriller is darkly funny and so smart. If your book club is looking for a short book to read and discuss during a busy month, like November or December, this is a great pick.

The premise is fascinating, the characters are remarkable, and the pacing is impeccable.

My Sister, the Serial Killer was published on November 20, 2018, from Doubleday.

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Red at the Bone surprised me in the best way. This short book is powerful! It packs a punch. Jacqueline Woodson’s prose actually took my breath away. It’s also a New York Times Notable Book of the Year from 2019.

It’s a hard-hitting book about parenting, identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and how young adults sometimes have to make decisions that affect the course of their lives forever.

Red at the Bone was published on September 17, 2019, from Riverhead Books.

Sula by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is a fantastic author to explore with your book club! There’s so much to unpack in all of her books, but Sula is especially great if you’re looking for a short read to dive in to together. In this book, we follow a Black woman, Sula, and her friend, Nel.

Sula is a best friend story and, honestly, a literary masterpiece. This novella explores many themes, from Black masculinity to what life looks like for a Black single mother of three in this period of time.

Sula was published on January 1, 1973, from Plume.

What Makes a Good Book Club Book?

In my opinion, what makes a good book club book is the main ingredients of good characterization, an engrossing story/premise, captivating prose, and themes throughout the book that lead to bigger, more important discussions.

So, what books are good for book club, exactly? Books with . . .

• Funny, quirky, and flawed characters you want to root for
• Complex relationships you could analyze with your book club besties
• Interesting historical time periods, settings, or worldbuilding
• Some sort of critique on culture and society at large
• Interesting themes that lead to more in-depth discussion
• Shorter pages, if possible (or books that are so propulsive they feel short)
• A wider availability, unless you have some savvy book club members
• Universal appeal, or at least they don’t alienate your members
• A lot of emotion, mystery, or a driving question

Different Books for Different Book Clubs

Every book club is different. Your book club may want more hard-hitting literary fiction while another book club is really only interested in lighthearted, funny, or uplifting books.

The best book club book recommendations come from really knowing the people in your book club and gauging everyone’s preferences and interests.

Read Widely and Diversely

You won’t find a book club book everyone will enjoy equally, and it’s okay to disagree about a book ! In fact, those book club meetings might be the most fun and interesting!

One of the best things about book club is having the opportunity to read widely and diversely—to discover a book you might not have otherwise picked up.

Read What Sticks

So if you’re wondering how to choose a book for book club, ask yourself, which book would provide the most universal appeal, evoke emotion or interesting questions for discussion, and likely stick with readers for a long time?

My Favorite Book Club Planning Tool (Bookclubs)

If you’re a booknerd like me, you probably also hem and haw over how to choose a book for book club . It can feel like a lot of pressure to pick a book for everyone!

That’s why I personally love Bookclubs , the free web and mobile app that helps book clubs manage and organize their groups! The app serves more than 65,000 book clubs worldwide and offers everything you need to start and manage a successful book club.

+ Invite anyone you want with a single click. + Easily automate your meeting reminders and calendar invites + Create fun and interactive member polls + Track your group’s reading history and collective to-be-read list so you can narrow down books your club wants to eventually read + Host discussions, virtually or in a chat thread When it’s time to pick a new book for my virtual book club , we nominate books in a chat thread, and then I throw up a poll with the selected book titles and descriptions.

Here’s what that looks like in the mobile app:

I can’t tell you how easy it is to pick books for book club now! Giving folks the option to vote on a book and see the results instantly . . . it’s so great. You can also make voting anonymous, if you want.

Even if you’d rather select the book yourself and not have members vote on the book, the polls are perfect for picking meeting times.

They don’t have to be just functional polls, either. Create icebreaker polls, polls about the book content, or fun and silly would-you-rather questions. 😊

What Are Book Clubs Reading Now in 2024?

Here’s a list of the most popular books for book club right now, in 2024:

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• The Heires s by Rachel Hawkins (psssst, this is my book club’s pick for February! Join us !)
• None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
• Tom Lake by Anne Patchett

We love a popular, buzzy book! In my book club, we select one new release a month and a backlist book the next month.

What are your book club book lists for 2024 or the best book club reads you’ve ever brought to your group? I’d love to know. I’ll have more specific book club lists coming soon, but for now, these are my top 20 best book club books of all time !

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The 20 most-reviewed books of all time on Amazon

• Amazon's customer reviews are one of the features that make the site so valuable.
• This is particularly true of books: Reviews help you save money, space, and time by getting the gist of how good (or bad) they are up front.
• Below, you'll find the 20 most-reviewed books of all time on Amazon .

Customer reviews are one of Amazon's most valuable features.

Before ever paying for a product, be it a $300 RoboVac or a $13 all-natural cleaner , we have access to thousands of reviews telling us how something will perform once we're holding that something in our hands.

Like other customer-review platforms, such as Yelp and Goodreads , the best thing about them is they help us maximize time. Instead of thousands of us relearning the same lesson, we share our knowledge to steer people to the best choice the first time around ("These shoes run small — order a half size up").

The same advantage applies to books. Why give $10 to a book you won't finish reading? Or worse, devote 15 hours of your life to a book that left thousands dissatisfied with a nonsensical cliffhanger? Not every review will interpret a creative tome the same way you would have, but that's why a high volume of reviews is useful.

Below, you'll find the 20 most-reviewed books of all time on Amazon. Of all the books the site stocks, these are the ones that provoked the most people to sit down and write a review for the benefit of prospective readers.

The 20 most customer-reviewed books of all time on Amazon:

Book descriptions, provided by Amazon, are lightly edited for length.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Buy it here

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called The Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

"Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to "aging out" out of the foster care system. A community-service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse ...

As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life — answers that will ultimately free them both.

"Divergent" by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions — Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

"All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure's reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum's most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

"Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn

When a beautiful woman goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, her diary reveals hidden turmoil in her marriage and a mysterious illness; while her husband, desperate to clear himself of suspicion, realizes that something more disturbing than murder may have occurred.

"Beneath a Scarlet Sky" by Mark Sullivan

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He's a normal Italian teenager —obsessed with music, food, and girls — but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino's parents force him to enlist as a German soldier — a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler's left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich's most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

"The Fault in our Stars" by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

"The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys' own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man's personal quest.

"Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy" by E L James

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana's quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too  — but on his own terms. This book is intended for mature audiences.

"The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty

Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret — something with the potential to destroy not only the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. And then imagine that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive … Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all — she's an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. But that letter is about to change everything — and not just for her. There are other women who barely know Cecilia — or each other — but they, too, are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband's secret.

"Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane's bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

"The Martian" by Andy Weir

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old human error are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

"Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach — an "outlander" — in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the Year of Our Lord, 1743.

Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life and may shatter her heart. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes an urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.

"Sycamore Row" by John Grisham

John Grisham takes you back to where it all began. One of the most popular novels of our time, "A Time to Kill" established John Grisham as the master of the legal thriller. Now we return to Ford County as Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial that exposes a tortured history of racial tension. Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier. The second will raises many more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt

Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love — and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

"The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, best-selling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. "The Nightingale" tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France — a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

When Death has a story to tell, you listen.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

"Inferno" by Dan Brown

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history's most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces: Dante's "Inferno" .

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante's dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust ... before the world is irrevocably altered.

"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She's even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life — as she sees it — is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen has made it out of the bloody arena alive, but she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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100 Best Kindle Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best kindle books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Suzanne Collins | 5.00

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Robert Muchamore A brutal, exciting, action-based sci-fi novel. Hugely popular and excellent fun. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

Suzanne Collins | 4.79

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)

George R. R. Martin and Jeffrey Jones | 4.74

Elon Musk Best books in recent years imo are Iain Banks & George Martin. (Source)

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green | 4.71

Elon Musk Must admit to liking [this book]. Sad, romantic and beautifully named. (Source)

James Comey @johngreen You should not be. It is a great book. Was recently in Amsterdam and walked some of the scenes with your huge fan, my youngest daughter. Loved hearing from you and meeting you at Kenyon. (Source)

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)

Suzanne Collins | 4.71

The Martian

Andy Weir | 4.68

Craig Barrett This book didn’t really change my mind, but rather reinforced the concept of the power of the individual. At a time when we depend more and more on big institutions to solve our business and social problems the real solutions are crafted by individual actions and initiative. This is true in the business world, where ideas from individual researchers or entrepreneurs can create mega companies... (Source)

Dan Christensen @EconTalker @cable_co1 The Martian... hey it can’t all be economics and it’s a great book (Source)

Patrick Chovanec @acgleva The book was great. (Source)

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Auste | 4.65

Meg Rosoff It’s a coming-of-age story, because she throws aside her prejudices but also sees the house and realises that she could be quite comfortable and maybe realises how important that is. (Source)

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood | 4.65

Grady Booch I read this several years ago but — much like Orwell’s 1984 — it seems particularly relevant given our current political morass. (Source)

Cliff Bleszinski @HandmaidsOnHulu Done. Love the show, book is a classic, can't wait for season 2. (Source)

Jason Kottke @procload Not super necessary, since you've seen the TV show. This first book is still a great read though...different than the show (tone-wise more than plot-wise). (Source)

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Veronica Roth | 4.63

Gillian Flynn | 4.60

Kelly Vaughn @ceeoreo_ Great book! (Source)

Don't have time to read the top Kindle books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

• Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
• Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
• Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline | 4.57

Steve Jurvetson A gift to all of my Apple II programming buddies from high school and Dungeons & Dragons comrades. (Source)

Fabrice Grinda I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. (Source)

Dominic Steil [One of the books that had the biggest impact on .] (Source)

George Orwell | 4.52

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Steve Jobs called this book "one of his favorite" and recommended it to the hires. The book also inspired one the greatest TV ad (made by Jobs) (Source)

D J Taylor In terms of how technology is working in our modern surveillance powers, it’s a terrifyingly prophetic book in some of its implications for 21st-century human life. Orwell would deny that it was prophecy; he said it was a warning. But in fact, distinguished Orwell scholar Professor Peter Davis once made a list of all the things that Orwell got right, and it was a couple of fairly long paragraphs,... (Source)

Tara Westover | 4.50

Bill Gates Tara never went to school or visited a doctor until she left home at 17. I never thought I’d relate to a story about growing up in a Mormon survivalist household, but she’s such a good writer that she got me to reflect on my own life while reading about her extreme childhood. Melinda and I loved this memoir of a young woman whose thirst for learning was so strong that she ended up getting a Ph.D.... (Source)

Barack Obama As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Alexander Stubb If you read or listen to only one book this summer, this is it. Bloody brilliant! Every word, every sentence. Rarely do I go through a book with such a rollecoaster of emotion, from love to hate. Thank you for sharing ⁦@tarawestover⁩ #Educated https://t.co/GqLaqlcWMp (Source)

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

George R. R. Martin | 4.47

Outlander (Outlander, #1)

Diana Gabaldon | 4.47

Priscilla Pilon I just voted for Outlander (Series) #VOTEOutlander! https://t.co/MM628DhkE9 Because @Writer_DG is a flipping genius. I dare you to read the first book and not fall in love with the series. Be forewarned, you’ll lose sleep because you...can’t...stop...reading! (Source)

Charlotte Brontë, Michael Mason | 4.46

Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard.

But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?

John Sutherland There is an interesting debate … that the real heroine of Jane Eyre is not the plain little governess but the mad woman in the attic, Bertha Mason (Source)

Tracy Chevalier The idea of marriage is that two people are going to become one, but here you know—because of the mad woman in the attic—that it’s one thing about to be split in two. (Source)

Audrey Penn My next one is Jane Eyre. She was orphaned and sent to a very rich aunt, who had her own very selfish children. Jane Eyre was not the perfect child and she was sent to live in a girls’ school. She made one friend, but unfortunately the little girl died, so she had to toughen up. She grew up there and learned everything she needed to know about teaching. She was a very good artist, she played a... (Source)

Bram Stoker | 4.44

Becky Cloonan @Noise_Raptor Oh, thank you so much! This book was such a delight, and such a challenge! Dracula is one of my favorites- funny enough I'd jump at the chance to do this again XD (Source)

Douglas Starr When you read the physical description of Count Dracula, he does not resemble the handsome vampires we see on television; rather, he looks like a thug. He has one continuous eyebrow across his forehead, thick hands, pointy teeth and pointy ears. (Source)

Andrei Codrescu Vampirism is a growth industry. Dracula is bigger than Jesus now. (Source)

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott, Frank Merrill, Alice L. George | 4.42

Amy Chua Marmee is a character that really resonates for me. She’s obviously not Chinese, but she believes that integrity and hard work are the most important things in life. She holds her daughters to very high standards. She doesn’t sugarcoat much. She also reveals to her rebellious daughter Jo, the star of the book and a character loosely modeled on Louisa May Alcott herself, that she had a bad temper... (Source)

Anne Thériault @mmarmoset I love that book so much, and then I got to see Patty Smith perform the year I read it, and she made a Little Women reference during the show, and my heart overflowed (Source)

Jay Kleinberg Nancy Drew is another series which follows in those footsteps. The book is all led by her. I think if one looks in the magazine literature it would be hard to find a similar character at that time. These were stories initially published in a magazine and then bound together as a book. (Source)

American Gods (American Gods, #1)

Neil Gaiman | 4.41

Ricky Whittle Nobody can break my family.I’m proud to be apart of this diverse cast & crew who are working their butts off to deliver a fantastic season 3 continuing to tell Shadows story and the awesome characters he meets along the way as in @neilhimself incredible book #readit #details🤔 https://t.co/PahPC9j3HB (Source)

Scott Johnson American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This is a brilliant thought experiment about what happens to a god when its believers stop believing. My preferred edition is the 10th Anniversary release with expanded text. (Source)

Marko Rakar Basically, first of all, I am a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy books and I grew up with Douglas Adams and Arthur C Clarke. For me, this is the best of Gaiman’s books and I’ve got all of them. It’s set in the present time and talks about settlers who have settled a continent and have brought their gods with them. So, if you are Swedish and you cherish Nordic gods and move to the US, the... (Source)

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak | 4.41

Lydia Ruffles The (Source)

The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain | 4.37

Simon Sinek eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); Leaders needn’t be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. It’s not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we needn’t try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... (Source)

Jason Fried A good book I’d recommend is “Quiet” by Susan Cain. (Source)

James Altucher Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. It’s not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, “uh-oh. I just shut down. I can’t talk anymore and there’s a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.” Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Let’s try to lock eyes at the party. “Quiet” shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... (Source)

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Veronica Roth | 4.37

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)

George R. R. Martin | 4.37

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

J. K. Rowling | 4.36

Joe Lycett guys i just read this book called harry potter well worth checking out it’s about a really interesting magic lad (Source)

The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins | 4.35

Barack Obama Just like us, the president enjoys a good beach read while relaxing in the sun. In 2016, he released his list of summer vacation books: Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, William Finnegan H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins Seveneves, Neal Stephenson The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead (Source)

Kathryn Stockett | 4.34

Twin Mummy And Daddy I love a good book and The Help is exactly that! In fact it’s an amazing book! Read my review over on the blog today! https://t.co/efaf9aRGOK #TheHelp #KathrynStockett #bookreview #bookblogger #mummybloggers #daddybloggers #pbloggers #mbloggers @UKpbloggers @UKBloggers1 #books (Source)

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy | 4.34

Chelsea Handler I don't know if I have to expound on why I love this book, but everyone should read [this author], and this was the first one of his works I read. So, it's like a first boyfriend. Or my first Cabbage Patch Kid. (Source)

Marvin Liao My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make... (Source)

Rupert Isaacson Anna’s trying to be her authentic self, a sexual and loving woman and she gets whopped for it and that’s not fair. (Source)

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde | 4.32

Eric Berkowitz The Picture of Dorian Gray is now a part of the canon that no one would admit to not having read. Most of us have read it and delighted in its witticisms. It’s hard to imagine, but when Dorian Gray was first published, the book was not well received at all. It was totally panned. It was held against him as being an example of an effete character. It was being serialised by Lippincott’s Magazine,... (Source)

Marc Montagne My favorite fiction book is the The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I'm a huge Oscar Wilde fan, he has one of the brightest minds and the Picture is a masterpiece and his unique novel. I consider that you should only read books that you would consider reading again at some point while still enjoying the same pleasure. The Picture is definitely one of those. (Source)

Andra Zaharia A copy from 1903 of this book is my most prized possession. (Source)

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)

E L James | 4.32

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)

Stieg Larsson and Reg Keelan | 4.32

A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

George R. R. Martin | 4.30

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)

Patrick Rothfuss | 4.30

Chris Albon @WaltHickey I don’t really read fiction and randomly found that book, amazing. (Source)

Matt Schlicht @teej_m Read it. Love it. So amazing. Waiting for the last book and fear it may never come. (Source)

The Great Gatsby

Francis Scott Fitzgerald | 4.27

Barack Obama When he got to high school, the president said, his tastes changed and he learned to enjoy classics like “Of Mice and Men” and “The Great Gatsby.” (Source)

Bill Gates Melinda and I really like [this book]. When we were first dating, she had a green light that she would turn on when her office was empty and it made sense for me to come over. (Source)

Marvin Liao For Non-Business, I'd have to say Dune (Herbert), Emergency (Strauss), The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) or Flint (L'Amour). I re-read these books every year because they are just so well written & great stories that I get new perspective & details every time I read them. (Source)

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr | 4.27

Jason Goldman All The Light We Cannot See is the best book I've read in a while. I tend to speed read and here I savored every word; the writing is just effortlessly beautiful. I hope it's made it onto high school WWII syllabi by now. (Source)

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

Laura Hillenbrand | 4.27

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit . Telling an unforgettable story of a man's journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he'd been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot | 4.25

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family — past and present — is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Carl Zimmer Yes. This is a fascinating book on so many different levels. It is really compelling as the story of the author trying to uncover the history of the woman from whom all these cells came. (Source)

A.J. Jacobs Great writer. (Source)

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens | 4.25

Amelia Boone Remains one my favorites to this day. (Source)

Antonio Villaraigosa As mayor of a large metropolis, the living conditions of our residents are always present in my mind. Every decision I make, I try to evaluate if it will help improve the quality of life of every Angeleno. But Dickens really dissects both the aristocrats and the revolutionaries, to show that change is never easy. As progressives, we value government’s role and power to improve our cities and... (Source)

May Witwit I started a paper about the historical reality in this book. And as I studied it more deeply I got depressed because the things that were happening were similar to Iraq. How the mob could be turned against people by devious minds. They just killed people without even knowing them. The people who were killed were probably very good people, you never know. You just can’t kill haphazardly, heads... (Source)

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)

George R. R. Martin | 4.24

Frankenstein

Mary Shelle | 4.24

Michael Arrington Shelley wrote this book as a teenager, and most of us read it in high school. Often credited as the first science fiction novel. You can read just about any political viewpoint you want into the book, and there are strong undertones that technology isn’t all good. But what I get out of it is the creativeness that can come with solitude, and how new technology can be misunderstood, even perhaps by... (Source)

Adam Roberts Brian Aldiss has famously argued that science fiction starts with Mary Shelley’s novel, and many people have agreed with him. (Source)

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card | 4.23

Mark Zuckerberg Oh, it’s not a favorite book or anything like that, I just added it because I liked it. I don’t think there’s any real significance to the fact that it’s listed there and other books aren’t. (Source)

Timothy Ferriss At one point, this was the only book listed on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page. If it’s good enough to be the sole selection of the founder of Facebook, maybe there’s something to it. The plot: In anticipation of another attack from a hostile alien race, the search for a brilliant military strategist has led to Ender Wiggin. In space combat school, Ender stands out, demonstrating exceptional... (Source)

Travis Kalanick About a kid who is trained by the military to play video games [...] But he realizes at the end that the video games he was playing were an actual war. (Source)

Wuthering Heights

Emily Bronte | 4.22

John Sutherland The Brontës had this idea of a Samson figure. Rochester, like Samson, has to be mutilated before he can be domesticated. What is interesting about Heathcliff, in Wuthering Heights, is that he isn’t. He remains this superman. He is greater than a human being. He is named after two elemental things, the heath and the cliff. We never know what his first name is. (Source)

Robert McCrum Cathy—and all of Emily Brontë’s characters—are more or less feral. That’s why we love them. It’s a different world, it’s a mad world. In some ways, Emily Brontë is more of a poet. But she has inspired many subsequent writers of fiction. You couldn’t imagine Lawrence without her, for example. You couldn’t imagine some of Hardy. (Source)

Riz Khan Again it’s about love turning into obsessions and being all-consuming and how even future generations are manipulated by this love. (Source)

The Nightingale

KRISTIN HANNAH | 4.22

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman | 4.21

Asher Wolf @trib I love that book. So much. (Source)

Zoe Keating For a while in 2015 I lost the ability to read (PTSD, I’m told) and “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” and Eli Brown’s “Cinnamon & Gunpowder” were the first books I was able to understand and enjoy. @neilhimself’s book in particular was like a hand pulling me up. https://t.co/foEbRxYbuj (Source)

J. R. R. Tolkien | 4.21

Cressida Cowell The Hobbit is such a richly imagined fantasy that, especially as a child, you can live in it. It is so completely immersive. (Source)

Lev Grossman First up, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by JRR Tolkien. But you knew I was going to say that. This one book, which was published in 1937, defined so many variables for the fantasy tradition that are still in place today. Tolkien’s extraordinary achievement was to recover the epic landscapes of Anglo-Saxon myth, bring them back to life, and then to take us through them on foot, so we could... (Source)

Me Before You (Me Before You, #1)

Jojo Moyes | 4.20

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2)

Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland | 4.19

Les Misérables

Victor Hugo, Isabel F. Hapgood, et al. | 4.18

David Bellos Because it’s so huge and so capacious and contains so many different stories and takes on the world, you can make anything out of Les Misérables. (Source)

Christian B Miller Vividly illustrates two ideas about character. The first is that our characters can change over time, the second is that role models can be powerful sources of character change. (Source)

The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)

Graeme Simsion | 4.18

Bill Gates Anyone who occasionally gets overly logical will identify with the hero, a genetics professor with Asperger’s Syndrome who goes looking for a wife. (Melinda thought I would appreciate the parts where he’s a little too obsessed with optimizing his schedule. She was right.) It’s an extraordinarily clever, funny, and moving book about being comfortable with who you are and what you’re good at. I’m... (Source)

The Art of War

Sun Tzu | 4.18

Reid Hoffman Reid read Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu as a boy, which informed his strategic thinking. (Source)

Neil deGrasse Tyson Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on planet? [...] The Art of War (Sun Tsu) [to learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art]. If you read all of the above works you will glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world. (Source)

Evan Spiegel After meeting Mark Zuckerberg, [Evan Spiegel] immediately bought every [Snapchat] employee a copy of 'The Art Of War'. (Source)

The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett | 4.17

Clare Morpurgo The book is about a girl coming to live in England from India. She is a sickly child who had a pretty awful early childhood in India. (Source)

M G Leonard The redemptive power of the natural world and gardening was something that struck a chord with me. (Source)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

J.K. Rowling | 4.16

Maude Garrett @GeekBomb Best use of time travel in a book or series to date (Source)

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens | 4.15

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky | 4.15

Richard Speight Jr. A pal for 30 years, @StephenChbosky ‘s first book #ThePerksofBeingaWallflower had a MASSIVE impact on me & countless others. Then came his great movies. Now..THE NEXT BOOK! Be like me & buy it THE DAY it comes out. (Then harass him until he agrees to put me in the movie! 🎥 🤠) https://t.co/02bMKPgF9A (Source)

Jamie Grayson Holy shit there’s no way this book is that old because that really ages me but I COMPLETELY agree. This book is a masterpiece and a must-read. Lessons about being human are in there and those are important right now. https://t.co/fF1spEFrUH (Source)

Rae Earl It is a tremendously powerful study of PTSD, a mental health issue that isn’t talked about enough (Source)

Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)

Frank Herbert | 4.15

Jeff Bezos I’m a big science-fiction fan. I love [this book]. (Source)

Elon Musk Brilliant. [The author] advocates placing limits on machine intelligence. (Source)

Adam Savage If you haven't read it, just go read it. It is amazing! (Source)

Eleanor & Park

Rainbow Rowell | 4.15

Wool (Silo, #1)

Hugh Howey | 4.14

Damien Mulley I'm expecting to not be able to tell what happens next as I like surprises. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar I loved the Hugh Howey "Silo" trilogy. An epic science fiction story about the above ground world coming to an end and the remaining society living underground in Wool Silos. Makes me shiver thinking about what could happen in the future. It's an intense set. (Source)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, #3)

Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland | 4.14

Hopeless (Hopeless, #1)

Colleen Hoove | 4.14

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

J.K. Rowling | 4.14

Big Structural Change @siriusclaw Azkaban ftw! Goblet is the worst of the series. Great book though. (Source)

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern | 4.12

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel, Vincent Chong | 4.12

Alfred A. Knopf “What sets Station Eleven apart from so many other recent dystopian novels is the warmness of @EmilyMandel's writing, the lived-in details of each of these characters’ lives… It’s the kind of book that stays with you.” —@TomiObaro https://t.co/tWakW2L6Tq (Source)

Holly Brockwell @nmsonline @katebevan Great book though 🤷‍♀️ (Source)

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley | 4.12

Yuval Noah Harari The most prophetic book of the 20th century. Today many people would easily mistake it for a utopia. (Source)

Ellen Wayland-Smith It is a hilarious, and also very prescient, parody of utopias. Huxley goes back to the idea that coming together and forming a community of common interests is a great idea – it’s the basis of civil society. At the same time, when communities of common interests are taken to utopian degrees the self starts to dissolve into the larger community, you lose privacy and interiority; that becomes... (Source)

John Quiggin The lesson I draw from this is that the purpose of utopia is not so much as an achieved state, as to give people the freedom to pursue their own projects. That freedom requires that people are free of the fear of unemployment, or of financial disaster through poor healthcare. They should be free to have access to the kind of resources they need for their education and we should maintain and... (Source)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

J.K. Rowling | 4.12

Rainbow Rowell | 4.11

Ashley C. Ford @ALNL I love this book (Source)

Laura Wood A powerful and moving story about identical twins trying to find their individual identities outside of their own powerful relationship. (Source)

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt | 4.11

Kaci Lambe Kai More modern, I recently read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and I love the way it was written. A great story brought to life with long, descriptive, sometimes frenetic sentences. She paints some scenes and some ideas that are unlike anything I've ever read. It's like watching magic on the page. (Source)

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty | 4.10

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)

J. K. Rowling | 4.10

Shami Chakrabarti It’s all about the War on Terror as far as I’m concerned. (Source)

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2)

E L James | 4.10

Stephen King | 4.09

Crime and Punishment

A Russian Realistic Novel

Fyodor Dostoyevsky | 4.09

Esther Perel You can reread the Russians. They are timeless. (Source)

Irvine Welsh It is not a crime book in the way that we understand crime fiction today. Instead it is like an existential psychological thriller. (Source)

Ben Domenech @SohrabAhmari @li88yinc @jgcrum @BlueBoxDave @InezFeltscher @JarrettStepman Maybe the best book ever written. (Source)

The Hangman's Daughter (The Hangman's Daughter, #1)

Oliver Pötzsch and Lisa Reinhard | 4.09

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

Ransom Rigg | 4.09

Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson | 4.09

Barack Obama During a trip to a public library in Washington’s Anacostia neighborhood in 2015, Obama shared some of his childhood favorites with a group of young students. He also read (and acted out) Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to kids at the White House in 2014. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald Where the Wild... (Source)

Michael Morpurgo This is the first book that I ever read on my own and I take great pleasure and pride in that. It was the first book where I really identified strongly with the boy Jim in it. He was about the same age as I was when I began reading it. (Source)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | 4.09

War And Peace

Leo Tolstoi, Louise Maude, Aylmer Maude | 4.09

Vanora Bennett Although it was published in 1869, War and Peace deals with events half a century earlier. This makes it one of the first historical novels – and, all these years later, it’s still the greatest. (Source)

Tendai Huchu Tolstoy does something which is very unusual in War and Peace and which, for his time, was pretty profound: he sees the conditions of the ordinary soldier on the battlefield. (Source)

Niall Ferguson As a middle aged man, I react differently to Tolstoy than I did when I first read War and Peace at about 15. (Source)

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee, Sissy Spacek, et al | 4.08

Eric Berkowitz The case is about racism, but it’s also about white sexual fear of the black man, and the failed effort of white America to stop intermixing. I think the notion of the scary black man still permeates the American justice system today. I don’t think To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever, but it is a very good window into the ingrained sexual fear that permeated at... (Source)

Scott Turow It’s dated in many ways; it’s extremely sentimental. But it’s beautifully done – you can’t take a thing away from it. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Really liking this one so far. I’m sure a lot of people here probably read it in high school or whatever, but it wasn’t on the Danish curriculum, so here I am! (Source)

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

Veronica Roth, Joel Tippie (jacket) | 4.07

Jane Austen, Fiona Stafford | 4.07

Robert McCrum You’ve got to have Jane Austen. (Source)

Stella Tillyard Emma is the Regency novel in the sense that it was written and published during the Regency. I think the feel of much of Jane Austen is really in the late 1790s – the beginning of the French Wars. Jane Austen wasn’t writing about politics. She is famously someone who writes about what she knows. Her world is essentially a provincial world of manners. (Source)

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)

James Dashner | 4.07

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1)

Deborah E. Harkness | 4.06

The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas père, Robin Buss | 4.06

Ryan Holiday I thought I’d read this book before but clearly they gave me some sort of children’s version. Because the one I’d read as a kid wasn’t a 1,200 page epic of some of the most brilliant, beautiful and complicated storytelling ever put to paper. What a book! When I typed out my notes (and quotes) after finishing this book, it ran some 3,000 words. I was riveted from cover to cover. I enjoyed all the... (Source)

Sol Orwell I have to go with Count of Monte Cristo. An unparalleled revenge story. (Source)

Chris Kutarna The Count of Monte Cristo it is about revenge and the cost of revenge. Being careful what you wish for. The other theme is about riches and wealth and what is truly valuable. (Source)

Animal Farm

George Orwell and Christopher Hitchens | 4.06

Whitney Cummings [Whitney Cummings recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Vlad Tenev When I was in sixth grade I remember being very upset by the ending of [this book]. (Source)

Sol Orwell Question: What books had the biggest impact on you? Perhaps changed the way you see things or dramatically changed your career path. Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 (though Huxley's Brave New World is a better reflection of today's society). (Source)

Jane Austen | 4.05

Jenny Davidson Persuasion is an unusually brilliant novel, just in terms of its style of narration. Out of all of the novels Austen published in her short life, this one feels most to me like a real love story. (Source)

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Marissa Meyer | 4.05

Estelle Francis The story weaves politics, technology and fantasy in with the classic fairytale that we all know and love. (Source)

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens, Margaret Cardwell, Kate Flint | 4.05

Robert Douglas-Fairhurst What the rest of Great Expectations shows is that having Christmas lasting all the way through your life might not be a good thing. Having a Santa Claus figure who keeps throwing gifts and money at you when they’re not necessarily wanted or deserved might be a handicap. (Source)

Slaughterhouse-Five

Kurt Vonnegut and Kevin Power | 4.04

Carlos Eire Even though he is no philosopher Vonnegut is still able to ask the questions that all of us think about – how time affects our lives. (Source)

Dan Christensen @MetaHumean Love that book. (Source)

Bernard Tan I’m also a Murakami and Vonnegut fan, Kafka on the Shore, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Slaughterhouse-Five, etc. Now that I look at the books listed, they seem to carry an existential theme. I guess I like to understand humanity and human behaviour ultimately to better understand myself. I find reading a means to connect with people who may have lived before my time, or in a... (Source)

From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed | 4.04

Nancy Goldstone I found the narrative honest and riveting. The author used the journey through the hiking trail to work out her problems. (Source)

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Marie Kondō | 4.04

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed...

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

David Heinemeier Hansson On a lighter note, I finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. It’s a short book, but it still manages to repeat itself a lot. And yet the core patterns it covers are as effective as they are simple. I’ve been on a decluttering kick at home and feel so much better because of it. It was also the kickstarter for the conversation... (Source)

Benjamin Spall The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo [...] I started reading on vacation. I interviewed Marie for my own book and while the translation is somewhat quirky in places, her book is worth the hype. (Source)

Annie Loves Covfefe @Benny29143790 @Thereal_ssteele Oh how I love Kondo cleaning. Her first book is fantastic too!! (Source)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré | 4.04

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)

Brandon Sanderson | 4.03

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)

Sarah J. Maa | 4.03

The Time Machine

H.G. Wells | 4.02

Adam Roberts It is a short novel, almost a novella, but it is smoothly and evocatively written, and it manages to open a chink in the reader’s mind that gives a her dizzying, thrilling glimpse down the vertiginous perspectives of long time. My favourite moment comes near the end, after the time traveller has left the Eloi and Morlocks behind him (as it were) and travelled more than 30 million years into the... (Source)

Roger Luckhurst It invents the idea of far-future visions that science fiction writers such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke have constantly tried to achieve. (Source)

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

Rick Riordan | 4.02

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller | 4.02

Daniel Mendelsohn I don’t want to know what Achilles did in bed, frankly. If you want to play with the big boys, fine, but don’t turn The Iliad into a Twilight novel. (Source)

Lucy Coats I loved the richness of the language, the descriptions. She really made me feel I was in ancient Greece — the smells, the whole environment. (Source)

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)

Pierce Brown | 4.01

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)

J.K. Rowling | 4.01

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen | 4.01

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)

Douglas Adams | 4.01

Elon Musk I guess when I was around 12 or 15... I had an existential crisis, and I was reading various books on trying to figure out the meaning of life and what does it all mean? It all seemed quite meaningless and then we happened to have some books by Nietzsche and Schopenhauer in the house, which you should not read at age 14 (laughter). It is bad, it’s really negative. So then I read Hitchhikers Guide... (Source)

Timothy Ferriss If Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Star Wars had a love-child, it would read something like this. This colorful novel by Douglas Adams begins with Arthur Dent narrowly escaping the Earth’s destruction as it is bulldozed to make room for a hyperspace bypass. Beyond the bizarre characters and plot twists, Adams proves that despite how bleak ones situation might be, there’s always something to... (Source)

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)

E L James | 4.00

The Giver (The Giver, #1)

Lois Lowry | 4.00

The Best Mystery Books of the Past 10 Years For Armchair Sleuths

My picks for the best mystery books of the past 10 years, from the best courtroom drama to the best slow burn mystery.

Jamie Canaves

Jamie Canavés is the Tailored Book Recommendations coordinator and Unusual Suspects mystery newsletter writer–in case you’re wondering what you do with a Liberal Arts degree. She’s never met a beach she didn’t like, always says yes to dessert, loves ‘80s nostalgia, all forms of entertainment, and can hold a conversation using only gifs. You can definitely talk books with her on Litsy and Goodreads . Depending on social media’s stability maybe also Twitter and Bluesky .

View All posts by Jamie Canaves

First, this is a solid mystery book list with no thrillers—nothing against thrillers, they’ll get their own list! To qualify, the majority of each book’s plot has to be focused on solving a mystery with a tone and pace that’s not edge-of-your-seat thrilling or intense (if you want to yell at me that Gone Girl isn’t on this list, it’s a thriller and also: see the next bit). Secondly, the 10-year timeframe mathematically (if I mathed correctly) means the mystery needs to have been published in the US from 2014 through the year 2023.

From there, I wanted to offer something a bit different from most lists, offering up what each book was individually “the best of.” It also means the list hits a wide range of tropes—this is a very trope-filled genre, after all—and reading tastes. As a person who deeply loves the mystery genre and has read a lot of mystery books for decades, I want you to find your next great mystery read on this list.

The Best Mystery Trilogy

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

When you start off as strong as Attica Locke did with this series, you have to really keep up the quality and then nail the ending, and she absolutely does. You get an excellent complicated character with family and personal drama threaded throughout, writing that will have you fanning yourself thinking you, too, are in the sweltering heat, and timely mysteries that explore race and the U.S. justice system.

The mystery: Texas Ranger Darren Mathews is on suspension after his attempt to be a good samaritan backfires, but that doesn’t stop him from investigating the murders of a white woman and a Black man in a small Texas town.

The Best Sherlock-Inspired Mystery

A Study in Scarlet Women (The Lady Sherlock #1) by Sherry Thomas

My list of everything I love about this series is very long but I don’t want to rob you of the pleasure of discovering the books yourself. So all I’ll say is this: Sherry Thomas does a brilliant gender-swapped Sherlock that understands the constrains on women in Victorian society while also delighting in being a woman, and she sure knows how to write mystery, romance, adventure, and witty banter.

The mystery: This is one of those mysteries where the less you know, the better. What I’ll say is Charlotte Holmes doesn’t want the Victorian life expected of her, so she blows up her social standing and sets herself up as working for Sherlock Holmes (a lie) in order to get cases she can solve! Yes, there’s a Watson (also a delight) and you will also get a Moriarty, and the entire series is wonderful.

The Best Quirky Family Mystery

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels (The Swifts #1) by Beth Lincoln, Claire Powell (Illustrator)

This series is absolutely delightful, hilarious, and a love letter to language and the mystery genre wrapped around a quirky family.

The mystery: Shenanigan Swift is having a bit of an identity crisis in relation to her name. The Swift family uses a dictionary to name their children on the day they are born and they’re expected to grow into that name. When a great aunt turns up dead at a family reunion, Shenanigan isn’t sure if the name is leading her or she’s leading it as she finds herself in charge of a murder investigation with her sisters and cousin!

The Best Mystery For Fans Of TV Procedurals Like Bones and Castle

Bury Me When I’m Dead (Charlie Mack Motown Mystery #1) by Cheryl A. Head

A team of very different personalities at a PI agency is catnip for me. Cheryl A. Head understands how entertaining this can be for readers while also exploring humanity through her characters and cases.

The mystery: Charlie Mack runs a PI agency with PIs Don and Gil, who previously worked at INS/homeland security together, and their office manager, Judy, who loves quoting musicals and annoying Don. A friend of Mack’s father brings them a case involving an account executive who stole over a hundred grand and has now disappeared.

The Best Slow Burn Mystery

The Witch Elm by Tana French

Any Best Of crime book list that doesn’t have Tana French on it is suspect in my eyes. So many readers went into this book thinking it was part of her Dublin Murder Squad series (It is not, but if you haven’t read that series, you should!) and/or a thriller (also not) that their expectations got in the way of the brilliance of this book. French is excellent at plunging you into a character(s) life and you don’t realize you’re on a ride until the drop is suddenly beneath you.

The mystery: Toby is a young man with a good life whose fortunes change dramatically: after an error at work and a violent attack, he finds himself moving back to his uncle’s home to recover. Much of his childhood was spent there, but his uncle is now dying, so the return is bittersweet. Oh, and a skull is found beneath a tree in the yard, which starts a police investigation.

Best New Author In The Genre

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

I’ve dropped everything to read each of Tiffany D. Jackson’s books and each one is excellent, different from each other, impactful, and timely—all while being for and about Black girls. Every release has felt like a treat, and I’m always excited for any future works.

The mystery: In multiple timelines, we get to know Claudia and Monday in their childhoods as best friends. Now, as Junior High starts, Claudia is confused about where her best friend Monday can be, especially after not hearing from her over the summer. And Claudia is certain Monday’s family’s excuses all sound like lies…

The Best Mystery + Courtroom Drama

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Angie Kim wrote a great murder mystery and courtroom drama that explores family, the immigrant experience, and the many ableist views towards autistic people. It’s a mystery that offers plenty of discussions for book clubs.

The mystery: In a small Virginia town, the Yoo family’s business was running an experimental treatment called the Miracle Submarine. Now, a mother is accused of setting a fire that caused an explosion inside the pressurized oxygen chamber, killing and injuring people receiving treatment. As the court case unfolds and you get to know the Yoo family and those using the Miracle Submarine, it feels as if everyone had motive or opportunity to have started the fire.

The Best Tropey Mystery That Feels Fresh

The Box in the Woods (Truly Devious #4 ) by Maureen Johnson

Every once in a while I will get to delightedly read a mystery book that feels as if it’s written by someone who deeply understands and loves the mystery genre and all its tropes, and Maureen Johnson feels like she fits that bill.

The mystery: Four camp counselors were murdered in the woods in the ’70s, and it’s currently a cold case. High schooler Stevie Bell has been offered a chance to spend the summer at the camp where the murders occurred because the new camp owner wants to do a true crime podcast about the case. Bell isn’t interested in helping him, nor his podcast, but she can’t ever turn down solving a mystery so she brings her friends and gets to sleuthing.

About the series: While this is the 4th book in the series, you can start here and read it as a standalone. The first three books are a trilogy and must be read as such, but Johnson kindly doesn’t spoil the trilogy in this book and lets it stand on its own.

The Best Small Town Past-and-Present Mystery

The Dry (Aaron Falk #1) by Jane Harper

Jane Harper is so on top of the atmospheric mystery writing game that I have to read her books in cold air conditioning. I drop everything to read her new releases as she always delivers a solid mystery from beginning to end with great characters, and plunking me down into feeling like a resident of Australia even though I’ve never been there.

The mystery: The present mystery revolves around Aaron Falk, a financial crimes federal agent, who returns to his hometown when his childhood best friend is involved in what appears to be a murder-suicide. In the past, false alibis were given after a friend’s suspicious death, and Falk fled the town when fingers pointed at him.

Bonus: There’s a great film adaptation starring Eric Bana .

Best Under-the-Radar Author

The Unquiet Dead (Rachel Getty & Esa Khattak #1 ) by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Ausma Zehanat Khan has two procedural series with fantastic investigator pairings that are part of, go into, and investigate cases centering marginalized communities without painting them as monoliths. You get a wonderful balance of great characters and their dynamics, with interesting cases written with nuance.

Rachel Getty & Esa Khattak series: Esa Khattak is a second generation Canadian Muslim running a police unit focusing on community policing. Rachel Getty is a cop’s daughter with family issues who had her career implode after she filed a sexual harassment case, so Khattak assigns her to his team.

Blackwater Falls series: Detective Inaya Rahman has a past she’s trying to shake and investigates places with high complaint incidents against police officers. Lieutenant Waqas Seif is raising his two younger brothers and unlike Rahman keeps his culture/ethnicity close to the vest.

Best Group Of Elderly Sleuths

The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman

Think Jessica Fletcher but English, and as a group of investigators living in a retirement community. It’s a winning combination that has mass appeal both for long-running mystery fans and readers who only dabble once in a while.

The mystery: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron meet weekly to discuss true crime and the unsolved murder cases the local police are unable to solve. Then a case lands too close to home: a brash developer with an unwanted plan is murdered, and this group of septuagenarians is on the case!

If you’re looking for even more mysteries—and thrillers, crime, and true crime— we’ve got you covered.

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Every Liane Moriarty Book, Ranked According to Goodreads

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Liane Moriarty is an Australian author who specializes in character-driven dramas about friendship, marriage, and suburban life. Her stories tend to be juicy and full of mystery , shot through with wit and humor. Some of these plots can be a little generic, but Moriarty compensates with her keen observational skills, relatable characters, and swift pacing. For this reason, she has won over a large fan following, and several of her books have become international bestsellers.

A few of them have been adapted for the screen as well, most notably Big Little Lies , which became an HBO show starring Nicole Kidman , Reese Witherspoon , and Shailene Woodley . Fans of that show should check out Moriarty's novels. They could do worse than to start with her highest-rated books on the review site Goodreads. These are the author's best projects, according to its users.

9 'Nine Perfect Strangers' (2018)

Rating: 3.55/5.

"The risks were calculated. The risks were justified. No one ever ascended a mountain without risk." In Nine Perfect Strangers , Moriarty takes readers to Tranquillum House, a remote health resort where nine guests come seeking wellness and transformation. Among them are Frances, a romance novelist recovering from a painful breakup, and Tony, a former athlete grappling with aging and the slow loss of his sporting prowess. Led by controlling director Masha, the guests are subjected to an unconventional treatment regimen that promises to change their lives forever, but it comes with a price.

The novel shifts perspectives among the guests , building a tapestry of interconnected stories. It benefits from considerable time spent on character development, though this also causes the plot to drag at times. For this reason, the novel received a more mixed reception than most of Moriarty's books. Nevertheless, it quickly became a bestseller and was adapted into a TV series starring Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy , and Michael Shannon .

8 'Truly Madly Guilty' (2016)

Rating: 3.59/5.

"You could jump so much higher when you had somewhere safe to fall." Truly Madly Guilty is another of Moriarty's books that Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon will be adapting into a TV series. The book revolves around one pivotal event: a backyard barbecue that alters the lives of three couples. It bounces between past and present, contrasting the characters' lives before and after that night, while slowly revealing what happened at this fateful get-together.

Like Nine Perfect Strangers , the book alternates between several point-of-view characters, seeing the same events from multiple perspectives. The central mystery of the barbecue also helps to keep the reader hooked , with Moriarty giving the reader only small morsels of information. It's very much a slow burn. This plot device becomes a vehicle through which the author examines her signature themes around marriages and families under pressure. While not as immediately engaging as something like Big Little Lies , Truly Madly Guilty is bound to please fans of this subgenre.

7 'The Hypnotist's Love Story' (2011)

Rating: 3.71/5.

"Dying was such an elegant way to leave a relationship. No infidelity, no boredom, no long, complicated conversations late into the night." In this one, the main character is Ellen O’Farrell, a hypnotherapist who embarks on a promising relationship with a charming man named Patrick. However, Ellen soon discovers that Patrick’s ex-girlfriend, Saskia, has been stalking him for years. As Ellen delves deeper into Patrick’s past and Saskia’s motivations, she finds herself drawn into a psychological game that tests her trust and professional ethics.

The book blends romance with suspense and comedy with melodrama. Some of the characters and plot lines are a little too neat and tidy, clearly plot devices rather than being realistic, but if one is down with the premise, that's alright. Some readers may find the deeply introspective protagonists a little tiresome, but the twisty plot makes up for a lot (even if some developments are a little hard to believe).

6 'Apples Never Fall' (2021)

Rating: 3.76/5.

"She made the right choice for the girl she was then." Apples Never Fall centers on the Delaney family, whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when Joy Delaney, the matriarch, mysteriously disappears. Joy and her husband, Stan, once ran a successful tennis academy and raised four talented children. But now, with their lives no longer centered around tennis, they face an unsettling new reality. Joy's disappearance garners police attention, forcing the Delaney siblings to grapple with suspicions, secrets, and buried resentments.

The book is a bit of a whopper, clocking in at around 500 pages. The length is justified by the large cast of characters and the sprawling, intricate story. It's a tangle of grievances and damaged relationships , making for one of Moriarty's darkest and most intriguing novels. The book was adapted into a Peacock series earlier this year, with Annette Benning , Sam Neill , and Jake Lacy in the lead roles, though the novel is better.

5 'Three Wishes' (2004)

Rating: 3.78/5.

"Death was the hot bath you promised yourself while you endured small talk and uncomfortable shoes." Moriarty’s debut novel introduces readers to the Kettle sisters—triplets Lyn, Cat, and Gemma. The novel follows them through a tumultuous year: Lyn is a successful businesswoman and mother trying to maintain her perfect life, Cat is grappling with betrayal and the desire to start a family, and free-spirited Gemma avoids commitment, haunted by past heartbreak.

The characters must soon contend with a maelstrom of work crises, health problems, unfaithful husbands, and sibling rivalry; the kind of struggles that threaten to break the bond between them. There's a lot of drama and tension to be found here, but Moriarty leavens it with a hefty dose of humor. This recipe quickly won her a fan following, and the book's success paved the way for all that followed. Aside from a few dated references, Three Wishes remains highly readable, especially for those who have read her most recent books and are looking for more.

4 'The Last Anniversary' (2006)

"A marriage is hard work and sometimes it's a bit of a bore. It's like housework. It's never finished." The Last Anniversary unfolds on Scribbly Gum Island, home to the famous unsolved Munro Baby mystery, which has captivated tourists for decades. To her surprise, Sophie Honeywell inherits a house on the island, quickly becoming entangled in the lives of the island’s quirky residents. While Sophie adjusts to her new life, she learns more about the Munro Baby mystery and the secrets that the island’s long-time inhabitants, the Doughty family, have guarded for years.

To complicate matters further, Sophie also falls for a local named Callum, who is married to her ex-boyfriend's sister. As one would expect, this quickly adds up to a perfect storm of romance, drama, mystery, and unexpected revelations. There are subplots galore, but it's the central mystery that drives the action. It's one of Moriarty's best. Where her other plot twists can be predictable, this one is more effectively subverts the reader's expectations.

3 'The Husband's Secret' (2015)

Rating: 3.95/5.

"Marriage was a form of insanity; love hovering permanently on the edge of aggravation." Once again, a shocking revelation disrupts multiple lives. This time, it comes in the form of a hidden letter written by Cecilia Fitzpatrick's husband John-Paul, to be opened in the event of his death. Against his wishes, Cecilia reads the letter. It contains a secret that ties their family to a tragedy involving Tess O’Leary, a woman reeling from her own marital betrayal, and Rachel Crowley, a grieving mother haunted by the unsolved murder of her daughter decades earlier.

Like The Last Anniversary , The Husband's Secret benefits from being unpredictable , usually staying one step ahead of the reader. There is also genuine darkness woven into the story that helps set it apart from other, more lightweight novels. Tragedy strikes like lightning here. It hits all the harder because the characters are well-drawn. Finally, Moriarty's wit holds it all together, keeping things dramatic rather than depressing.

2 'What Alice Forgot' (2010)

Rating: 4.07/5.

"Conversations became so hopelessly tangled." What Alice Forgot tells the story of Alice Love, a 39-year-old woman who wakes up after a gym accident with no memory of the past decade. Believing she is still a carefree 29-year-old happily married and expecting her first child, Alice is shocked to learn she is actually in the midst of a bitter divorce, has three children, and her life has taken a drastically different path than she remembered.

It's a fascinating premise, which Moriarty executes skillfully. It raises questions of what one would do with this kind of midlife memory reset. Alice essentially becomes two separate people, and the central drama is whether she can find a way to reconcile them. Moriarty delves into this idea fairly well, though she could have gone deeper, and the book remains in the territory of genre entertainment rather than literary fiction. Brisk pacing, likable characters, and a handful of gut-wrenching scenes carry it over the finish line.

1 'Big Little Lies' (2014)

Rating: 4.31/5.

"They say it's good to let your grudges go, but I don't know, I'm quite fond of my grudge. I tend it like a little pet." Unsurprisingly, Moriarty's highest-rated book on Goodreads is also her most famous one. Big Little Lies opens with a murder that unravels the lives of three women. Madeline is a fierce mother of three, struggling with her ex-husband’s new family; Celeste, beautiful and seemingly perfect, hides a dark secret about her abusive marriage; while Jane is a young single mother new to town with her own painful past.

Many of the ideas at play here are well-worn, bordering on cliche ( and some of the supporting characters are under-written), but Moriarty freshens them up with wit, satire, enjoyable dialogue, and many sharp observations. As a result, Big Little Lies is a fun and engaging read, if not a revolutionary one. It's one of the stronger entries in this subgenre.

NEXT: All 11 'Lord of the Rings' Books, Ranked

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Best of New Scientist 2024 

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Join us for a review of the biggest scientific stories of the year, as told by the team at New Scientist. Plus, put your questions to our expert panel of journalists about their favourite articles of 2024 and what they predict will be the big science stories of 2025 and beyond.

Hosted by Timothy Revell.

Timothy Revell is New Scientist's Executive editor. He has previously been Deputy US Editor, jointly responsible for launching our New York bureau, Comment and Culture Editor, responsible for the Views and Backpages sections of the publication both in print and online, and before that Technology News Editor. He has also run New Scientist's diversity internship scheme.

He is author of the popular mathematics book The Secret Lives of Numbers with Tomoko L. Kitagawa about how the history of mathematics is far more diverse, varied and interesting than often told. It is published by Penguin in the UK and HarperCollins in the US.

Timothy has a master's in mathematics from the University of Bath and a PhD in computer science from the University of Strathclyde.

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The 12 best fall books of all time, from classics to thrillers.

It’s officially September, which means one thing: we’re all about the cozy, fall books.

We’ve been avidly reading for years and began producing monthly book reviews once 2024 kicked off. You can say we’re very much immersed in the book community, whether we’re eyeing the new Reese’s Book Club pick or Rory Gilmore’s reading challenge .

Naturally, the Post Wanted team had to put together a curated edit of the best fall books we recommend picking up ASAP. Better yet, we highly encourage you to listen to these titles on Audible , so you can hit your reading goals while on the go.

RELATED : Best thrillers and murder-mystery books

Ahead you’ll find the top books we recommend, spanning different genres with detailed notes for each title. We’re just as excited to cozy up with a blanket and a hot cup of coffee as you are.

Best Fall Books

“where the crawdads sing” by delia owens.

Goodreads rating: 4.38/5 stars

About the book : “Where The Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens is a compelling blend of mystery and coming-of-age story that follows the life of a solitary young woman who grows up in the marshes of North Carolina and becomes entangled in a murder investigation that reveals deep secrets about her past and the community.

“‘ Where The Crawdads Sing ‘ follows Kya, who learns to raise herself in the wild marshes of North Carolina when she’s abandoned as a little girl,” Witherspoon said. “She gets wrapped up in heart-wrenching loneliness, painfully beautiful romance and even a murder mystery that shocks the community.”

Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Paperback | Buy on Kindle

“The Mother-in-Law” by Sally Hepworth

Goodreads rating: 3.97/5 stars

About the book : “The Mother-in-Law” by Sally Hepworth is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complex and often fraught relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law. Over the course of the novel, dark secrets are revealed and hidden tensions threaten to unravel their lives.

Oh, this thriller took us on a ride. Filled with family drama, suspense and engaging characters, “The Mother-in-Law” is a title we still think about.

“The Family Game” by Catherine Steadman

Goodreads rating: 3.84/5 stars

About the book : “The Family Game” by Catherine Steadman is a suspenseful thriller about a woman who becomes entangled in a dangerous and high-stakes game with her fiancé’s wealthy and secretive family, leading to shocking revelations and perilous consequences.

A book so good, we got our entire family hooked to read it next. If you’re a fan of page-turning thrillers with a competitive edge, you’ll become immersed in this sensational plot with twisty turns.

“The Third Gilmore Girl” by Kelly Bishop

Goodreads rating: 4.49/5 stars

About the book : “The Third Gilmore Girl” by Kelly Bishop is a memoir that offers an intimate and insightful look into the actress’s career, focusing on her iconic role as Emily Gilmore on “Gilmore Girls” and her experiences in the entertainment industry.

Welcome to September, the advent of the “Gilmore Girls” binge-watching season on Netflix. What better way to immerse yourself in the autumnal ambiance of the show than with this new title we’re all fishing to read ASAP? You’ll receive a behind-the-scenes look at the show and Bishop’s lively, personal experiences.

Buy on Hardcover | Buy on Kindle

“September” by Rosamunde Pilcher

Goodreads rating: 4.16/5 stars

About the book : “September” by Rosamunde Pilcher is a compelling family saga that explores the intertwining lives of various characters in a picturesque Scottish town, delving into themes of love, loss, and personal growth throughout a transformative autumn.

How could we skip over a title that’s aptly named for the fall season and with a plot that evokes all the fall vibes? “September” by Rosamunde Pilcher is widely loved, immersive, and character-driven: the ideal book to cozy up this next.

“An Ambush of Widows” by Jeff Abbott

Goodreads rating: 3.86/5 stars

About the book : “An Ambush of Widows” by Jeff Abbott is a gripping thriller about two widows who uncover dark secrets and face dangerous conspiracies after their husbands’ deaths, leading them on a high-stakes quest for truth and justice.

We finished this book in a day. Seriously, it’s that good and one of the most jaw-dropping thrillers you’ll read. With one of the most unique plots, too, it’s filled with character drama and multiple perspectives that’ll keep you on your toes.

“Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen

Goodreads rating : 4.08/5 stars

About the book : “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen explores the contrasting approaches to love and marriage of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as they navigate societal expectations and personal challenges in 19th-century England.

As one of the best classics I’ve read, “Sense and Sensibility” is the underdog novel compared to the author’s “ Pride and Prejudice ” and focuses a bit more on relationship dynamics that are applicable to everyday life.

Buy on Hardcover  |  Buy on Paperback  |  Buy on Kindle

RELATED: Best contemporary romance novels

“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert

Goodreads rating : 3.96/5 stars

About the book : “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert is an inspiring guide to living a creative life, offering practical advice and encouragement for embracing curiosity, overcoming fear, and pursuing one’s artistic passions with courage and authenticity.

If you’re someone who finds seasonal depression looming, then “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert is the book for you, to hopefully reinvigorate that inspiration and spark that you may have had in January, when the year began. Filled with practical knowledge and wisdom, it remains one of our favorite nonfiction reads.

“The Long Game” by Elena Armas

Goodreads rating : 3.59/5 stars

About the book : “The Long Game” by Elena Armas is a romantic comedy that follows a determined woman and a charming, strategic football player as they navigate their contrasting ambitions and unexpected chemistry while learning about love and personal growth.

For the perfect fall rom-com, look no further than “The Long Game” by Elena Armas. The small town location is a standout among other relationship-driven fiction books we’ve read, and we loved the chemistry among the love interests, most of all — definitely one of our favorite fall romance books of the year.

Buy on Paperback  |  Buy on Kindle

“11/22/63” by Stephen King

Goodreads rating : 4.34/5 stars

About the book : “11/22/63” by Stephen King is a sci-fi thriller about a high school teacher who discovers a time portal to the past and attempts to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, only to face unforeseen consequences and challenges along the way.

“11/22/63” by Stephen King may be the best of Rory Gilmore’s book list. With one of the most engaging plots, King takes you through history in this immersive read that’s action-packed and filled with heart. It’s also a mini-series on Amazon Prime Video .

“Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family” by Robert Kolker

Goodreads rating : 4.16/5 stars

About the book : “Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family” by Robert Kolker is a compelling true crime and psychological exploration of a family grappling with the effects of schizophrenia, revealing both the personal struggles and broader implications of mental illness.

Highly reviewed and one of the best nonfiction books we’ve read, “Hidden Valley Road” is an impeccable, well-written psychological narrative that takes us behind the scenes of a family, making us question relationship dynamics and society at large.

“Beware the Woman” by Megan Abbott

About the book : “Beware the Woman” by Megan Abbott is a tense psychological thriller about a woman’s descent into paranoia and danger as she uncovers unsettling truths within her seemingly idyllic life, challenging her trust and sense of reality.

Found: your next spooky fall read. Filled with what-happens-next energy, “Beware the Woman” is a book that’s so eerie and unpredictable, it’ll have you wanting more.

What is the one book everyone should read?

What you read next is largely dependent on preference, though a hidden gem we wholly recommend is “An Ambush of Widows” by Jeff Abbott . It’s an immersive thriller that we feel isn’t discussed as widely as it should be. Plus, it’ll keep you on your toes.

What is the best Jane Austen book for autumn?

We’ve read all of Jane Austen’s novels and our favorite — though it’s difficult to choose only one – is “Sense and Sensibility.” Its relatability and character dynamics make it stand out from the rest, although all of Austen’s novels are impeccably written.

RELATED : Best #BookTok reads

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• Entertainment
• A Disappointing <i>Three Women</i> Adaptation Spotlights One Woman Too Many

A Disappointing Three Women Adaptation Spotlights One Woman Too Many

F or a work of literary nonfiction to thrill readers the way Lisa Taddeo ’s 2019 best-seller Three Women has done, it must offer more than just rich subject matter. There has to be chemistry between the author and the story; readers have to feel her intimate understanding of its characters and sense the unique perspective she brings to their predicaments. Fittingly, given that Three Women is a triptych portrait of female desire in 21st century America, there’s an element of seduction. Taddeo closes the deal by closing the space that separates herself from the women whose sex lives she chronicles. Their minds, hearts, and libidos speak so loudly, you might forget she’s even there.

That such a feverish read was adapted into a steamy yet sad premium-cable drama is no surprise. Yet the 10-episode series, created by Taddeo for Showtime then shelved and picked up by Starz, breaks the book’s sweaty spell. Like the text spun through a centrifuge, this version of Three Women , premiering Sept. 13, pairs retellings of the subjects’ stories with the tale of a fourth woman: the Taddeo-esque journalist ( Shailene Woodley ’s Gia) traveling the country to collect characters. Despite bold performances and sensitive directing that centers women’s subjective experiences of sex and their bodies, the show’s disjointed structure and flimsy frame narrative suggest that the book might not have been so ripe for TV after all.

 Taddeo sets the scene with an encounter between Gia and Gay Talese (James Naughton), a real-life titan of literary journalism whose 1981 tome on sex in the ’70s, Thy Neighbor’s Wife , Gia seeks to update—and a figure whose cultural significance and macho reputation will probably be lost on most viewers under 60. “You’re gonna go out there and f-ck married men,” Talese, whose role as a mentor of ambiguous utility was central to the book’s promotional lore , proclaims. But she doesn’t, in part because she realizes early on that, when it comes to sex, love, and specifically desire, women are more interesting. 

The premiere introduces all three subjects. Lina, played with fire and desperation by Betty Gilpin , is an Indiana housewife and mom whose husband (Sean Meehan) won’t kiss her. Starved for passion, she reconnects with a high school boyfriend who has loomed large in her fantasies. Sloane (a radiant DeWanda Wise ), the belle of every Martha’s Vineyard ball, satisfies her unruly lust by letting her husband (Blair Underwood) pick men and sometimes women for her to sleep with while he watches. But then she becomes infatuated with a guy (Blair Redford) she doesn’t want to share. And Maggie (Gabrielle Creevy) is a 23-year-old waitress in North Dakota whose life was upended by an affair, years earlier, with her high school English teacher (Jason Ralph). When he’s named the state’s teacher of the year, Maggie finally files charges.

“What they all had,” Gia tells us, in glibly inspirational voice-over narration that belies Taddeo’s capacity for nuance, “was the audacity to believe that they deserved more.” But a scattered format that devotes some full episodes to single characters and, in others, blends vignettes about two or more only highlights how loosely the women fit together. Buoyed by Gilpin’s almost feral vulnerability, only Lina embodies the intensity of a regular woman unmoored by repressed desire. Based on a trial that didn’t end well for the accuser (and paired with a wordy on-screen disclaimer to that effect), Maggie’s story suffers from its similarity to so many previous stories of teacher-student boundary-crossing on TV. A New England WASP recast as a wealthy Black woman, presumably to diversify an otherwise white series, with only attention paid to the implications of that identity shift, Sloane’s arc feels conspicuously lightweight.

Most incongruous is the Gia storyline. The new character forces viewers to make sense of a convoluted, ultimately inessential timeline of the reporting process; her point of entry into Lina’s life is especially confusing. And instead of offering much insight into what might motivate a journalist to stake her career on a cross-country quest to illuminate women’s sexuality, Three Women gives Gia an inexplicably devoted love interest (John Patrick Amedori) and embroils them in a progressively farther-fetched conflict between his commitment and her avoidance.

It’s not hard to understand why Taddeo felt compelled to tweak the structure for TV or to add a semi-autobiographical character who could shed light on a remarkable feat of reportage. But in decoupling her voice from those of her subjects, the series severs the mind-meld connection that made Three Women electrifying.

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The Book Review’s Best Books Since 2000

Looking for your next great read? We’ve got 3,228. Explore the best fiction and nonfiction fiction nonfiction Short stories Historical fiction Poetry Thrillers Science fiction Mysteries Experimental fiction Horror Speculative fiction Satire Fantasy Romance Graphic novels Climate fiction Fiction Anthologies History Biographies Memoirs Science Narrative nonfiction Essays Investigative reporting Music Religion Sociology Politics True crime Sports Travel Art Letters Philosophy Food Media Current Events Climate change Nonfiction Anthologies from 2000 – 2023 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 chosen by our editors.

The 10 Best Books of 2023

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Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 review: ChromeOS gets luxurious

Expert's Rating

• Great keyboard
• Solid battery life and performance
• Beautiful display
• Tinny speakers
• Pen sold separately
• No fingerprint reader
• More expensive than the average Chromebook

Our Verdict

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that delivers an excellent all-around ChromeOS experience. Of course, it’s more expensive than the average Chromebook — and it’s not perfect.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a touch screen that can rotate 360 degrees to function as a tablet. This is a “Chromebook Plus” model, so you’ll be getting ChromeOS with some extra features, including access to Gemini Advanced for a year (which normally costs $20 per month).

Chromebook Plus features aside, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a capable Chromebook that’s a bit more premium than the average Chromebook — while also being a bit more expensive. Performance and battery life more than match what’s needed for a good Chromebook experience. It’s a decent package, although some things — like the speakers — disappoint.

Further reading: Best Chromebooks 2024: Best overall, best battery life, and more

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Specs

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U CPU along with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. This is one of Intel’s Meteor Lake CPUs , and while it’s on the slower end compared to other Meteor Lake chips, it delivers better performance than some even slower CPUs in more budget-level Chromebooks. Day-to-day performance in ChromeOS and assorted web apps was excellent.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U
• Memory: 8 GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU: Intel graphics
• Display: 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS display with touch screen
• Storage: 256 GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
• Webcam: 1440p webcam with privacy shutter
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB Type-C, 1x USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capacity: 53 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.36 x 8.86 x 0.74 inches
• Weight: 3.21 pounds
• MSRP: $699 as tested

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Design and build quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a 2-in-1 machine with a 360-degree hinge. You can rotate it around and use it in tablet form, if you like. Since ChromeOS has built-in support for Android apps, you’ll get access to a larger variety of tablet-optimized experiences than you would on a Windows 2-in-1.

This 14-inch machine is a reasonable size and weight. At 3.21 pounds and 0.74 inches thick, it’s not the lightest or thinnest laptop, but it’s not unusually large either. Like any 2-in-1, it’s certainly much thicker than the average tablet when you rotate it 360 degrees.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a nice design featuring dark grays on the chassis, black around the screen, and some interesting gold highlights on the lid and hinges. The trackpad is also framed in silver. It’s a good look, and I always appreciate laptops that go for a more rarely seen color scheme. The touch screen uses Gorilla Glass.

The hinge is solid, which is important for the 360-degree action on a 2-in-1 system. When you open the laptop and push the screen back far enough, it lifts the back of the keyboard to let you type at an angle. It’s well thought out.

I’m not a fan of the words at the top-left corner of the laptop. Stickers are one thing, but this machine has the words “Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass” above the display, at the upper-left corner of the laptop. They’re not a sticker, so you can’t remove them. And they’re silver so they tend to shine in the sunlight. Since that’s right in the upper-left corner above the top-left tab in your Chrome browser windows, it can be distracting in certain lighting conditions. I did get used to it, but I wish I didn’t have to. Ideally, this logo could be a sticker users could remove, like the HDMI logo at the bottom-right corner of the display.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Keyboard and trackpad

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a keyboard that truly impressed me. It’s reasonably snappy and feels as if it has plenty of travel. Bad keyboards have keys that can bottom out quickly or feel mushy, and this keyboard doesn’t feel like that at all. It also has a white backlight you can turn on and off. It’s an awesome keyboard I was happy to type on, especially for the price point.

The trackpad is also fine. It’s a reasonable size for a machine this size, although I’ve seen larger. It’s not as premium feeling as the haptic touchpads on some newer laptops, but it’s very responsive and the click feels decent.

Acer says the trackpad is made of “OceanGlass,” which isn’t glass at all but is recycled ocean plastic. The surface doesn’t feel quite as smooth as the glass trackpads I’ve used on some higher-end machines, but it feels pretty good. It doesn’t feel plastic-y or rubber-y, as the worst touchpads can, and the click action doesn’t feel mushy.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Display and speakers

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a 14-inch IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 340 nits of brightness. It looks good with its glossy screen and it’s a nice resolution. At more than 1080p, it’s great for media streaming.

Still, 340 nits of brightness is on the dimmer side. Combine that with a glossy glass surface and this display has a lot of reflections in direct sunlight. While I was able to use it outside on a sunny day, you’re probably better off going for a laptop with a matte display and higher maximum brightness if that’s important to you.

This 2-in-1 machine has a multi-touch touchscreen that works well. Note that, while it does support stylus input, this machine does not come with a stylus or pen. You’ll have to buy one separately.

Unfortunately, this Chromebook’s speakers aren’t great, even by laptop speaker standards. They’re unusually tinny, and that’s unfortunate considering how polished the rest of this Chromebook’s hardware is. You’ll want a pair of headphones or earbuds for a better audio experience.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 includes a 1440p webcam. That’s unusually good on paper, as many laptops — even higher-end ones — tend to include 1080p webcams. It looks good in a variety of lighting conditions. Also, this being a Chromebook Plus, you get access to AI-powered webcam tricks like background blur and lighting improvements, which can be useful.

Acer included a physical privacy shutter above the webcam, which you can slide to block it. That’s always a nice touch.

This laptop also has a decent microphone that did a good job of picking up my speech without much background noise. Between the webcam and the microphone, this is a great laptop for video meetings. The speakers are the main weak spot there, so you’ll have a better experience if you use a pair of headphones. But they’re certainly usable for an online meeting.

Unfortunately, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 does not offer a fingerprint reader. Without biometrics, you’ll have to sign into your PC with a PIN or use your Android phone to unlock it. While less expensive machines often skip the biometrics, it would be nice to see a fingerprint reader at a more premium price point.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Connectivity

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a decent selection of ports, but many laptops have more.

On the left side, you’ve got two USB Type-C ports and a USB Type-A port. The USB Type-C ports are Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 while the Type-A port is USB 3.2 Gen 1.

On the right side, you’ve got HDMI 2.0 out and a combo audio jack. (There’s also a volume switch on the right side of the laptop, which may be nice for using it in tablet mode).

Bear in mind that you’ll be charging this machine with USB-C — it includes a USB-C charger. In a perfect universe, I’d love to see USB-C on each side of the laptop for more flexibility when charging.

That’s an okay selection of ports, but some people may want a microSD card reader or some extra USB ports. (The less expensive Acer Chromebook Plus 514 provides more ports, for example). There’s always the option of connecting a dongle.

On the wireless radio front, you’ve got Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. Wi-Fi 7 would be nice to see and it will become standard with Intel’s next generation of CPUs, named Lunar Lake . For now, machines like this one get Wi-Fi 6E. That’s not a big problem as you almost certainly don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 router yet.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Performance

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U CPU. This is a newer Meteor Lake-powered CPU, but one of the lower-end models. Still, it’s a good CPU for the price point and the true low-end Chromebooks often have much lower-end CPUs — perhaps an ARM chip from MediaTek. A CPU like this one is more than capable of providing a great Chromebook experience, as ChromeOS and web-based software aren’t the most demanding.

We ran our usual suite of browser-based Chromebook benchmarks and here are the scores:

• CrXPRT 2: 167
• Speedometer 2.0: 294
• Speedometer 3.0: 16.5
• Basemark Web 3.0: 1494.4
• Kraken: 527.5
• Jetstream 2: 235.082

These are good scores, and the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 delivered great performance in day to day use, even while juggling lots of tabs. The ChromeOS experience and the Chrome browser itself always felt snappy and fast. I don’t know if I would have even noticed a much faster CPU while performing the usual web-based tasks.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Battery life

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a 53 Watt-hour battery. That’s on the small side for a 14-inch laptop, but ChromeOS is fairly lightweight.

We ran the CrXPT battery life benchmark, and the Chromebook lasted for an impressive 15.1 hours on average. That’s above the “up to 10 hours” of battery life Acer advertises for this system. Acer’s estimate is closer to what I experienced in day-to-day use. As usual with laptop battery life, your mileage may vary, but this Chromebook delivers good battery life.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Conclusion

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is nicer than the average Chromebook, but it’s also more expensive than the average Chromebook. Still, at $699, it’s still less expensive than many competing Windows laptops .

That’s a great package at a compelling price. But many people will be looking for less-expensive Chromebooks . And, for people who are looking for a more premium Chromebook experience, some aspects of this laptop will give them pause — like the speakers.

Still, this is a great Chromebook that many people would be happy with. As I wrap up typing this review on the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714’s excellent keyboard, that sale price of $599 feels like good value for a mostly great Chromebook experience.

Author: Chris Hoffman , Contributor

Chris Hoffman is the author of Windows Intelligence, a free email newsletter that brings the latest Windows PC news, trips, and tricks to inboxes each week. He's also the former editor-in-chief of How-To Geek and a veteran tech journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, PCMag, Reader's Digest, and other publications.

Recent stories by Chris Hoffman:

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The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time

By Alan Sepinwall

Alan Sepinwall

The thing that has always distinguished TV storytelling from its big-screen counterpart is the existence of individual episodes. We consume our series — even the ones that we binge — in distinct chunks, and the medium is at its best when it embraces this. The joy of watching an ongoing series comes as much from the separate steps on the journey as it does from the destination, if not more. Few pop-culture experiences are more satisfying than when your favorite show knocks it out of the park with a single chapter, whether it’s an episode that wildly deviates from the series’ norm, or just an incredibly well-executed version of the familiar formula.  

Still, that episodic nature makes TV fundamentally inconsistent. The greatest drama ever made , The Sopranos , was occasionally capable of duds like the Columbus Day episode. And even mediocre shows can churn out a single episode at the level of much stronger overall series.   For this Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest episodes of all time, we looked at both the peak installments of classic series, as well as examples of lesser shows that managed to briefly punch way above their weight class. We have episodes from the Fifties all the way through this year. We stuck with narrative dramas and comedies only — so, no news, no reality TV, no sketch comedy, talk shows, etc. In a few cases, there are two-part episodes, but we mostly picked solo entries. And while it’s largely made up of American shows (as watched by our American staff), a handful of international entries made the final cut.

Fargo, “Bisquik” (Season 5, Episode 10)

Our list of classic episodes starts with its most recent entry, from a January 2024 installment of the great FX anthology drama inspired by the work of the Coen brothers. Fargo Season Five dealt with the growing sense of polarization in America, and the debts — both literal and figurative — that everyone feels they’re owed from everyone else. It all culminates in a long, surprising, utterly gorgeous scene where our firecracker of a heroine, Dot Lyon (Juno Temple) finds herself face-to-face with immortal sin-eater Ole Munch (Sam Spruell), who has come for a rematch of their clash in the season premiere. With her husband and daughter in the house with her, Dot declines to fight this terrifying man, and instead explains, patiently and with palpable kindness, that perhaps Ole Munch might prefer a world focused less on resentment and more on love. — Alan Sepinwall

The Cosby Show, “Theo’s Holiday” (Season 2, Episode 22)

There’s a temptation with these lists to immediately disqualify anything associated with the true monsters like Bill Cosby. But his crimes shouldn’t erase from the history books the wonderful work of everyone else involved in “Theo’s Holiday,” in which the Huxtables get together for an elaborate role-playing exercise to teach Theo (Malcolm Jamal-Warner) a lesson about the economics of life in, as he puts it, “the real world.” All the actors throws themselves into these larger-than-life characters, like Clair (Phylicia Rashad) as a cheery restaurant owner as well as a fast-talking furniture saleslady, or little Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) as a powerful businesswoman. The idea of the whole clan teaming up to both mock Theo and help him out is so intoxicating that even his best friend Cockroach (Carl Anthony Payne II) admits, “I wish they did this kind of stuff at my house!” — A.S.  

South Park, “Scott Tenorman Must Die” (Season 5, Episode 4)

A show that features an anthropomorphized turd in a Christmas hat and at least one projectile vomit scene per episode, South Park has never been known as highbrow. Yet there are elements of “Scott Tenorman Must Die,” a Season Five episode focused on Cartman’s elaborate revenge plot against a high schooler who scammed him by selling his pubes, that are nothing less than virtuosic. There’s the plot itself, a retelling of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, which culminates (spoiler alert, I guess) with the protagonist forcing a woman to unwittingly eat her own children. There’s the exquisite cameo appearance by Radiohead, the culmination of Scott Tenorman’s debasement. And there’s Cartman’s classic taunt, “Charade you are, Scott Tenorman,” a reference to an obscure track of Pink Floyd’s Animals. Co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have often referred to “Scott Tenorman Must Die” as the apex of Cartman’s villainy, marking the character’s transition from obnoxious troll to next-level sociopath. But really, the episode marks another transition entirely: that of Stone and Parker from poop joke purveyors to dark-comedy masters. — Ej Dickson

You’re the Worst, “There Is Not Currently a Problem” (Season 2, Episode 7)

Here’s an odd but welcome trend: FX not only has an excellent track record with extremely niche half-hour comedies (some of which you’ll find higher on this list), but many of them manage to weave thoughtful, even dramatic, material about mental health issues into their usual humor. The hip-hop comedy Dave did it with a terrific episode where we learn that Lil Dicky’s hype man GaTa struggles with bipolar disorder. The final Reservation Dogs season revolved around a character who’d spent much of his life institutionalized. And You’re the Worst — a romantic comedy about two selfish, immature people who would be horrified to learn they were the main characters in a romantic comedy — found a new level with an episode revealing that Gretchen (Aya Cash) suffers from clinical depression. Much of “There Is Not Currently a Problem” is fairly comedic: a bottle episode where the gang is stuck together with Gretchen and Jimmy (Chris Geere) because a local marathon has caused a traffic jam in their neighborhood. But this forced closeness comes while Gretchen is trapped in her latest depressive episode, with no choice but to finally reveal her condition to Jimmy — and to admit that she’s less worried that he’ll reject her for it than that he’ll become the latest man convinced he can “fix” her. Cash conveys every bit of the pain and fear Gretchen is experiencing, in a way that enriches the laughter rather than undercutting it. — A.S.  

In Treatment, “Alex: Week Eight” (Season 1, Episode 37)

Most episodes of this drama were presented as real-time therapy sessions between Dr. Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) and one of his patients, or Paul visiting his own shrink. Occasionally, though, outsiders found their way into Paul’s office, like Alex Prince, Sr. (Glynn Turman), the father of one of Paul’s patients, seeking answers as to why his son committed suicide. Alex Jr. had spent most of his sessions to that point painting his dad as such a monster, it should have been impossible for any actor to both live up to those stories and not seem like a cartoon. Turman, in one of the best dramatic performances you will ever see on television, somehow did it, channeling both the bogeyman and the grieving father, in a riveting two-hander with Byrne. — A.S.   

Bob’s Burgers, “Tina-rannosaurus Wrecks” (Season 3, Episode 7)

Bob’s Burgers loves puns, but “Tina-rannosaurus Wrecks” is a groaner of a title even for them. No matter, because the episode so expertly combines many of the series’ hallmarks into one tight, funny, awkward package. Once again, a well-meaning parenting gesture by Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) goes awry, when he lets Tina (Dan Mintz) drive the family station wagon in a nearly empty parking lot, and she somehow crashes into the only other car there. Once again, the Belchers find themselves on the verge of financial calamity, when the other car turns out to belong to Bob’s ruthless rival, Jimmy Pesto (Jay Johnston). Once again, the family gets mixed up in the plans of a lunatic, when insurance adjuster Chase (Bob Odenkirk) forces them to aid him in an insurance fraud scheme in order to get out of the mess with Jimmy. And, once again, Bob’s lovable but terrible children somehow prove surprisingly useful, when Tina uses her brother’s Casio keyboard to get incriminating evidence that frees them from Chase’s clutches. All’s well that ends… not necessarily well, but at least not substantially worse than usual. — A.S.

Enlightened, “Consider Helen” (Season 1, Episode 9)

Today, it seems almost obligatory for cable and streaming shows to devote one or two episodes a season to presenting the POV of a minor character. When future White Lotus creator Mike White did it with his first HBO series, Enlightened , it was still relatively rare. And in this case, the shifts in perspective came as a welcome, even necessary, relief from all the time spent in the head of the show’s fascinating but maddening main character, Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern), a toxically narcissistic former executive trying to rebuild her life after a nervous breakdown. With “Consider Helen,” White moved the focus to Amy’s mother Helen (played by Dern’s real-life mom, the great Diane Ladd), to present a day in her life, to show what a chore it is to have to deal with such a pathologically needy child, and to make clear that Enlightened itself understood exactly how its audience would respond to Amy. — A.S.

Maude, “Maude’s Dilemma” (Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10)

This two-parter, in which Maude (Bea Arthur) is shocked to discover that she’s pregnant again at 47, and has to decide whether she wants to get an abortion, was so ahead of its time, even the original Supreme Court verdict on Roe v. Wade was two months away. Well after Maude decided to end her pregnancy, the rest of television shied away from the subject, often having pregnant characters suffer conveniently-timed miscarriages before they could make up their minds and potentially alienate viewers and sponsors. But “Maude’s Dilemma,” with a teleplay by future Golden Girls creator Susan Harris, ran toward the thorny subject, and handled it with both humor and grace. — A.S.

Scrubs, “My Screw Up” (Season 3, Episode 14)

There are plenty of shows we call dramedies, even though they’re really just half-hour dramas, as well as lots of alleged comedies that aren’t particularly interested in making the audience laugh. The hospital show Scrubs , though, was remarkably comfortable at balancing silliness and sadness throughout its run, especially in “My Screw Up.” Brendan Fraser reprises his role as Ben, wisecracking brother-in-law to John C. McGinley’s bitterly sarcastic Dr. Cox. Ben’s leukemia appeared to be in remission when last we saw him, so there’s room for him to relentlessly tease J.D. (Zach Braff) about having made out with both of Ben’s sisters, as well as a lighthearted subplot where Turk (Donald Faison) tries to convince Carla (Judy Reyes) to take his name when they’re married, in exchange for having a mole she hates removed. But things also get plausibly serious, even before we get to the Sixth Sense -style twist: Ben was the patient whose death earlier in the episode caused a rift between Cox and J.D., and Cox has been in denial about it ever since. Even the revelation that Cox has been imagining conversations with his dead friend is reflective of the show’s juggling of comedy and drama — it’s the dark mirror of how Scrubs generates so much humor from taking us inside the highly-distractible mind of J.D. — A.S.    

Watchmen, “This Extraordinary Being” (Episode 6)

Even for a series as sophisticated and layered as Watchmen , this episode is an acrobatic feat. In the most dramatic departure from the show’s source material, the 1980s comic of the same name, “This Extraordinary Being” tells the origin story of one of this world’s seminal vigilante superheroes, Hooded Justice (a man lionized in a modern-day TV show-within-the-show that kicks off the episode). Told almost entirely in black and white, it sees our current-day heroine Angela Abar (Regina King) — herself a vigilante who goes by Sister Night, when she’s not working her day job as a cop — sucked into the memories of her grandfather, Will Reeves, after swallowing a bottle of his “nostalgia pills.” Transported to 1930s New York, we watch Will (played as a young man by Jovan Adepo), and sometimes Angela-as-Will, join the NYPD, where he encounters racism so virulent, his fellow cops stage a near-lynching, covering him with a hood and briefly hanging him from a tree as a warning to stand down. The message he takes away, though, is that there is plenty of evil to fight in the world, even in his own precinct. He just has to do it undercover — appropriating for his costume the very hood and noose that had been used to terrorize him. With balletic camerawork, a period soundtrack of big band standards, and visceral performances from King and Adepo, the episode is a sweeping achievement that inverts a fundamental truth of the series’ world — this revered hero that everyone assumed was white is Black — and underscores one about ours: Justice often comes at a steep price. — Maria Fontoura

The Golden Girls, “Mrs. George Devereaux” (Season 6, Episode 9)

The Golden Girls experienced so many adventures together, as Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia (Estelle Getty) lived together as pals and confidantes. But “Mrs. George Devereaux” is a truly touching treatment of grief and loss. Blanche, the most frivolous of the Girls (and the funniest), opens the door and beholds a strange sight: her late husband George, telling her that he faked his death and now wants her back. The episode explores how all the characters live with their different kinds of grief — and how that grief is what brought them here together in the first place. It has the most emotional resonance of any Golden Girls episode, but it’s also the funniest in terms of pure farcical comedy, as Dorothy gets swept up in a bizarre love triangle with two 1970s heartthrobs, guest stars Sonny Bono and Lyle Waggoner. As usual, Blanche gets the best line, when she confronts Cher’s ex-husband with the command, “Sonny Bono, get off my lanai!” — Rob Sheffield

SpongeBob SquarePants, “Pizza Delivery” (Season 1, Episode 5)

The absurdist humor that made SpongeBob SquarePants beloved across multiple generations is already at full strength in this early episode. At the end of another shift at the Krusty Krab, a customer calls in to order a pizza to be delivered to his home. Never mind that the restaurant doesn’t make pizzas: Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) sees a few bucks to be earned, and somehow turns a Krabby Patty burger into a pizza, complete with box, then orders SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) to take it to its destination. Instead, SpongeBob’s usual difficulty with driving strands the odd couple far from Bikini Bottom, trying various bizarre methods to get home — all of them borrowed from the “pioneers,” like the idea of riding on giant rocks. In the end, we get one last, great punchline: The customer lives right next door to the Krusty Krab, and they could have just walked the pizza over to him. — A.S.

Roseanne, “War and Peace” (Season 5, Episode 14)

Both in its Nineties heyday and its modern reinvention as The Conners , Roseanne had a real knack for blending domestic comedy with candid material about poverty, addiction, sexuality, and more. In this terrific conclusion of a two-part story, Dan (John Goodman) gets hauled off to jail after beating up Fisher, the abusive boyfriend of Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), while Roseanne tends to her sister, and Darlene (Sara Gilbert) gets to briefly relish the sight of her disciplinarian father behind bars. “War and Peace” doesn’t hide from the horror of Jackie’s experience, but even its dark moments are flavored with sass, like when Roseanne warns Fisher, “If you ever come near her again, you’re gonna have to deal with me, and I am way more dangerous than Dan. I got a loose-meat restaurant. I know what to do with the body!”  — A.S.

The Dick Van Dyke Show, “Never Bathe on Saturday” (Season 4, Episode 27)

Somehow, the best showcase for Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as one of TV’s all-time couples is in an episode where Moore is frequently off-camera. A romantic getaway for Rob and Laura goes horribly awry when Laura’s big toe gets stuck in a hotel bathtub faucet, the bathroom door gets locked, and Rob makes the ill-timed decision to draw a fake mustache on his upper lip that he can’t wipe off — leading every hotel worker who arrives to help assuming he’s up to no good. Written by Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner, this installment keeps finding new and amusing ways to escalate the sticky situation, and to push the outer edge of the envelope of censorship circa 1965, with a story about the risk of other people seeing Laura naked. By this point in the series’ run, Reiner knew exactly how to use his leading man’s fluency with physical comedy, and how his leading lady’s voice on the other side of that locked door was all that was needed to sell Laura’s dismay at being trapped in such an embarrassing position. — A.S.

Black Mirror, “San Junipero” (Season 3, Episode 4)

What would your ideal afterlife look like? Black Mirror — the British dystopian anthology series with a nihilistic approach to rapidly-developing technology — is known for being a show that doesn’t only answer questions about the future but depicts the worst possible alternative you’ve never even considered. Maybe that’s why, when fans were introduced to the couple at the heart of “San Junipero,” and found the answer of the ideal afterlife to be an Eighties beach town party that never ends, they responded so fondly. Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) and Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) meet on a night out and quickly fall into a romantic entanglement. But what begins as a love story about two lesbians finding each other in a heaven on earth is quickly revealed to be a virtual reality — one where the elderly and those who have died can be uploaded and then live on forever as their younger selves. The two — both dying in real life — must deal with whether or not the love they’ve found in pixels is enough for both of their forevers. It’s a touching love story that embodies Black Mirror at its very best. — CT Jones

Sex and the City, “My Motherboard, My Self” (Season 4, Episode 8)

Family is, arguably, everywhere in Sex and the City — from those the core four start with their partners to the ones they marry into (have there ever been more terrifying mothers-in-law than Frances Sternhagen or Anne Meara?) and the one they build just among themselves. But when it comes to the blood relations of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), the show is surprisingly thin, which is what makes “My Motherboard, My Self” stand out so much. It’s not that the other subplots aren’t memorable — the endless physical comedy of Samantha losing her orgasm; Carrie’s Macintosh meltdown and trip to Manhattan 1990s mainstay Tekserve (R.I.P.), where technician Dmitri (a brilliantly dry Aasif Mandvi) rags on her for not “backing up” — but Miranda’s turn here feels different. As she attends her mother’s funeral in Philadelphia (where she is, apparently, from, and where she has, apparently, multiple siblings), we see a more human side of a character who until this point has largely maintained her station as “the analytical one.” (Though it’s notable that the most intimate moment she has in the City of Brotherly Love isn’t with a direct relation, but the fitting room attendant trying to sell her a bra.) While the show has been criticized for celebrating solipsistic behavior, this episode is a prime example of the four women grappling with their ability to be vulnerable. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul

Broad City, “Knockoffs” (Season 2, Episode 4)

Both stories in the stoner comedy’s most laugh-out-loud installment involve imitation products. In one, Ilana (Ilana Glazer) and her mother Bobbi (Susie Essman) travel into the sewers of Manhattan to obtain counterfeit designer purses. In the other, Abbi (Abbi Jacobson) is shocked when her boyfriend Jeremy (Stephen Schneider) asks her to peg him with a strap-on — a development that so thrills Ilana, she does an upside-down twerk on her friend’s behalf — then has to scramble to find a reasonable facsimile after her dishwasher melts Jeremy’s custom-made dildo. In the end, the replacements prove shoddier than the real thing, but “Knockoffs” is so perfectly constructed, and so memorable, that when the friends met Hillary Clinton in a later episode later, among the first things a flustered Abbi can think to tell her is, “I pegged!” — A.S.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse” (Season 4, Episode 24)

When The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air went on the air in 1990, Will Smith was such an inexperienced actor that he literally mouthed the lines of his co-stars while they spoke. But it didn’t take long for Smith to learn his craft and land roles in dramatic movies like Six Degrees of Separation . That’s why the creative team behind this series knew he was ready for a Season Four episode where Will reunites with his father (played by Ben Vereen) 14 years after he walked out on the family, only to see him leave once again after they reconciled. “I’ll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don’t need him for that, ’cause ain’t a damn thing he could ever teach me about how to love my kids!” Smith roars, before breaking down in the arms of Uncle Phil. “How come he don’t want me, man?” For anyone who grew up without a father, the moment cut deep. “I shed a tear til this day every time I see this episode,” LeBron James wrote on Instagram in 2015. “This hit home for me growing up and I couldn’t hold my tears in. Til this day they still coming out when this episode come on.” — Andy Greene

Doctor Who, “Blink” (Season 3, Episode 10)

The scariest, cleverest episode of the British sci-fi institution Doctor Who features monsters who are elegant in their simplicity: the Weeping Angels, predatory aliens who resemble stone statues of angels, and who can only move when you’re not looking at them. Writer Steven Moffat places these disturbing creatures in service of a story that barely features the Doctor (David Tennant) and his then-companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), instead focusing on a young Carey Mulligan as Sally Sparrow, a woman who keeps running afoul of the Weeping Angels. Her only hope of surviving the ordeal comes in the form of a DVD Easter Egg that creates the illusion of the Doctor having a conversation with her, and even the Time Lord himself struggles to adequately explain all the seeming paradoxes contained within Moffat’s tale. “People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect,” he tells Sally, “but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it’s more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff.” Yet it all makes exciting sense by the end. — A.S.

Alias, “Truth Be Told” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Throughout his career, J.J. Abrams has struggled with endings, as anyone who sat through The Rise of Skywalker can tell you. Few, though, are better at beginnings, and the pilot episode of his spy drama Alias is so fantastic that it bought years of goodwill from viewers, no matter how nonsensical the plots grew as the show went along. While undercover agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) is in Taiwan being interrogated by a torture expert, we flash back through the events that led her here, starting with her double life as a grad student by day, CIA agent by night. This turns out to be a triple life when Sydney discovers that she’s been tricked into working for a terrorist organization called SD-6, and that her father, Jack (Victor Garber), is secretly her co-worker. Oh, and Sydney’s fiancé gets murdered on the order of SD-6 boss Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin), plus a half-dozen other characters have to be introduced, Sydney has to try on multiple hair colors and accents, and more. Between the fractured timeline and the multiple lies Sydney has to live at once, “Truth Be Told” should be absolute gibberish. But Abrams, in one of his earliest efforts as director as well as writer, keeps everything coherent and thrilling in an episode that made him into a star just as much as it did Jennifer Garner. — A.S.  

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom” (Season 2, Episode 4)

Most of the time, the Paddy’s Pub gang aim to screw over other people but really just end up screwing themselves, and that’s just what happens in this crude, tangled adventure. When Frank (Danny DeVito) promotes Charlie (Charlie Day) from a sleazy janitor to manager of the bar, he sets in motion a dizzying sequence of events that puts each character’s Achilles’ heels on full display: Mac’s (Rob McElhenny) sensitivity, Frank’s lost youth, Dennis’ (Glenn Howerton) pride, Charlie’s unrequited love, and Dee’s (Kaitlin Olson) conniving impulses. In order to get out of the grunt work Charlie left behind, Dennis goes on a mission to sleep with the unnamed character the Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), but ends up setting his sights on Mac’s mom (and later Charlie’s) when he finds out Mac banged his mom (and Frank’s ex-wife). Meanwhile, Charlie draws up a plan to finally bang the Waitress; Dennis’ sister Dee isn’t looking for sex, just power, as she plays the henchman to Charlie’s mastermind; and Frank just wants to bang any “young broad” who will give him the time of day. “That doesn’t make any sense,” Mac says to Charlie after encouraging Mac to sleep with Dennis’ mom. Charlie’s response pretty much sums up the entire FX sitcom: “It doesn’t have to.” — Maya Georgi

Grey’s Anatomy, “It’s the End of the World/As We Know It” (Season 2, Episodes 16 & 17)

Hearing main character Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) refuse to get out of bed for fear that she’ll die at work should have been a clue that it wouldn’t be a good week. But viewers were still terrified when the series seemingly tried its hardest to make every main character (plus guest stars Christina Ricci and Kyle Chandler) have near-death experiences in this two-parter, which began airing after Super Bowl XL. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is in labor at the hospital waiting for her husband, who won’t answer his phone. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) can’t concentrate on saving his patient’s life while the man’s cell keeps going off (put two and two together here). And when a newbie paramedic shoves her hands into the chest cavity of a patient who’s bleeding out, it’s Meredith who learns that what’s currently killing him is unexploded ammunition that could go off at any minute, taking her and the entire O.R. with it. The bomb squad evacuates the floor, but if Derek leaves, Bailey’s husband dies. Meredith steps in for the paramedic, who’s had a panic attack, so now, if Meredith moves, she and Derek and Bailey’s husband die. Richard (James Pickens, Jr.) has a heart attack from the stress of the evacuation. Izzy (Katherine Heigl) and Alex (Justin Chambers) are off hooking up in a closet, which is also life-threatening if you consider Alex’s numerous confirmed STDs. And if Bailey, who is refusing to push without her husband being present, doesn’t give birth, she and the baby will die. It’s an all-in, melodramatic pivot for a series that has since become known for putting its main characters in life-threatening situations. And yet, in the midst of these increasingly heightened stakes, the standout scene remains George’s (T.J. Knight) gentle cajoling that finally convinces Bailey to push — and to name her son after him. “You’re Doctor Bailey,” he says, in a scene that remains one of the most tender of the entire series. “You don’t hide from a fight.”  — CTJ

Girls, “American Bitch” (Season 6, Episode 3)

If ever Hannah Horvath was a voice of a generation, this was it. Airing just a few months before the #MeToo movement exploded in 2017, this quiet cri de coeur — in which famous author Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys, nimble as ever) confronts Hannah (Lena Dunham) about a blog post she wrote slamming his alleged misconduct with several college girls — taps into every conversation we’re still having about power and consent. Chuck summons Hannah to his stately apartment, where she attempts to explain why taking advantage of his literary stature to hook up with young women is predatory, while he hurls every trick in the Bad Men Handbook at her: flattery (“You’re very bright”); faux honesty (“I’m a horny motherfucker with the impulse control of a toddler”); defensiveness (“These girls throw themselves at me!”); casual intimacy (“You’re more to me than just a pretty face”). With astonishing precision and economy, Dunham turns the tables such that by the end of the episode — that is, by the time Chuck and Hannah are lying clothed atop his bed, and he takes out his dick and flops it onto her thigh — Hannah has fallen prey to the very manipulations she was calling out. A hallmark moment in a show that will only age better with time. — M.F.

Everybody Loves Raymond, “Baggage” (Season 7, Episode 22)

Like Carl Reiner once did with The Dick Van Dyke Show , Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal liked to come up with stories by asking his writers what they’d been up to with their families lately. More often than not, there was a conflict that mapped pretty easily onto the Barone family, like an argument that writer Tucker Cawley had with his wife about who would put away the last suitcase left over from a recent vacation. The fictionalized version of it becomes a cold war of sorts between Ray (Ray Romano) and Debra (Patricia Heaton), even as Marie (Doris Roberts) compares the stalemate to a fight that once almost wrecked her marriage to Frank (Peter Boyle). (This leads to one of the great sitcom lines that makes zero sense out of context and seems absolutely logical in context: “Don’t let a suitcase filled with cheese be your big fork and spoon.”) The whole thing culminates in a slapstick battle between the spouses, demonstrating the impressive physical-comedy chops that Romano and Heaton developed over the series’ run. — A.S.  

King of the Hill, “Bobby Goes Nuts” (Season 6, Episode 1)

Some episodes made this list because they do innovative things with episodic structure, or because they have something deep to say about the human condition. This one’s here because Bobby Hill (Pamela Adlon) kicks a bunch of guys in the groin. Well, no. This one’s here because he learns to do this from taking a women’s self-defense class at the Y — at the unwitting urging of Hank (Mike Judge), who just wants his son to learn how to stand up to bullies — and incorporates not only the crotch attacks, but a high-pitched screech of, “THAT’S MY PURSE! I DON’T KNOW YOU!” every time he does it, just like he and his middle-aged, female classmates were taught. Sometimes, you just have to cherish the little things, you know? — A.S.  

Insecure, “High-Like” (Season 3, Episode 5)

The struggling women of Insecure can’t even catch a break when they head to Coachella to see Beyoncé headline. Newly unemployed Issa (Rae) needs everything to go perfectly for the group’s last hurrah before Tiffany (Amanda Seales) gives birth, while Molly (Yvonne Orji) is preoccupied with work, and Keli (Natasha Rothwell) just wants to have a good time. The girls (minus Tiffany, or so we thought…) take edibles and pop so much MDMA they are forced to miss Bey, instead finding themselves in a drug-fueled frenzy that makes the chaos and humor feel like they’re seeping through the screen. Keli takes “Beyoncé or bust” too far and pisses herself after getting Tasered by festival security. Tiffany cries in a closet and tells her husband, “It’s our weed, baby” after admitting to “one bite” of a pot brownie. Molly bugs out and types nonsense on her work laptop, while Issa insists the mess of the night is all her fault. For an episode that starts with a silly Thug Yoda appearance and ends with the abrupt, emotionally-charged return of Issa’s ex-boyfriend, Lawrence (Jay Ellis), it packs in one hell of a trip. — M.G.

Game of Thrones, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”  (Season 8, Episode 2)

Because Game of Thrones presented spectacle on a scale never before seen on television, it’s easy to forget that the series first became beloved when its budget was much smaller and it couldn’t afford to depict massive battles, dragon attacks, or ice zombie hordes. That stuff, when it came with frequency, was icing on the cake that was the deep roster of memorable characters George R.R. Martin had created, who the GoT writers brought to such vivid life. Even in its later, more epic seasons, the show was still most potent when it placed people first and carnage second. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” takes place the evening before a coalition of heroes from across Westeros will face the Night King and his undead army. It’s almost all talking, as the characters have the kinds of conversations you’d expect when they don’t believe they’ll survive the next day. The most powerful of these is the moment that provides the episode with its title, as Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) realizes that, by the laws of Westeros, he can fulfill the dreams of his old friend Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) and grant her the knighthood she spent her whole life believing her gender disqualified her from achieving. The actual battle with the Night King winds up being the most visually underwhelming episode of the series, but writer Bryan Cogman’s love letter to these characters still resonates years later.  — A.S.

The Good Place, “Michael’s Gambit” (Season 1, Episode 13)

TV has a mixed track record with twist endings. For every Twilight Zone , it seems there are a half-dozen disasters like the Dexter season where Edward James Olmos was a ghost, or the Westworld season where Ed Harris and Jimmi Simpson were playing the same character — both ideas that fans sniffed out long before those series’ producers expected them to. But then there is the marvelous conclusion to the first season of the metaphysical comedy The Good Place . For the previous 12 episodes, Eleanor (Kristen Bell) and her friends had struggled to figure out why the seemingly perfect afterlife in which they found themselves had so many obvious flaws. In the end, it’s dum-dum Eleanor who’s the only one smart enough to see through the genial exterior of their host, Michael (Ted Danson), and recognize that, for all their worry of ending up in the Bad Place, “ This is the Bad Place!” In hindsight, the idea was clearly seeded; some viewers did guess it in advance, but not so many that it ruined the surprise for everyone else. Rather than undercut everything that happened before, the twist is in keeping with the show’s basic premise about heaven being not all it’s cracked up to be. And it set the series off in new, increasingly wild directions, rather than repeating the same jokes about fro-yo for years on end. — A.S.

Star Trek, “City on the Edge of Forever” (Season 1, Episode 28)

This episode, written by author Harlan Ellison, offers one time-travel tragedy to rule them all. When a deliriously ill Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) staggers through a time portal on a mysterious planet, he somehow alters history enough that the Enterprise is no longer in orbit above the away team. It’s up to Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) to follow their friend, winding up in Depression-era New York, where interplanetary lothario Jim Kirk finds himself falling hard for do-gooder Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Unfortunately, Spock figures out that Edith is a pivot point for the future of humanity, where her life will ironically lead to centuries of pain and misery, while her death will lead to the timeline our heroes know well. Torn between his duty to the galaxy and the desires of his own heart, Kirk allows Edith to be fatally struck by a car, in a tearjerker ending that wound up echoing throughout the future of TV science fiction. — A.S.

My So-Called Life, ”Pilot” (Episode 1)

Meet Angela Chase, a high school sophomore who offers us a look into her life in a mundane suburb of Pittsburgh. She has a major crush on Jordan Catalano (“I just like how he’s always leaning. Against stuff. He leans great”) and is quite possibly the only person in history to be jealous of Anne Frank (“She was stuck in an attic for three years with this guy she really liked”). My So-Called Life premiered 30 years ago, giving teens a much more realistic portrayal of what it’s like to endure the “battlefield” that is high school over primetime soap operas like 90210. And the pilot lays that groundwork perfectly, with Angela (Claire Danes) narrating as she navigates her strained relationship with her mom, outgrows her best friend and abandons her for two cool, kindred spirits, and, yes, watches Jordan (Jared Leto) excel at leaning. A battlefield indeed. — Angie Martoccio

Master of None, “Thanksgiving” (Season 2, Episode 8)

Though Aziz Ansari was star, frequent writer, and occasional director of his series about an actor named Dev trying to find meaning in his life, he periodically turned over episodes from the first two seasons to other characters, demonstrating that their stories had just as much richness as Dev’s, if not more. “Thanksgiving” tracks many years of the holiday, as Dev’s best friend Denise (Lena Waithe, who co-wrote the episode with Ansari) gradually comes out to her family, slowly but surely wearing down the resistance of her mother (Angela Bassett), aunt (Kym Whitley), and grandmother (Venida Evans). Partly inspired by Waithe’s own coming-out story, the warm and knowing episode was such a creative success that when the series finally returned for a third season four years later, it was built entirely around Denise’s marriage, with Dev now a minor figure in what was once his own show. — A.S.

For All Mankind, “The Grey” (Season 2, Episode 10)

The second season of this sci-fi drama, set in an alternate timeline where the Soviets beat America to the moon, triggering a never-ending space race, is the platonic ideal of the intensely serialized, “10-hour Movie” approach so much of dramatic television has taken in the years since The Wire , and that so few shows actually do well. Everything that happens throughout Season Two, even the parts that seem slow and pointless when you first watch them, have thrilling payoffs in the finale , where Earth seems on the verge of nuclear Armageddon, while American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts wage war on and around the moon. All the earlier subplots matter, like Gordo (Michael Dorman) putting his new devotion to jogging to good use when he and ex-wife Tracy (Sarah Jones) have to run across the lunar surface, clad only in spacesuits jury-rigged out of duct tape, to prevent a nuclear meltdown. — A.S.

St. Elsewhere, “Time Heals” (Season 4, Episodes 17 & 18)  

This innovative hospital drama pushed the boundaries of its format throughout its run. One episode was set largely in the afterlife. Another told a quartet of stories about the stages of life from birth through death. The most audacious, and satisfying, of these, is the two-part “Time Heals,” which aired over consecutive nights. As St. Eligius prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we get glimpses of the hospital across the decades, and see how Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders), Dr. Craig (William Daniels), and the other senior members of the staff each came to work there. Beyond all the backstory — including a great guest turn by Edward Hermann as Father McCabe, the priest who founded the hospital and helped raise the orphaned Westphall — “Time Heals” impresses because each vignette from the past is presented in the style of movies (or, in some cases, television) of that period: Scenes in the 1930s are in black and white, ones in the Sixties are much more brightly lit, and so on. — A.S.

Larry Sanders, “Flip” (Season 6, Episode 12)

“You could sense there would never be another show like that again,” The Larry Sanders  Show actress Ileana Douglas said of the show’s final scene. “And there hasn’t been.” As Rip Torn, Jeffrey Tambor, and show creator Garry Shandling group-hug in an empty studio, a poignant sadness infuses the acerbic wit that Shandling’s revolutionary series displayed for six seasons. Set around Larry’s final show, the Peabody Award-winning episode features gags that remain timeless: Jim Carrey serenading Larry on-air while excoriating him off-air, Tom Petty telling Clint Black to “quiet down, cowpoke” before getting into a fistfight with Greg Kinnear, and Carol Burnett and Ellen DeGeneres catching Larry in a lie that destroys both the show-within-the-show itself and Larry’s glass-fragile ego. It’s a brilliant ending that balances pathos (“I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do without you,” Larry says to his audience before choking up. “God bless you. You may now flip”) with the series’ trademark send-up of Hollywood phoniness (Torn instinctively telling a bumped Bruno Kirby on the last show that “we’ll have you on another time.”) The show that invented the modern sitcom and stuck the landing perfectly. — Jason Newman

Orange Is the New Black, “Toast Can’t Never Be Bread Again” (Season 4, Episode 13) 

The Netflix prison series is the only show in Emmy history to be reclassified from the comedy categories to the drama ones, in part because its tone was so elusive, even to the people making it. But when Orange wanted to get totally serious, it was incredible, like in this episode set in the aftermath of the shocking death of beloved inmate Poussey at the hands of a guard. As Taystee (Danielle Brooks) and the other women grieve the loss of Poussey, then fume at the realization that the guard will go unpunished while most of them are stuck behind bars for much lesser crimes, their pain and rage boils over into a prison riot that will take up the entire following season. — A.S.

The Andy Griffith Show, “Opie the Birdman” (Season 4, Episode 1)

The Andy Griffith Show set the template for broad, light, homespun small-town humor, but the best episode of the long-running 1960s show is as raw as a modern prestige TV feelings-fest. Gifted a slingshot by Don Knots’ iconically bumbling deputy Barney Fife, a young Opie Taylor (played by a nine-year-old Ron Howard) accidentally kills a bird, orphaning its three young offspring. “You gonna give me a whippin’?” Opie asks his father, Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by the show’s star, Andy Griffith. Not this time. Instead, TV’s all-time cool-headed dad simply opens Opie’s window so his boy can listen to the newly motherless baby birds in the tree outside, filling the Mayberry night with their desolate emo chirps. Howard later said the tears he cried in the scene where he kills the bird were real, because he was thinking of his recently deceased dog. The episode doesn’t have any big laughs, a bold move considering it was a season-opener. But by breaking with formula, they made a heartbreaking classic. — Jon Dolan

Good Times, “The I.Q. Test” (Season 2, Episode 7)

As the Seventies sitcom’s iconic gospel theme song noted, there was a lot of scratchin’ and survivin’ to do for the Evans family in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects. And the Maude spinoff was so smart in illustrating the many ways the deck was stacked against Florida (Esther Rolle), James (John Amos), and their kids. In “The I.Q. Test,” everyone is shocked when gifted youngest son Michael (Ralph Carter) flunks a school standardized test, until Michael explains that he refused to finish after recognizing that the test is racially biased, with questions geared towards the experience of reasonably well-off white children. The episode nimbly addresses systemic problems in a way that few shows were even thinking about at the time, much less willing to incorporate into their scripts. And it does it while still having some fun with the situation, through the obliviousness of the white test proctor. — A.S.

Moonlighting, “Atomic Shakespeare” (Season 3, Episode 7)

At the point “Atomic Shakespeare” rolled around in the third season of Moonlighting , the private detective comedy had already established two things: 1) that the onscreen chemistry of co-stars Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd was as scorching as any couple — even an unconsummated one like this — ever put on television; and 2) that the show’s writers didn’t feel in any way bound by the conventions of genre or era, as they had already done a black-and-white film noir tribute, as well as put Willis’ David into a musical number helmed by Singin’ in the Rain director Stanley Donen. So it felt wholly natural to translate the familiar David and Maddie dynamic back to Shakespearean times, with a postmodern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew , with Willis and Shepherd playing David and Maddie-flavored versions of Petrucchio and Kate, and that at various points features ninjas, a horse wearing sunglasses, and wannabe blues singer Willis wailing on the classic rock hit “Good Lovin’.” The episode even gets away with rewriting the Bard: Instead of Kate submitting to Petrucchio’s insistence that the sun is in fact the moon, as a way of humoring her new husband, she instead stands her ground and gets him to admit that, “My wife hath called it: ’Tis the sun, and not the moon at all!” — A.S.

Severance, “The We We Are” (Season 1, Episode 9)

By the time we reach the Season One finale of the satirical workplace thriller Severance , the employees of the macrodata refinement department of Lumon Industries have reached their boiling point. Part of a cohort who volunteered for a surgical procedure that separates their work selves, called “Innies,” from their personal selves, called “Outies,” they all live bifurcated lives, where one half has no clue what the other half does. But now, the Innies, sure they’re getting the short end of the deal, are fed up. With the help of Dylan (Zach Cherry), who hacks into a control room, Helly (Britt Lower), Mark (Adam Scott), and Irving (John Turturro) find a way to inhabit their Outie personas — and, as a result, learn all kinds of things about themselves that they aren’t fully prepared to know. Mark faces his wife’s death in a car accident. Irving tries to reignite his workplace romance with Burt (Christopher Walken), who retired his Innie self. And Helly is shocked to discover she’s descended from the family that championed Lumon’s severance procedure. A master class in building and maintaining tension, the episode reaches a heart-racing crescendo before an abrupt, cliffhanger ending. Premiering two years after the pandemic, as many employees returned to the office with shifted priorities and revamped notions of “work-life balance,” the Dan Erickson-created, Ben Stiller -directed series captures something essential about our modern malaise. But as the mirror maze of this episode shows, completely severing work and home may not be the fix we think it would. — Kalia Richardson

Review With Forrest MacNeil, “Pancakes, Divorce, Pancakes” (Season 1, Episode 3)

In this cult comedy, Andy Daly plays Forrest MacNeil, a pompous fool who has committed himself to the self-destructive task of undergoing and reviewing whatever life experiences his viewers ask him to. Installments prior to this one saw Forrest becoming addicted to cocaine, acting racist, and trying to make a sex tape. But the true folly of the exercise doesn’t hit until the third episode, where two different binge-eating assignments are wrapped around Forrest having to divorce his wife, without even being allowed to explain to her why he’s doing it. It’s a classic case of a joke building and building, until we get a traumatized Forrest declaring to his awful audience, “Perhaps I simply understood, from the darkest corner of my soul, that these pancakes couldn’t kill me, because I was already dead.” — A.S.

Homeland, “Q&A” (Season 2, Episode 5)

When this spy thriller about domestic terrorism ended its first season without brainwashed double agent Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) going through with a planned suicide bombing, it felt like a failure of nerve from the creators of a show that would have been best served as a one-and-done. But the first half of Season Two, featuring an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Brody and CIA analyst Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), was excellent, and led to the series’ single-best episode, where Brody gets arrested and Carrie is given a limited window to interrogate him in the hopes of turning him into an asset. Danes and Lewis put on a mesmerizing acting duet, so potent it’s easy to ignore a silly subplot about Brody’s daughter Dana (Morgan Saylor) and her boyfriend Finn (a young Timothée Chalamet) getting into a hit-and-run incident. It was largely downhill for Homeland from here, at least until the producers were finally willing to kill off Brody for real, but that takes nothing from “Q&A.” — A.S.

China Beach, “Hello Goodbye” (Season 4, Episode 16)

Long before cable and streaming dramas began to experiment with fractured timelines, there was the final season of this wildly underrated series about the staff of a U.S. Army hospital base during the Vietnam War. Episodes bounced back and forth between events at various points in the war and in the lives of nurse Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) and her surviving colleagues throughout the Seventies and Eighties. Much of the series finale takes place in 1988, as recovering alcoholic McMurphy warily attends a China Beach reunion event, then joins her pals in an impromptu (and incredibly poignant) visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. But “Hello Goodbye” also takes us back to China Beach one last time, to show us McMurphy caring for a dying soldier she knows she can’t save, as a closing reminder of the costs of war, whether or not you fight in them. — A.S.  

The Jeffersons, “Sorry, Wrong Meeting” (Season 7, Episode 14)

All in the Family , the parent show of The Jeffersons , had already done a story about the Ku Klux Klan four years prior to the KKK-themed “Sorry, Wrong Meeting.” But the very nature of the spinoff and its leading man made the latter episode feel anything like a rehash. A racist neighbor decides that he can’t tolerate the presence of Black tenants like George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and hosts a Klan rally to drive this undesirable element out of the building. But he invites the supremely WASPy Tom Willis (Franklin Cover), not realizing that Tom is best friends with George. Tom mistakenly assumes that the meeting will be about a recent spate of break-ins, and later suggests George attend with him. It’s a perfect set-up for both comedy and drama, as an oblivious George enters and cheers on what he thinks is rhetoric aimed solely at low-class criminals, rather than an upstanding businessman like himself, while the meeting’s vile host is shocked by his presence. But then some earlier business about CPR training leads to a great, dramatic climax: This spectacle agitates the Klan leader into a heart attack, and George turns out to be the only one in the room capable of saving the life of someone who thinks of him as less than human. — A.S.

What We Do in the Shadows, “On the Run” (Season 2, Episode 6)

For a show that specializes in absurdist, nonsensical humor, creator Jemaine Clement and company take it next-level with “On the Run.” The episode plucks pompous vampire Laszlo ( Matt Berry , who in July finally got an Emmy nomination for his work on this show) out of Staten Island, where he lives with four roommates — his undead wife Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), energy vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Prosch), 760-year-old Nandor (Kayvan Novak), and Nandor’s familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) — and relocates him to small-town Pennsylvania, where he’s hoping to escape an old friend (Mark Hamill) who’s come to collect on a nearly two-century-old debt of unpaid rent. A stranger in a strange land, Laszlo goes undercover as a “regular human bartender” named Jackie Daytona and, naturally, becomes an avid supporter of the local girls’ volleyball team. His disguise of dark-wash jeans and a toothpick is enough to fool his pursuer… until a mirror (and the removal of the toothpick from his mouth) exposes his true identity. Fully withdrawn from the show’s usual despondent setting, “On the Run” humorously plays Laszlo’s macabre nature against his desire to help 14-year-old girls make it to their state championship. What more could you want from a small-town, salt-of-the-earth bloodsucker? — CTJ

Friday Night Lights, “Mud Bowl” (Season 1, Episode 20)

When a train derailment near the school forces the relocation of a crucial playoff game, Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), seeking a neutral battleground, opts for the most retro possible site: a cow pasture that turns into a swampy mess after a downpour starts during the contest. While everyone else thinks the coach has lost his mind by eschewing a modern facility, he sees it as a back-to-basics location that will allow himself, his players, and the Dillon High School fans to reconnect with the pure essence of the sport, rather than all of the usual cynical distractions. In the same way, “Mud Bowl” provides the most concentrated blast of emotions that this most heart-tugging of all dramas ever provided: the joy of seeing the Panthers have fun and play well despite the weather conditions, and the horror of Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) barely fighting off a rapist while skipping the game to study. — A.S.

Better Things, “Batceañera” (Season 4, Episode 9)

Pamela Adlon’s stunning, semi-autobiographical comedy-drama about Sam Fox, a single mom-slash-actress raising three daughters, is packed with installments that feel worthy of being called the best, but “Batceñera” brilliantly captures what makes this underrated gem of a show so special. It opens with a surprise: Frankie (Hannah Alligood), Sam’s headstrong middle daughter, perfectly reenacting a Jerry Lewis bit from Who’s Minding the Store? set to composer Leroy Anderson’s “The Typewriter.” The heart of the episode is the blending of a bat mitzvah and a quinceañera for 15-year-old Frankie and her friend Reinita, respectively. The episode has everything: carnitas and knishes, a replica of Frida Kahlo’s suit, an all-female mariachi band, great needle-drops, poignant mother-daughter exchanges with each girl, Sam’s ex finally feeling a bit of proper shame for not being there for his kids, and much, much more. It’s a batceañera you never want to end. — Lisa Tozzi

The Honeymooners, “The Man From Space” (Episode 14)

For fans of The Honeymooners , it’s impossible to choose an all-time favorite episode, but like Jackie Gleason himself, “The Man From Space” is one of the greats. Originally airing on New Year’s Eve 1955, it pit Gleason’s blustering Ralph Kramden against his dimwitted pal o’ mine Ed Norton (Art Carney) in the Raccoon Lodge costume contest. Norton rents his outfit — a foppish French getup that’s supposed to evoke the engineer who built the sewers of Paris — while Ralph aims to prove he can do better by making a costume out of everyday items: a flashlight, the ice-box door, a kitchen pot as a helmet. His vision is “the man from space,” but neither his long-suffering wife Alice (Audrey Meadows) nor Norton take it that way. When the live audience finally sees Ralph emerge in all his resplendent glory, their reaction is unhinged, even as pieces of his spacesuit unexpectedly fall to the floor, teeing up a classic Gleason ad lib: “Let me have that,” he barks at Alice, “that’s my denaturizer.” The final scene at the costume party, with Norton barging in from his shift in the sewer in a gas mask, is one for the ages. — Joseph Hudak

Six Feet Under, “Everyone’s Waiting” (Season 5, Episode 12)

Alan Ball’s HBO drama usually kicked off its episodes with a grisly and/or highly ironic death. For the series finale, however, the showrunner opted for something a little different: He’d begin the last chapter of the Fisher family and their associates not with a life being snuffed out, but with a birth — and then he’d end the show not with one death, but a dozen. Having spent the bulk of its swan song tying up all of its loose narrative ends, Six Feet Under then shows us how every one of its surviving main characters would eventually shuffle off this mortal coil: Matriarch Ruth Fisher will die of old age with her family around her; Federico has a heart attack on a cruise ship; David’s security-guard husband Keith is murdered during a robbery, etc. Set to the Sia song “Breathe,” this justly praised montage doubles as a full-frontal assault on your tear ducts. It saves Claire’s passing for last, and before she takes her last breath at age 102, we see evidence of friends, loved ones, professional accolades, and personal memories all around her. For a series so devoted to sudden death, it goes out with a tribute to a long life well-lived. — David Fear

Columbo, “Etude in Black” (Season 2, Episode 1)

As rumpled homicide detective Lt. Columbo, Peter Falk was so superhumanly charming that he could have onscreen chemistry with a doorknob. But the iconic mystery series was at its best whenever Falk had a strong foil. This episode, with the dogged cop trying to prove a famous orchestra conductor murdered his mistress, has a home-field advantage in this regard, as the bad guy is played by Falk’s close friend and frequent collaborator John Cassavetes. Beyond the actors’ ease around one another, the dynamic crackles because the Columbo formula depends on the killers being too arrogant to assume this mumbling schnook could possibly outsmart them — and Cassavetes had a gift for playing smug and irritated. — A.S.

Friends, “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season 5, Episode 14)

The best Friends moments come from full-ensemble episodes (Season Three’s “ The One Where No One’s Ready ,” Season Seven’s “ The One With Monica’s Thunder ”) where all six buds join forces and create a killing floor of comedy. The result is always a propulsive 22 minutes that doesn’t have a single dull moment, and “ The One Where Everybody Finds Out ” is this dynamic at its best. Secret’s out: Everyone has found out about Monica and Chandler’s relationship (OK, maybe Ross is a little late), and the gang play a game of chicken, one-upping each other to see who cracks first. Phoebe’s line, “They don’t know that we know they know we know!” embodies everything great about this episode, and the wit and wordplay that make the series a classic. No surprise it was nominated for three Emmys. — A.M.

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