good books list to read

The Best Books: Recommended Reading List

The page is a reading list sharing the best books to read in various categories based on many hours of reading and research. You’ll find more than 100 good books to read, organized by category.

This is a reading list for people who don’t have time for unimportant books. I only list the best books to read in each category. You can be sure that each one is fantastic and will be worth your time.

Want to keep things simple? Check out the “10 Best” lists under the Start Here section to get some great book recommendations without feeling overwhelmed by all the options.

I. Start Here: The Best Books of All-Time

Looking for more good books to read? Click the links below to jump to a specific category.

• 10 Best Nonfiction Books
• 10 Best Fiction Books
• 10 Books with the Most Page-For-Page Wisdom
• 25 Best-Selling Books of All-Time
• 100+ Book Summaries

II. Best Nonfiction Books

These are the best nonfiction books to read, listed by category.

• Best Art and Creativity Books
• Best Biographies and Memoirs
• Best Business Books
• Best Fitness Books
• Best History Books
• Best Philosophy Books
• Best Psychology Books
• Best Science Books
• Best Self-Help Books
• Best Writing Books

III. Best Fiction Books

These are the best fiction books to read, listed by category.

• Best Novels of All-Time
• Best Fantasy Books
• Best Mystery Books

IV. Book Summaries

For many of the nonfiction books I read, I publish my personal notes and write a three sentence summary of the main ideas in the book. You can read all of these notes on my book summaries page .

V. How to Read More Books

I use a simple process to read a lot of books. If you’re interested in reading books more consistently, you may find it useful.

How to Read More: The Simple System I’m Using to Read 30+ Books Per Year

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The Greatest Books of All Time

Click to learn how this list is calculated.

This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page .

List Calculation Details

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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Ulysses by James Joyce

Set in Dublin, the novel follows a day in the life of Leopold Bloom, an advertising salesman, as he navigates the city. The narrative, heavily influenced by Homer's Odyssey, explores themes of identity, heroism, and the complexities of everyday life. It is renowned for its stream-of-consciousness style and complex structure, making it a challenging but rewarding read.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

This renowned novel is a sweeping exploration of memory, love, art, and the passage of time, told through the narrator's recollections of his childhood and experiences into adulthood in the late 19th and early 20th century aristocratic France. The narrative is notable for its lengthy and intricate involuntary memory episodes, the most famous being the "madeleine episode". It explores the themes of time, space and memory, but also raises questions about the nature of art and literature, and the complex relationships between love, sexuality, and possession.

7. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

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.

8. 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.

9. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

The novel is a detailed narrative of a vengeful sea captain's obsessive quest to hunt down a giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. The captain's relentless pursuit, despite the warnings and concerns of his crew, leads them on a dangerous journey across the seas. The story is a complex exploration of good and evil, obsession, and the nature of reality, filled with rich descriptions of whaling and the sea.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

This classic novel follows the adventures of a man who, driven mad by reading too many chivalric romances, decides to become a knight-errant and roam the world righting wrongs under the name Don Quixote. Accompanied by his loyal squire, Sancho Panza, he battles windmills he believes to be giants and champions the virtuous lady Dulcinea, who is in reality a simple peasant girl. The book is a richly layered critique of the popular literature of Cervantes' time and a profound exploration of reality and illusion, madness and sanity.

13. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

A young, impoverished former student in Saint Petersburg, Russia, formulates a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker to redistribute her wealth among the needy. However, after carrying out the act, he is consumed by guilt and paranoia, leading to a psychological battle within himself. As he grapples with his actions, he also navigates complex relationships with a variety of characters, including a virtuous prostitute, his sister, and a relentless detective. The narrative explores themes of morality, redemption, and the psychological impacts of crime.

14. 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.

15. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The book follows the Joad family, Oklahoma farmers displaced from their land during the Great Depression. The family, alongside thousands of other "Okies," travel to California in search of work and a better life. Throughout their journey, they face numerous hardships and injustices, yet maintain their humanity through unity and shared sacrifice. The narrative explores themes of man's inhumanity to man, the dignity of wrath, and the power of family and friendship, offering a stark and moving portrayal of the harsh realities of American migrant laborers during the 1930s.

16. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Set in the backdrop of the Napoleonic era, the novel presents a panorama of Russian society and its descent into the chaos of war. It follows the interconnected lives of five aristocratic families, their struggles, romances, and personal journeys through the tumultuous period of history. The narrative explores themes of love, war, and the meaning of life, as it weaves together historical events with the personal stories of its characters.

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

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.

18. 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.

19. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Madame Bovary is a tragic novel about a young woman, Emma Bovary, who is married to a dull, but kind-hearted doctor. Dissatisfied with her life, she embarks on a series of extramarital affairs and indulges in a luxurious lifestyle in an attempt to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life. Her desire for passion and excitement leads her down a path of financial ruin and despair, ultimately resulting in a tragic end.

20. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The novel follows the life of Jane Eyre, an orphan who is mistreated by her relatives and sent to a charity school. As she grows up, Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with the brooding and mysterious Mr. Rochester. However, she soon learns of a dark secret in his past that threatens their future together. The story is a profound exploration of a woman's self-discovery and her struggle for independence and love in a rigid Victorian society.

21. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The novel is a complex exploration of the tragic Compson family from the American South. Told from four distinct perspectives, the story unfolds through stream of consciousness narratives, each revealing their own understanding of the family's decline. The characters grapple with post-Civil War societal changes, personal loss, and their own mental instability. The narrative is marked by themes of time, innocence, and the burdens of the past.

22. 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.

23. Middlemarch by George Eliot

Set in the fictitious English town of Middlemarch during the early 19th century, the novel explores the complex web of relationships in a close-knit society. It follows the lives of several characters, primarily Dorothea Brooke, a young woman of idealistic fervor, and Tertius Lydgate, an ambitious young doctor, who both grapple with societal expectations, personal desires, and moral dilemmas. Their stories intertwine with a rich tapestry of other townsfolk, reflecting themes of love, marriage, ambition, and reform, making a profound commentary on the human condition.

24. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The novel follows the journey of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn and a runaway slave named Jim as they travel down the Mississippi River on a raft. Set in the American South before the Civil War, the story explores themes of friendship, freedom, and the hypocrisy of society. Through various adventures and encounters with a host of colorful characters, Huck grapples with his personal values, often clashing with the societal norms of the time.

25. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

This classic novel follows the journey of a seaman who travels up the Congo River into the African interior to meet a mysterious ivory trader. Throughout his journey, he encounters the harsh realities of imperialism, the brutal treatment of native Africans, and the depths of human cruelty and madness. The protagonist's journey into the 'heart of darkness' serves as both a physical exploration of the African continent and a metaphorical exploration into the depths of human nature.

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Our expert librarians selected the year's best books for kids, teens, and adults. Explore titles in accessible formats , and learn more about our 2023 picks .

Best Books for Adults 2023

Filter results below, 70 books found, above ground.

Smith delves into the profound shifts in our world today with these poems, fearlessly exploring fatherhood and generational heritage as a person of color. His odes to weathering the journey of parenthood and almost lullabies to his child are telling of a world in progress.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

The greatest pirate story you have not read… yet. Chakraborty forges a nautical masterpiece ideal for fans of Sinbad the Sailor, the Jack Aubrey series, and fantasy set in the historic Muslim world.

Against the Currant

Spice Isle Bakery in Brooklyn's Little Caribbean brings the delicious treats... and murder.

Age of Vice

After a speeding car kills five people late at night in New Delhi, the driver, a shell-shocked servant, is unable to explain the series of strange events that led to the crime.

All the Beauty in the World

More than just a portrait of an iconic NYC locale and its treasures by a former New Yorker staffer who spent a decade as a museum guard, this book is also a memoir about grief, healing, art, and reinvention.

Translated by Michelle Deeter | Evil comes in all ages in this dark thriller that captivated China.

The Bee Sting

Where did it all go wrong? A patch of ice on the tarmac, a casual favor to a charming stranger, a bee caught beneath a bridal veil—can a single moment of bad luck change the direction of life?

Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America

Julia Lee shares her journey of self-discovery as an Asian, reckoning with the racial hierarchies and challenging the divisions of a society informed by white supremacism in this blunt and passionate memoir.

Black Observatory: Poems

These sometimes absurd and even slightly surreal vignettes form a weird, witty, and engaging collection that often reads like well-crafted short stories. Murray has crafted an introspective work that remains clever while never taking itself too seriously.

Out in the desert in a place called the Palace, a young man tends to a dying soul, someone he once knew briefly but who has haunted the edges of his life.

Chain-Gang All-Stars

A novel in which two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America's own.

The Deep Sky: A Novel

The Earth is dying, and humanity places its hope on a single ship on a journey to a new home. The crew, tasked with birthing a new generation, soon finds themselves off course when a bomb is detonated, and Asuka is the prime suspect. Packed with suspense and an intricately woven plot, The Deep Sky is science fiction writing at its best.

Do a Powerbomb

When a necromancer makes aspiring wrestler Lona an offer she can't refuse, she must team up with her late mother's rival and enter a supernatural wrestling tournament. This heartwrenching story will appeal to both wrestling fans and the uninitiated.

Eight Billion Genies Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1

Art by Ryan Browne | If you could wish for anything in the world, what would it be? When the entire world is randomly gifted magical wish-granting genies, everything turns to chaos. This genre-defying story follows a motley crew just trying to survive in aftermath of "G-Day."

An ambitious, eye-opening, myth-busting, and groundbreaking history of the evolution of the female body. With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon covers the past 200 million years to explain the specific science behind the development of the female sex.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

In this homage to classic detective fiction, what happens when a family of killers gets snowed in at a ski resort? Murder, of course.

Everything Is Fine, Vol. 1

Follow a perfectly normal couple living on a perfectly normal street with perfectly normal neighbors, and perfectly normal stories within a perfectly normal police state. So it's all perfectly and completely normal.

A Fever in the Heartland

In the early 20th century, a charismatic conman named D.C. Stephenson became the impetus and architect of plans to bring the Ku Klux Klan out of the shadows and into the heartland of the U.S. This is the gripping story of the vulnerable woman who brought him down.

The Glutton

A historical novel set during the French Revolution is inspired by a young peasant boy turned showman, said to have been tormented and driven to murder by an all-consuming appetite.

The Great Displacement

The untold story of climate migration—the personal stories of those experiencing displacement, the portraits of communities being torn apart by disaster, and the implications for all of us as we confront a changing future.

A Guest in the House

Abby is uneasy in her new role as a stepmother, and as she learns more about her husband's first wife, a strange obsession overtakes her. This visually brilliant and engaging mystery seamlessly blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

When a skeleton is unearthed in a small, close-knit Pennsylvania community in 1972, an unforgettable cast of characters living on the margins of white, Christian America closely guard a secret. What happened? And what role did the town's white establishment play?

The Hive and the Honey: Stories

This collection of seven stories confronts themes of identity, belonging, and the collision of cultures across countries and centuries.

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

In 1889 Paris, heiress Manuela offers ambitious businesswoman Cora her Venezuelan property in exchange for one last thrilling summer before her impending marriage of convenience.

The Kingdom of Surfaces

Mao writes to escape being "trapped in someone else's imagination," literally shaping poems that challenge empire, cultural plunder, and the ongoing violence Asian people experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, both in the U.S. and her birthplace of Wuhan.

In Victorian London, Tommy, a Scotland Yard detective, and Imogen, a vigilante, have been circling one another since they met. But Imogen is unsure whom she can trust as they could be tied to a string of crimes she and her friends are investigating.

Land of Milk and Honey

High atop an unnamed Alp with the planet’s only breathable air, an aimless chef is hired to cook lavish meals for a mysterious cabal of plutocrats who've got a taste for weird meats—what could go wrong?

Last on His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century

Art by Youssef Daoudi | Bringing to life the story of eminent boxer Jack Johnson, this book follows his epic battles against famed prizefighters and Jim Crow era inequalities. The poetic dialogue and majestically raw illustrations capture the core of Johnson's experiences, both in and out of the ring.

The Last One

Welcome to the RMS Atlantica, a ship unlike any other. We wish you fair winds and calm seas.

Listen, Beautiful Márcia

Translated by Andrea Rosenberg | Márcia is a nurse living in a favela with her loyal boyfriend Alusio and her rebellious daughter Jacqueline, who creates trouble for them by getting involved with the local gang. This story is a gritty and human exploration of Márcia’s struggle to keep her family together.

The Man in the McIntosh Suit

Part film noir and part dizzying romance, this tale follows Bobot, Filipino American farmhand-turned-rogue investigator. With its shifting monochromatic watercolors and an expertly researched Depression-era setting, readers won't be able to put down this immigrant story.

Centered on Hungarian polymath John von Neumann, a prodigy whose gifts terrified those around him, this book shows the evolution of a mind unmatched and of a body of work that has unmoored the world in its wake, confronting us with profound questions we face as a species.

Marry Me by Midnight

In Victorian London, Jewish heiress Isabelle could lose everything unless she marries the right man. She secretly enlists synagogue custodian, Aaron, to research her potential matches but she quickly finds his understated charm irresistible.

The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed

Sana embraces the prospect of an arranged marriage to secure guardianship of her brother. But when an old love unexpectedly returns, she has to make a choice between her head and her heart.

Mrs. Nash's Ashes

With a storm grounding planes, a former child star, a writer, and an old friend's ashes find themselves on an adventurous road trip to the Florida Keys to reunite former lovers. Along the way, they discover a heartfelt wartime love story.

My Murder: A Novel

What if you had the chance to solve your own murder?

The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling with mobility, her relationship with Reid, and resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear—affordable housing lottery.

The New Guy

New to Brooklyn, Hudson and Gavin hit it off in a bar. They have no idea that they’re neighbors and colleagues on the same professional hockey team. Both have their own reasons to stay away, but their attraction to each other is unstoppable.

The Nigerwife: A Novel

Nicole has a picture perfect life in Lagos, until she goes missing and nobody cares. It's up to her estranged aunt to look under the glamorous surface in this glitzy domestic thriller.

No Sweet Without Brine

Manick embraces Black womanhood in poems that reference personal experience, social circumstance, and sources that range from familial diaries to Jet magazine. The resulting collection is a work that makes the personal a universal read.

Our Share of Night: A Novel

Disquieting slow burn of a horror novel set in 1980s Argentina. It starts with the story of a father and his son who is a medium and unfolds into a world of secrets and the occult.

Promises of Gold

Olivarez reps both his Mexican American heritage and Chicago homeland in this bilingual collection that addresses immigration, capitalism, community, and belonging, writing poems that pay homage to love in all its many forms.

If Twin Peaks , The X-Files , and Doctor Who had a baby from The Twilight Zone , you might come close to this madcap, noir sci-fi featuring one of the genre’s more memorable romances. Weaponized nostalgia makes for an unconventional foil for our protagonists.

The Quiet Tenant

“He seemed like such a nice guy.” Don’t they all?

Quiet: Poems

Quiet boldly explores Black interiority, intimacy, and selfhood, navigating the tension between guarding one's inner life and the realization that silence is not protection. The tone of these poems reflects perfectly the often-fraught negotiation between one's internal self and the surrounding world.

Forensic genius Antonia Scott and disgraced detective Jon Gutierrez must come together to catch a killer in this compelling thriller that took Spain by storm.

The Reformatory: A Novel

Like a haunted Nickel Boys , this fictionalized version of true events took the author 10 years to bring to fruition. You’ll be moved by this story of a boy who sees "haints."

Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair

Internet sensation and Handy Ma'am Mercury Stardust has created a comprehensive beginner's guide to basic home repair, including vocabulary, equipment, and processes to tackle over 50 projects (with video links for each).

The Seven Year Slip

Clementine opens the door to her late aunt’s Manhattan condo… and finds herself seven years in the past. Navigating her life between past and present, she tries to reconcile the differences between the sweet guy she meets there and the man he becomes.

Short Film Starring My Beloved's Red Bronco

Combining elegy and fantasy, this collection memorializes a youthful relationship and a former lover's eventual suicide. These wistful, ethereal, and sorrowful poems are both a love letter to the Beloved and also an elegy for an imagined youth free of abuse, homophobia, and fear.

Shubeik Lubeik

In a parallel, modern-day Egypt, djinns and wishes are a reality. But who gets the privilege of using a wish? Can wishes really fix everything? This story shows unique and varied magical experiences in a heartfelt, bittersweet, and humorous epic tale.

Side Notes from the Archivist: Poems

Anastacia-Reneé fearlessly explores the complexities of Black femme lives across time, space, and reality with an unapologetically feminist voice through these poems. This is an eclectic, well-curated archive of Black femme culture-making.

Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook

So much more than a collection of mouthwatering recipes, Start Here is an at-home culinary master class, sharing fundamental techniques, culinary science, and tips for all cooks, from the beginner to the seasoned home chef, to level-up in the kitchen.

Starter Villain

If you always suspected cats ruled the world, well, you weren’t wrong, as Charlie learns when he inherits his estranged uncle’s supervillain business that includes unionized dolphins, space lasers, and a formidable bodyguard.

You may already know Bell for his Pulitzer Prize–winning comics, but you will soon become familiar with his incredibly moving memoir. Through his art, Bell uses his witty yet intimate voice to expose the everyday and institutionalized racism he has experienced.

Thank You for Sharing

It all started at Jewish summer camp, and Liyah can’t let it go. However, after running into her former teenage fling turned enemy, Daniel, they agree to a truce as they work together to promote the Chicago Field museum.

Thin Skin: Essays

Shapland's essays examine vulnerability and how our choices impact people, places, and species far away. Weaving together historical research, interviews, and her everyday life in New Mexico, she probes the lines between self and work, human and animal, need and desire.

This Is Salvaged: Stories

Explores the nature of being a child, parent, friend, sibling, neighbor, or lover and the relationships between self and others. Everyone is unmoored and searching for meaning through one another.

To Be Named Something Else

Phenix's poetry struts across the page in a collection that celebrates a matriarchal lineage rooted in Harlem, with a nod to bodega etiquette and summertime fire hydrants. This exaltation of the quotidian raises common city experiences to poetic heights.

Translation State

It's suitably weird and she writes intergalactic diplomacy very well. Works best if you've read the Imperial Radch trilogy first.

Don't get in a car with a stranger. Yet, she walks the same solitary path every night, waiting to catch a ride with a killer.

Unshuttered: Poems

Smith reanimates the static images of 19th-century photographs of Black men, women, and children in these ekphrastic poems that imagine lives of dignity and totality. The collection creates an intimacy with the past that resonates long after its pages are shut.

Vengeance Is Mine

Translated by Jordan Stump | Hired by a man she vaguely remembers to defend his wife, who’s been accused of a horrific crime, quiet middle-aged lawyer Maître Susane finds unsettling memories coming to the surface while becoming increasingly concerned about her housekeeper’s furtive behavior.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Solving a mystery isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

We Could Be So Good

In 1950s New York City, two reporters—an Italian American Brooklynite and the Upper East Side-raised son of the newspaper's owner—go from colleagues to roommates, finding friendship and more as they navigate the social norms of the era.

When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era

Beginning with Reagan's war on drugs, Ramsey examines the crack epidemic. He exposes links between the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement and the consequences we live with today—a racist criminal justice system, mass incarceration, gentrification, and police brutality.

White Cat, Black Dog: Stories

Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, 17th-century French lore, and Scottish ballads, this clever collection of reinvented fairy tales expertly blends realism and the speculative as characters hunt for love, connection, revenge, or their sense of purpose.

This beautiful, meditative work of history puts women of all races—and the landscapes they loved—at center stage and reveals the impact of the outdoors (both nature and sports) on women's independence, resourcefulness, resistance, and vision.

With Love, from Cold World

Asa and Lauren are antagonistic colleagues at a failing winter-themed amusement park in Florida. Things heat up as they are forced to work together over the holidays to brainstorm ways to increase attendance.

Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons

Art by Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha & Nicola Scott | Steeped in Greek mythology, this book tells the formation of the Amazons through rebellious goddesses banding against the patriarchal order of Olympus. This story will entrance readers with its glorious depictions of raw feminine power.

The 100 Must-Read Books of 2022

Gripping novels, transporting poetry, and timely nonfiction that asked us to look deeper Andrew R. Chow, Lucy Feldman, Mahita Gajanan, Annabel Gutterman, Angela Haupt, Cady Lang, and Laura Zornosa

A Heart That Works

All the lovers in the night, all this could be different, an immense world, ancestor trouble, anna: the biography, bitter orange tree, the book of goose, butts: a backstory, calling for a blanket dance, the candy house, carrie soto is back, chef's kiss, civil rights queen, constructing a nervous system, cover story, the crane wife, the daughter of doctor moreau, dirtbag, massachusetts, ducks: two years in the oil sands, easy beauty, eating to extinction, the emergency, the employees, the escape artist, everything i need i get from you, the extraordinary life of an ordinary man, the family outing, fellowship point, fiona and jane, the furrows, getting lost, half american, the hero of this book, his name is george floyd, honey & spice, how far the light reaches, the hurting kind, i came all this way to meet you, i'm glad my mom died, if an egyptian cannot speak english, if i survive you, index, a history of the, the invisible kingdom, learning to talk, lesser known monsters of the 21st century, liberation day, life between the tides, the light we carry, lost & found, lucy by the sea, the man who could move clouds, maps of our spectacular bodies, the marriage portrait, mouth to mouth, the naked don't fear the water, night of the living rez, nightcrawling, now is not the time to panic, nuclear family, olga dies dreaming, our missing hearts, the rabbit hutch, the revolutionary: samuel adams, scattered all over the earth, the school for good mothers, shrines of gaiety, signal fires, siren queen, south to america, strangers to ourselves, ted kennedy: a life, this time tomorrow, time is a mother, tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, the trayvon generation, under the skin, when we were sisters, woman without shame, the world keeps ending, and the world goes on, young mungo.

by Rob Delaney

by Abdulrazak Gurnah

by Mieko Kawakami

by Sarah Thankam Mathews

by Maud Newton

by Nuar Alsadir

by Amy Odell

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by Jokha Alharthi

by Yiyun Li

by David Quammen

by Heather Radke

by Oscar Hokeah

by Jennifer Egan

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by CJ Hauser

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

by Lydia Millet

by Isaac Fitzgerald

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by Dan Saladino

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by Paul Newman

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by Tochi Onyebuchi

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by Elizabeth McCracken

by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

by Bolu Babalola

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by Jennette McCurdy

by Noor Naga

by Jonathan Escoffery

by Amy Bloom

by Dennis Duncan

by Meghan O’Rourke

by Hilary Mantel

by George Saunders

by Adam Nicolson

by Michelle Obama

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by Elizabeth Strout

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by Maggie O’Farrell

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This project is led by Lucy Feldman and Annabel Gutterman, with writing, reporting, and additional editing by Andrew R. Chow, Mahita Gajanan, Angela Haupt, Cady Lang, Rachel Sonis, and Laura Zornosa; photography editing by Whitney Matewe; art direction by Victor Williams; video by Erica Solano; audience strategy by Alex Hinnant, Kari Sonde, and Kim Tal; and production by Nadia Suleman.

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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jan 28

100 books to read before you die.

Prepare yourself for some frightening news: you have, according to LitHub , only a finite amount of time left in your life to read. The average American, for instance, reads 12 books a year. Assuming that you’re over 25 years old, that would mean that you only have approximately 700 books — max — in your future.

Are you suddenly feeling the tightening coil of mortality? Great. If you’re now wondering where you should start, we’ve got you covered. Here are 100 books to read before you die.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great books out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized book recommendation  😉

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1. 1984 by George Orwell

Set in 1984, Winston Smith must overcome a frightening enemy: an omniscient government with an agenda. This is the book that became a standard-bearer for dystopian fiction and introduced Big Brother into our everyday vocabulary. Perhaps the mightiest of George Orwell’s works.

2. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

A young boy and a slave in 19th-century Louisiana must find their way home — with only the Mississippi River for a guide. This slender book by Mark Twain’s is so well-regarded that it’s said by many to be The Great American Novel.

3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

In 1891, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published “A Scandal in Bohemia,” the first short story to feature Sherlock Holmes. Sharp and engrossing, this collection shows how exactly Sherlock Holmes became a cultural phenomenon and the most recognizable detective of all time.

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Written in only two weeks, The Alchemist has sold more than two million copies worldwide — and the magical story of Santiago’s journey to the pyramids of Egypt continues to enchant readers worldwide. A dreamy triumph.

5. The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges

Jorge Luis Borges’ keen insight and philosophical wisdom is on full display in this acclaimed short story collection. From “The Immortal” to “The House of Asterion,” the stories within are glittering, haunting examples of worlds created by a master of magic realism.

6. Animal Farm by George Orwell

When Old Major the boar dies on Manor Farm, two young pigs named Snowball and Napoleon rise to create new leadership in this allegorical book that is supposed to mirror the Russian Revolution of 1917 — and the ensuing Stalinist Soviet Union. Animal Farm is a stunning achievement, and not just because Orwell proved that a story about pigs can be terrifying.

7. Aesop's Fables by Aesop

This enduring collection of tales was passed down through oral tradition more than two millennia ago. More than simple stories, Aesop’s stories reflect every aspect of human nature.

8. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice is only a young seven-year old girl when she notices a White Rabbit with a pocket watch running by. Thus begins Alice’s adventures in a land that is not all that it seems. Lewis Carroll published this novel in 1865, sending it down the rabbit hole and straight into the hallowed halls of children’s most treasured literature.

9. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

If you like lengthy books in which to immerse yourself, then this is a real treat. This epic novel tells the parallel stories of Anna Karenina and Konstantin Levin over a span of 800+ pages — dealing with social change, politics, theology, and philosophy in nineteenth-century Russia all the while.

10. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

To read Anne of the Green Gables is to fall in love with its characters — particularly its protagonist, a fiery young girl with an imagination the size of castles. From coming-of-age arcs to the occasional drunken episode, this beloved classic by L.M. Montgomery has it all: laughs, pain, and heart.

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11. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

As William Faulkner attested: “I set out deliberately to write a tour-de-force. Before I ever put pen to paper and set down the first word I knew what the last word would be and almost where the last period would fall.” This is the grueling story of the Bundren family’s slow, tortuous journey to bury Addie, their wife and mother, in her hometown of Mississippi.  

12. Beloved by Toni Morrison

The winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and a finalist for the 1987 National Book Award, Beloved is Toni Morrison’s magnum opus about Sethe, a former slave whose house may or may not be haunted by the ghost of the baby she had to murder. A peerless work about slavery, race, and the bonds of family.  

13. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This children's book has an unmistakably distinct narrator — Death. Set in Nazi Germany, it follows Liesel, a young girl in her new foster care home. As the world around her begins to crumble, Liesel must find solace in books and the power of words.

14. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

One of the giants of the dystopian genre. Having already shaken up the literary world when it was first published, Brave New World is relevant even today as it urges readers to ask questions about autonomy, hedonism, and our definition of “utopia.”

15. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

In a testimony to Albert Einstein's admiration of The Brothers Karamazov , novelist C.P. Snow once wrote, " The Brothers Karamazov — that for him in 1919 was the supreme summit of all literature." You can step into Einstein’s footsteps yourself by reading this powerful, stirring meditation on God and the power of free will.

16. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, longs to return home. But that is a little hard when he is situated in the middle of nowhere — or, more specifically, the fictional island of Pianosa in the Mediterranean Sea. A searing satire that is defining of its times.

17. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Meet Holden Caulfield: a teenager who, with no plans in mind, decides to leave his boarding school in Pennsylvania and head back home to New York. In The Catcher in the Rye , J.D. Salinger has created perhaps the original “cynical adolescent” — and a wistful story about the meaning of youth.

18. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Eleven-year-old Charlie Bucket’s life is turned upside down when he finds a Golden Ticket that gives him access to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. So are young readers’ heads, as they experience the magic of the Chocolate Factory (and Oompa-Loompas) for the first time in Roald Dahl’s cherished children’s book.

19. Charlotte's Web by E. B White

Wilbur, the runt of his litter, is spared from certain death, thanks to a little girl named Fern. But his life takes a turn when he is sold to Homer Zuckerman, who eventually plans to butcher him, and meets a kind-hearted spider called Charlotte. Charlotte's Web is a staple of children’s literature — and the bestselling children’s paperback of all time.

20. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

In the 1890s, a young dog named Buck hears the call of the wild. But can he answer it, especially when nature and man’s cruelty are stacked against him? This rugged, gripping novel has inspired millions of adventures for many years.

21. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

It is an indeterminate year in the future and Alex is arrested by the government in the midst of an ultraviolent youth cultural rebellion. A Clockwork Orange is one of the most enduring examinations of good and evil, and what it means to be free to choose one or the other.

22. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

Reading P.G. Wodehouse is one of the few things in life that will reliably delight. And The Code of the Woosters is Wodehouse at his sparkling best: a romp through Britain with an uproarious cast, including Jeeves, Bertie, and cow-creamers.

23. The Collected of Edgar Allan Po by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is synonymous with horror today and this is the collection that proves it. Packed with his best short stories, including “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” it completely presents Poe’s dark imagination and uncanny ability to capture the shadowy depths of the human heart.

24. The Color Purple: A Novel by Alice Walker

The acclaimed story of two women and the strength of their bond in the racist society of 1980s America. The Color Purple won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, deservedly making Alice Walker the first African-American woman to receive the award.

25. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Young Coraline Jones has just moved into an old house when she discovers a mysterious door. What lies beyond might even be beyond the limits of your wildest imagination in this dark fantasy novella that has become a universal favorite.

26. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Edmond Dantès, a young Frenchman, is falsely accused and imprisoned without trial in an island fortress off the coast of France — until the day he escapes and sets out to avenge himself. The Count of Monte Cristo is revenge tale for the ages.

27. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

In this 1866 epic novel, a poor student in St. Petersburg makes the fateful decision to rob and kill an elderly pawnbroker for her money. The work that made Fyodor Dostoevsky one of the greats, Crime and Punishment remains a hallmark study of greed, morality, and the dangers of radicalism.

28. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Narrated by Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year old with autism, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is the story of the night that Christopher finds a dead dog — and the fallout. Haddon invites readers to see the world through another’s eyes in this captivating mystery novel with a twist that instantly became one of the must-read books of the 21st-century.

29. The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes

Lying on his deathbed, corrupt soldier and politician Artemio Cruz is surrounded by family and a priest as they attempt to coax him into confessing his betrayals and crooked dealings. The Death of Artemio Cruz is a milestone in the boom of Latin-American literature .

30. Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Lu Xun

Inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s short story of the same title, “Diary of a Madman” made Lu Xun one of the leading Chinese writers of his time. But there’s more to Xun than just “Diary of a Madman,” as evidenced by this complete collection of his short stories.

Are you craving more short story collections like Diary of a Madman and Other Stories? You can get your fill in this post that has 21 of the best short story collections .

31. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Anne Frank was 13 years old when she and her family went in hiding. Of the diary that was published posthumously by Frank’s father, John F. Kennedy once said: "Of all the multitudes who throughout history have spoken for human dignity in times of great suffering and loss, no voice is more compelling than that of Anne Frank."

32. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Few authors are so exalted that they’re recognized by their first names, and even fewer books are as lofty as The Divine Comedy . Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven is a feat of imagination and an undisputed giant in world literature.

33. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Considered one of the greatest works in the pantheon of world literature, Don Quixote follows the ill-fated adventures of Alonso Quixano: a middle-aged man who loses his sanity and believes himself to be one of the knights in shining armor he has read about in chivalric books.

34. Dracula by Bram Stoker

A small band of friends must stop Count Dracula from coming to England and spreading the curse of the undead all over the continent. Published in 1897, Dracula boasts the original vampire and lastingly re-defined gothic fantasy.

35. Emma by Jane Austen

In Regency England, a young woman named Emma Woodhouse is determined to matchmake the friends around her. Hijinks and plenty of revelations of the heart ensue. Of her titular character, Jane Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." But anyone who reads the book will end up falling in love with imperfect and high-spirited Emma.

36. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Perhaps the singular work that doubles as both an incisive commentary on mass media and a bookworm’s worst nightmare. In Ray Bradbury’s towering dystopian masterpiece, Guy Montag is a conflicted fireman who is intimately familiar with fahrenheit 451: the temperature at which books burn.

37. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The grandfather of monster fiction, Frankenstein has fanned the imaginations of horror and suspense lovers around the world. Mary Shelley’s enduring legacy of a mad scientist and his tortured, anguished creation (with a badass name ) is to this day considered to be the first science-fiction book ever written.

38. The Giver by Lois Lowry

12-year old Jonas lives in a seemingly utopian society. However, when he is assigned to take over as the next Receiver of Memory, he discovers that there’s more to his community than meets the eye. An astute, lyrical children’s book.  

39. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

A retelling of John Milton’s Paradise Lost for the 21st century, The Golden Compass transports readers into a world of animal familiars, parallel universes, and brave young girls who could make a difference.

40. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

“Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. Goodnight cow jumping over the moon.” Beautiful illustrations and perfect rhyme have made Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon a cherished favorite of children everywhere.

41. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Pip’s journey from a poor apprentice to a gentleman has become the stuff of literary legend. First published in 1861, Great Expectations remains one of Charles Dickens’ finest and most famous works .

42. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

When Nick Carraway settles down in decadent 1920s New York for a summer, he has no idea what awaits him in the booming parties, Daisy Buchanan, and the mysterious figure at the center of it all, Jay Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald has crafted a masterwork for the ages and a haunting contemplation of the American Dream.

43. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Often said to be Disney for grown-ups. Beware: Grimm's Fairy Tales are much crueler and cruder than the stories that most children know.

44. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Savage and brilliant, Jonathan Swift bends his satirical eye on humankind himself in Gulliver’s Travels . Gulliver's Travels is one of the bestselling parodies of all time for a reason.

45. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Who is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark — and is he truly seeing the ghost of his father or is he going mad? William Shakespeare’s most famous work boasts not only one of the most quoted lines in history (“To be or not to be”), but also the complex character who ever belonged on stage (Hamlet).

46. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

In this terrifying vision of the future, Margaret Atwood imagines a society governed by gender discrimination. More than a tour de force in the dystopian genre, The Handmaid’s Tale is a grim, evergreen inquisition of identity, marriage, and what it means to be free.

47. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

The worldwide phenomenon of the boy who lived is known by pretty much every child and adult alive today, but if you haven’t given it a chance yet, this is the time to do it. Follow eleven-year-old Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they grow up, study magic, and learn how to defeat the Dark Lord — and try to make it out alive.

Have you read Harry Potter and you're not sated yet? Don't forget to check out these 20 great books like Harry Potter .

48. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Charles Marlow is dispatched to the Congo in Africa on behalf of a Belgian trading company — but he gets more than he bargained for in the jungle’s literal heart of darkness. A grim masterpiece that catapulted Joseph Conrad among the ranks of the great writers.  

49. Here's to You, Jesusa! by Elena Poniatowska

Fiery and penetrating, this passionate story of one of Mexico’s most challenging times provides the unique perspective of women in the midst of heated combat as they struggle to survive.

50. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Arthur Dent is the only man who survived the destruction of Earth. Now he must journey through the galaxy, alongside an alien writer who’s working on an electronic book that’s only called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy .

51. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins only wanted a peaceful dinner party. What he gets instead is something that’s not perhaps to his taste: a band of twelve dwarves in his house, a dragon to defeat, and an epic adventure. And it all begins with this iconic first line: “In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit.”

52. Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats is that unlucky boy who gets sent to Camp Green Lake: a Texan juvenile corrections facility where boys dig holes all day in a dried-up lake. In this popular children’s book, three storylines intertwine to solve century-old mysteries.

53. Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar

An ingenious, one-of-a-kind novel — literally. The story of Horacio Oliveira, a well-read bohemian, is divided into 155 chapters that can be read in multiple orders: sequentially or by following the suggested reading guide, which prompts readers to jump around various chapters and makes 99 of the 155 chapters expendable.

54. The Iliad by Homer

Having been born into an age of heroes and warriors, Homer created a work of art that was deserving of them. Relive the fall of Troy and the glory of Achilles in this epic poem that has survived for a couple thousand years and counting.

55. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

A young black man grows up in the South before moving to New York and becoming a spokesman for “the Brotherhood” in 1950s Harlem. Invisible Man is key part of American literature that probingly examines racism, black identity, and why some are more invisible in society than others.

56. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

This landmark novel that re-defined narrative consciousness centers on the eponymous Jane Eyre , an orphan born in 1800s England. As Jane grows up, she takes her destiny into her own hands — which becomes particularly poignant when she meets the brooding Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall.

57. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

This definitive science fiction novel shares the story of Otto Lidenbrock: a professor who ventures to nowhere else but the center of the Earth with his nephew Axel, and Hans, a guide.

58. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Considered by many to be one of the most luminous literary works of the 19th-century, Les Misérables spans the tumultuous 17 years from 1815 to 1932, during which politics, justice, religion, and love all come to a head in the June Rebellion in Paris.

59. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Pi Patel is only a young boy when his freighter to North America sinks and he’s stuck on a small lifeboat with an orangutan, a hyena — and a tiger. Dramatic, humorous, and thoughtful, Yann Martel’s book made waves when it was published in 2001.

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

Lions, witches, talking fauns, and Turkish delights — oh my! C.S. Lewis’ allegorical story about the four Pevensie siblings who walk into a closet and disappear into the land of Narnia has captivated children (and adults) for decades.

61. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Not many stories are as unanimously beloved as this short one by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Once readers find themselves the shoes of the little prince and seeing through his eyes, they won’t be able to look away.

62. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The four March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy — grow up and come of age in this seminal work of family drama. They might be women, but they are by no means little in the halls of great literature.

63. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

The story of Humbert Humbert’s obsessive quest for 12-year old Dolores Haze has haunted and captivated audiences for decades. Lolita is dark, sardonic, and ultimately genius study of madness and unreliability.  

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

No author casts a greater shadow over one genre quite like J.R.R. Tolkien and epic fantasy . Start here with the trilogy that launched it all: The Lord of the Rings and Frodo’s quest to rid Middle-Earth of Sauron once and for all.

65. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fell in love when they were young and were untimely torn apart by Fermina’s father. But what happens when Florentino never forgets about Fermina — and decides to make his intentions known again after fifty years of separation? Love in the Time of Cholera is a towering magical realist classic.

66. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Who is Madame Bovary? Gustave Flaubert once replied: “Madame Bovary, c'est moi.” And so he does show through this undisputedly great novel that Madame Bovary — a longing, brutally, introspective, hedonistic woman — lives in all of us.

67. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

What would you do if you wake up one morning and discover that you are now an insect? Franz Kafka answers this burning question in this short novel, regarded by many as a master stroke of genius.

68. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Man faces off against white whale in this 700-page story that remains one of the grandest works about morality and the nature of obsession. A must-read, and not just for the adventure.

69. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Clarissa Dalloway said that she would buy the flowers herself, or so begins Mrs Dalloway . More than a mere story, Virginia Woolf breathes new life into stream of consciousness storytelling in this probing, gentle, and deeply transformative portrait of one ordinary woman’s mind.

70. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The most famous of Christie’s detective stories featuring Monsieur Poirot and his formidable ‘grey cells.’ When a snowstorm grounds the luxurious Orient Express, death ensues onboard — and it’s up to the detective to piece together the puzzle, especially since everyone on the train seems to have an alibi. Looking for more books by the Mistress of Mystery? We've got you covered with the 10 best Agatha Christie books .

71. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

George Milton and Lennie Small make an odd couple, working on California’s dusty ranches and dreaming of a shack of their own. But all might be lost when they move to a new farm — even each other. This is Steinbeck at his peak in this heart-wrenching story about friendship and loss. (And he didn't just write one amazing book — head to our guide to the 15 best John Steinbeck books to discover more!)

72. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

In this short novel, Santiago is an old fisherman who one day happens upon a marlin that might be able to make him rich. One of Hemingway’s best , The Old Man and the Sea won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.

73. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Young Oliver Twist is an orphaned boy living on the streets when he escapes to London in the 1800s. But that’s just the start of his story, as Oliver goes on to befriend a gang of juvenile thieves — and a pickpocket named The Artful Dodger.  

74. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez covers seven generations of one family while exploring themes of fatalism, subjectivity, death, and time in a world where magical elements combine seamlessly with real life. One of the most important works in Spanish literature and a landmark of magical realism in its own right.

75. One Thousand and One Nights by Unknown

You might vaguely know the gist of the story behind One Thousand and One Arabian Nights , but have you ever actually read it before? This is the must-read translation, as new bride Scheherazade must wittily come up with new tales to escape her execution night after night.

76. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

Adela Quested is to be engaged to Ronny Moore in Chandrapore, which necessitates a journey to India in the 1920s. This novel, regarded as one of the must-read books of the twentieth century, was instrumental in launching a postcolonial discourse against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement.

77. Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo

In the town of Comala, where ghosts are indistinguishable from the living, young Juan Preciado goes to look for his estranged father. In his only published novel, Rulfo weaves together a story that’s told in such a way that readers are left wondering who’s truly alive and who's dead — and whether there’s more to the town than first meets the eye.

78. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

From the mind of Norton Juster comes a magical journey. Milo is a young boy who’s beyond bored of everything — that is, until a tollbooth appears in his room one day and transports him into a land that’s the opposite of dull. The Phantom Tollbooth is a classic children's fantasy.

79. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

You won’t find many characters like Pippi Longstocking. Freckled, red-haired, and nine-years old, Pippi also happens to be the strongest girl in the world: she can lift a horse with one hand . Think of all the adventures she can go on with strength like that!

80. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The source of film and TV adaptations, sequels, and several hundred reimaginings, Pride and Prejudice is one of the cornerstones of English literature. Through wit, sarcasm, and humor, this 19th-century novel centers on the five unmarried (gasp!) Bennet sisters while exploring themes of family, society, and, yes, love.

81. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Stevens, a butler in post-World War II England, takes a trip through the countryside. This celebrated novel is all the more powerful for its deceptive simplicity, as it shows that the quietest stories are sometimes the most dangerous.

82. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s masterpiece tells the story of two young lovers separated by a bitter family feud. Featuring one of the most well-known couples ever, Romeo and Juliet has launched a legion of fans.

83. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The Baudelaire siblings have the worst luck ever. No wonder their stories are called A Series of Unfortunate Events . First their parents die in a fire, then they are shipped off to a remote house — and then they discover that their new caretaker, Count Olaf, wants to kill them! Now they must have their wits about them and rely on each other more than ever if they are to survive Count Olaf’s schemes.

84. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Young Daniel Sampere finds The Shadow of the Wind in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. In this story-within-a-story, Daniel uncovers the mystery behind the book’s author and must now protect it from someone who’s determined to burn every single copy in existence.

85. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Under Kurt Vonnegut’s sure touch, Billy Pilgrim’s journey through time during World War II is rendered scathingly well, making Slaughterhouse-Five one of the most greatest anti-war books ever written.

86. The Sound of the Mountain by Yasunari Kawabata

As the patriarch of his family in Kamakura, Ogata Shingo is troubled when his memory begins failing and he keeps hearing the mountains shaking in his sleep. A sparse and beautiful meditation on old age from a celebrated Nobel Prize-winning author.  

87. The Stranger by Albert Camus

In Albert Camus’ own words: “In our society any man who does not weep at his mother's funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death.” Such is the absurdity of life that Meursault faces in this dense crowning jewe l of Camus’ career.

88. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

Dating to the early years of the eleventh-century, this ancient classic of Japanese literature is the famous portrayal of Hikaru Genji’s life, love affairs, and aristocratic customs in Heian Period Japan.

89. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

The first novel in an acclaimed trilogy, Things Fall Apart is the seminal novel of the African experience. More than that, it is a wrenching tragedy of one man’s futile fight against change as British rule overcomes the land.

90. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

In this classic novel of adventure, d’Artagnan is a young man in search of his destiny when he joins the Musketeers of the Guard. But his life intertwines inextricably with another’s journey when he meets Athos, Porthos, and Aramis: the King’s most elite musketeers.

91. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Scout Finch is an ordinary girl living with her brother and father in Alabama when the arrest of a black man, Tom Robinson, upends everyone’s lives. A coming-of-age in the South becomes a gripping courtroom thriller in this Pulitzer Prize-winning book that may rank up there as one of the most beloved books of all time .

92. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Buried gold is the name and pirates are the game in this 1883 story by Robert Louis Stevenson, which became the definitive adventure book for many generations of readers.

93. Ulysses by James Joyce

Controversial and magnificent, Ulysses is James Joyce’s answer to the modernist movement: a puzzlingly sweeping novel that centers on the day of one Leopold Bloom in Dublin.

94. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Up there as one of the greatest works ever written, War and Peace is Tolstoy’s epic account of two young men and one young woman, as they stand amidst the swirling spectre of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812.

95. Watership Down by Richard Adams

Hazel, Fiver, Blackberry, and crew are the hardiest band of adventurers that you’ll ever meet, with one caveat: they’re rabbits. And they’re on the escape, looking for a new warren to call home. Watership Down is a classic for children and adults alike.

96. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Haven’t you read Winnie the Pooh yet? Think, think, think! No? Gosh, you really haven’t? Oh, bother! Well, don’t worry, there’s still time to fix that catastrophic error by picking up this cornerstone of children’s literature and joining Winnie, Piglet, and friends on the journey of a lifetime.

97. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

A young and distressed woman dressed entirely in white one day appears to Walter Hartright, kicking off the plot of The Woman in White , often described as one of the finest mystery novels ever written.  

98. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Dorothy and friends go on an adventure, and who knows what awaits them at the end of the Yellow Brick Road? Frank L. Baum’s treasured classic was famously adapted into the first color film ever made, which is befitting of this whimsical, charmingly bright story.

99. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night… when Mrs. Whatsit walks through the door of 13-year old Meg Murry’s house, shortly followed by Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. A bewitching, groundbreaking fantasy that's a feat of worldbuilding by a master of the genre.

100. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë's only novel is a staggering tour de force: a violent, gothic tragedy about the passionate, tempestuous affair between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff — and the havoc that it threatens to wreak upon the moors.

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•   Must reads: 50 best books of all time

Must reads: 50 best books of all time

Our edit of the best books to read is the perfect literary bucket list. from prize-winners to controversial classics that got everyone talking – these are must-read books before you die. .

So many books, so little time. Many book lovers know the temptation of buying a beautiful new hardback, but what are the essential must reads? Spanning all genres and periods, our edit of the best books to read before you die is here to help.  

• Literary fiction books
• Classic books
• Sci-fi and fantasy books
• Non-fiction books
• Crime and thriller books
• Historical fiction books
• Books in translation
• Dystopian books

Literary books to read before you die

Shuggie bain, by douglas stuart.

Set in a poverty-stricken Glasgow in the early 1980s, Douglas Stuart’s Booker Prize-winning debut is a heartbreaking story which lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty and the limits of love. Agnes Bain has always dreamed of greater things, but when her husband abandons her she finds herself trapped in a decimated mining town with her three children, and descends deeper and deeper into drink. Her son Shuggie tries to help Agnes long after her other children have fled, but he too must abandon her to save himself. Shuggie is different, and he is picked on by the local children and condemned by adults. But he believes that if he tries his hardest he can escape this hopeless place.

A Little Life

By hanya yanagihara.

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and celebrated as ‘the great gay novel’ , Hanya Yanagihara’s immensely powerful story of brotherly love and the limits of human endurance has had a visceral impact on many a reader. Willem, Jude, Malcolm and JB meet at college in Massachusetts and form a firm friendship, moving to New York upon graduation. Over the years their friendships deepen and darken as they celebrate successes and face failures, but their greatest challenge is Jude himself – an increasingly broken man scarred by an unspeakable childhood. This is a book that will stay with you long after the last page.

White Noise

By don delillo.

Jack Gladney is the creator and chairman of Hitler studies at the College-on-the-Hill. This is the story of his absurd life; a life that is going well enough, until a chemical spill from a train carriage releases an ‘Airborne Toxic Event’ and Jack is forced to confront his biggest fear – his own mortality. The combination of social satire and metaphysical dilemma that Don DeLillo uses to expose our rampant consumerism and media saturation makes White Noise an unmissable work of modern fiction. 

American Psycho

By bret easton ellis.

One of the most controversial and talked-about novels in modern history, American Psycho is the story of Patrick Bateman, a New York City high-flier with a penchant for fine wines, slickly cut suits and brutal murder. As Bateman's obsession with his hedonistic passions comes to a head, he descends into madness, with macabre and darkly comedic repercussions. Read more about the controversial history of American Psycho .

Blood Meridian

By cormac mccarthy.

Written in 1985, Blood Meridian is set in the anarchic world opened up by America’s westward expansion. Through the hostile landscape of the Texas–Mexico border wanders the Kid, a fourteen year-old Tennessean who is quickly swept up in the relentless tide of blood. But the apparent chaos is not without its order: while Americans hunt Indians – collecting scalps as their bloody trophies – they too are stalked as prey. Powerful, mesmerizing and savagely beautiful, Blood Meridian is considered one of the most important works in American fiction of the last century.

The Line of Beauty

By alan hollinghurst.

This Booker Prize-winning novel bottles the essence of the 1980s, as the story follows a quest for beauty against a backdrop of politics, greed and friendships turned toxic. When twenty-year-old Nick Guest moves into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the wealthy Feddens he is innocent of politics and money. But as he is swept up into the Feddens’ world, Nick must confront the collisions between his own desires, and a world he can never truly belong to. Alan Hollinghurst’s writing style is both stripped back and poetic, and its sensitivity makes this book a true standout. 

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love. But when they both depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West, they are divided – Ifemelu heads for America, while Obinze plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. It takes fifteen years for them to be reunited again in a newly democratic Nigeria where their passion for their homeland – and each other – can finally blossom. A fearless, gripping novel that spans three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a must-read story of love and expectation set in a modern globalized world. 

The God of Small Things

By arundhati roy.

This Booker Prize-winning novel and 1990s literary sensation follows fraternal twins, Rahel and Estha, in the state of Kerala, India in 1969. Armed only with the invincible innocence of children, they fashion a childhood for themselves in the shade of the wreck that is their family. But when their English cousin and her mother arrive for a Christmas visit, the twins learn that things can change in a day. Covering themes of love, madness and hope, this story uncoils with an agonizing sense of foreboding and inevitability. Yet, readers will not be prepared for what lies at the heart of it. 

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The best literary fiction to read right now

Classic books to read before you die, by charlotte brontë.

Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece introduced the world to one of fiction's most memorable protagonists. As a child, orphan Jane Eyre suffers under cruel guardians and harsh schooling, but her indomitable spirit shines through against the greatest odds, and when she takes a position as governess at Thornfield Hall, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with the brooding master of the house. An enduring love story and undisputed classic, Jane Eyre is full of passion, mystery, tragedy, and a strong-willed and beloved heroine. 

Pride and Prejudice

By jane austen.

Named one of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World, a copy of Pride and Prejudice is a worthy addition to any bookshelf. The story   shows how the headstrong Elizabeth Bennet and the aristocratic Mr Darcy must have their pride humbled and their prejudices dissolved before they can acknowledge their love for each other. Jane Austen serves up laughs, romance, sharp observations, life lessons and characters that still feel vividly alive today. A universally acknowledged classic.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

By arthur conan doyle.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes  is perhaps the greatest collection of detective stories ever written. From his residence at 221B Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes solves a series of baffling and bizarre cases, including those of a man terrified by the arrival of an envelope containing orange pips, and a woman whose fiancé disappeared on his way to their wedding. Each story showcases the great detective's inimitable and extraordinary deductive powers, recounted to us by his faithful friend and colleague, Dr Watson.

Don Quixote

By miguel de cervantes.

Cervantes’s satirical observation of the human condition is classed as Europe’s first ‘modern’ novel and has sold over 500 million copies since it was first published in the early seventeenth-century. It follows Don Quixote and Sancho Panza – one of the original comedy duos – as they journey through sixteenth-century Spain in search of adventure. They face spirits, evil enchanters and giants in a quest to perform acts of valour worthy of Dulcinea, his lady love. Cervantes's words have made an impact across the globe with the book celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2005. 

David Copperfield

By charles dickens.

Partly modelled on Dickens’s own experiences,  David Copperfield  follows the eponymous hero from childhood struggles to a successful career as a novelist. Dickens' early scenes are particularly masterful, depicting the world as seen from the perspective of a fatherless small boy. David's idyllic life with his mother is then ruined when she marries again, this time to a domineering and cruel man. The great joy of this book lies in the outlandish cast of characters that Dickens vividly portrays in ways that will make you both laugh and cry. Dickens described David Copperfield as his ‘favourite child’ – and it is easy to see why. 

Wuthering Heights

By emily brontë.

A dark, haunting tale of passionate and destructive love, Wuthering Heights is one of the great romantic novels of the nineteenth century. Cathy and Heathcliff form an intense bond, but despite their love Cathy marries a rich suitor. But neither can forget the other, and while Cathy becomes increasingly unhappy, Heathcliff is driven by a lust for revenge that will echo through generations. Set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, this is a dark novel with complicated characters who will hover doggedly in your thoughts long after the final page. 

The Great Gatsby

By f. scott fitzgerald.

Despite selling less than 20,000 copies in the first year of its publication,  The Great Gatsby  is now established as a literary classic. Gatsby lives mysteriously in a luxurious Long Island mansion, playing lavish host to hundreds of people. And yet no one seems to know him or how he became so rich. But Gatsby cares for one person alone – Daisy Buchanan. Little does he know that his infatuation will lead to tragedy and end in murder. A glittering but cynical portrait of the American Dream that beautifully captures the flamboyance and cruelty of America's Jazz Age, it is no wonder Fitzgerald’s novel has been adapted so many times.

Middlemarch

By george eliot.

A masterpiece of candid observation, emotional insight and transcending humour,  Middlemarch  is a truly monumental novel. Dorothea Brooke is a young woman set on filling her life with good deeds. She pursues the pompous Edward Casuabon, convinced that he embodies these principles, and becomes trapped in an unhappy marriage. Then there is Tertius Lydgate, an anguished progressive whose determination to bring modern medicine to the provinces is muddied by unrequited love. One of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World, Middlemarch explores almost every subject of concern to modern life and so remains as culturally relevant today as it has ever been. 

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

By frederick douglass.

Portraying a key moment in the anti-slavery movement, this unique memoir tells the incredible story of a man's escape from enslavement and journey to freedom. Maryland, 1818. Frederick Douglass is born into a life of slavery. Spending his youth being passed from enslaver to enslaver, city to field, he is subjected to unimaginable cruelty. After eventually managing to escape, his memoir became hugely influential in the abolition of slavery, a goal that Douglass devoted his live to. In doing so, he has become one of the most celebrated political theorists in the world. 

Classic books to read at least once in your lifetime

Sci-fi and fantasy books to read before you die, children of time, by adrian tchaikovsky.

Adrian Tchaikovksy's critically acclaimed novel  Children of Time , is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet. Who will inherit this new Earth? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age – a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. Followed by Children of Ruin and Children of Memory , Adrian Tchaikovsky's space opera series is world-building at its finest. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

By douglas adams.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  has been a radio show, TV show, stage play, comic book and film, and is and a work of utter comic genius by Douglas Adams. Since publication, it quickly became what can only be described as a phenomenon. A comedy sci-fi classic, this laugh-out-loud romp through space is the first of five books in the 'trilogy', and sees protagonist Arthur Dent narrowly escape the destruction of Earth by hitching a ride on a spaceship with his alien best friend Ford Prefect. And if nothing else, Arthur Dent will at least remind you to never forget a towel. 

War of the Worlds

By h. g. wells.

The inspiration for countless science fiction stories and novels, H. G. Wells’s classic is a must for any sci-fi fan’s bookshelf. Shooting stars tear across the night sky, then a gigantic artificial cylinder descends from Mars to land near London. Inquisitive locals gather round, only to be struck down by a murderous Heat-Ray. Can humanity survive this Martian onslaught? Written in semi-documentary style, the 1938 radio adaptation famously caused panic when listeners believed the fictional new bulletins were real. This novel about a terrifying alien invasion still grips readers to this day. 

Frankenstein

By mary shelley.

Mary Shelley's story of a man who creates a monster he cannot control was a precursor of modern science fiction and a must-read for any sci-fi fans wanting to understand the history of the genre. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but wayward scientist, builds a human from dead flesh. Horrified at what he has done, he abandons his creation. The hideous creature learns language and becomes civilized but society rejects him. Spurned, he seeks vengeance on his creator. In 1831, Mary Shelley succumbed to conservative pressures and toned down elements of the work; this edition presents the work as originally intended.

by Colson Whitehead

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead was inspired to write this apocalyptic sci-fi novel because of his teenage fascination with the work of Stephen King and Issac Asimov. A plague has ravaged the planet, and the population is divided into the living and the living dead. Mark Spitz is working on a task force to clear the infested from ‘Zone One’. He undertakes the mundane mission of malfunctioning zombie removal, the rigours of Post-Apocalypic Stress Disorder all while attempting to come to terms with a fallen world. But little does Mark Spitz know, things will quickly turn from bad to worse. 

by Frank Herbert

Before  The Matrix , before  Star Wars , before  Ender's Game  and  Neuromancer , there was  Dune –  widely considered one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever written. Melange, or 'spice', is the most valuable - and rarest - element in the universe. And it can only be found on a single planet: the inhospitable desert world Arrakis. Whoever controls Arrakis controls the spice. And whoever controls the spice controls the universe. Against this backdrop, man as a political animal is laid completely bare and pertinent themes are explored, making Dune one of the epic sci-fi novels of the twentieth century. 

Stories of Your Life and Others

By ted chiang.

The debut collection from Ted Chiang, Stories of Your Life and Others features eight short stories exploring science fiction and the human experience, written in the author’s inimitable style. Each story explores a different world – from a flat Earth connected to the highs above by a soaring tower to alien worlds with unique concepts of reality – and the titular story which inspired the Academy-award-winning film Arrival , this collection is a fantastic introduction to the work of one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. 

The best new sci-fi books of 2023, and of all time

Non-fiction books to read before you die, by john carreyrou.

Bad Blood is the inside story of the astounding rise and shocking collapse of Theranos, a multibillion-dollar biotech startup founded by Elizabeth Holmes. Brilliant Stanford dropout Holmes created a startup which promised to transform the medical industry. The company was valued at more than $9 billion, making Holmes herself a billionaire. But there was just one problem: the technology didn't work. This gripping true-life tale of corporate fraud has been made into an HBO series, The Dropout starring Amanda Seyfried, and will later be adapted for the big screen. 

Empire of Pain

By patrick radden keefe.

Empire of Pain will leave your jaw gaping at the limitless potential of humankind – and not in a good way. Award-winning journalist Patrick Radden Keefe unpicks the story of the Sackler family, one of the richest families in the world whose greed and corruption led to a pandemic of drug addiction which has killed nearly half a million people. The book is full of bombshell revelations which will both make your blood boil and keep you turning the pages. Empire of Pain  is the story of a dynasty: a parable of twenty-first-century greed.

This is Going to Hurt

By adam kay.

Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, comedian and former junior doctor Adam Kay’s  This Is Going to Hurt  provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking by turns, these diaries are everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn't – about life on and off the hospital ward. Now an award-winning multi-million copy bestseller, in 2022 This is Going to Hurt was adapted by the BBC into a TV series starring Ben Whishaw. What's more, you won't want to miss the audiobook , which is read by Adam himself and includes an expanded interview with comedian Mark Watson.

Black and British

By david olusoga.

In his award-winning book  Black and British , historian and broadcaster David Olusoga examines how black and white Britons have been intimately entwined for centuries. Drawing on new genetic and genealogical research, original records, expert testimony and contemporary interviews,  Black and British  shows how black British history is woven into the cultural and economic histories of the nation. This is a vital re-examination of a shared history that has hitherto been sidelined by our institutions. 

A Room of One's Own

By virginia woolf.

First published in 1929, this essay by Virginia Woolf is just as incisive and relevant today as when it was first delivered as a lecture at Cambridge University. Challenging the accepted thinking of the time, Woolf argues that women are not intrinsically lesser writers because of their gender, but because of the educational and economic restrictions placed on them by a patriarchal society. With the startling prose and poetic licence of a novelist, she makes a bid for freedom, emphasizing that the lack of an independent income, and the titular ‘room of one’s own’, prevents most women from reaching their full literary potential. 

A Brief History Of Time

By stephen hawking.

Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries? These are just some of the questions considered in an internationally acclaimed masterpiece by one of the world's greatest thinkers. It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time. To this day  A Brief History of Time  remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe and its wonders.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

By dale carnegie.

Since its release in 1936,  How to Win Friends and Influence People  has sold more than 30 million copies. Millions of people around the world have improved their lives based on the teachings of Dale Carnegie. In  How to Win Friends and Influence People , he offers practical advice and techniques, in his exuberant and conversational style, for how to get out of a mental rut and make life more rewarding. A timeless bestseller, Dale Carnegie's first book is as relevant as ever before and will help you achieve your maximum potential in the complex and competitive modern age.

Unmissable non-fiction books for every type of reader

Crime and thriller books to read before you die, brighton rock, by graham greene.

Set among the seaside amusements and dilapidated boarding houses of Brighton’s pre-war underworld,  Brighton Rock  is both a gritty thriller and a study of a soul in torment. Pinkie Brown, a neurotic teenage gangster commits a brutal murder – but it does not go unnoticed. Rose, a naive young waitress at a rundown cafe, has the unwitting power to destroy his crucial alibi, and Ida Arnold, a woman bursting with easy certainties about what is right and wrong, has made it her mission to bring about justice and redemption. A classic of modern literature, it maps out the strange border between piety and savagery. 

Last Bus to Woodstock

By colin dexter.

Last Bus to Woodstock is the first novel in Colin Dexter's gripping Inspector Morse crime fiction series. The death of Sylvia Kaye figured dramatically in Thursday afternoon's edition of the Oxford Mail. By Friday evening Inspector Morse had informed the nation that the police were looking for a dangerous man – facing charges of wilful murder, sexual assault and rape. But as the obvious leads fade into twilight and darkness, Morse becomes more and more convinced that passion holds the key. This is the novel that began Colin Dexter's phenomenally successful series. 

by Gillian Flynn

This twisty psychological thriller became a phenomenon when it was published, selling over twenty million copies worldwide and being adapted into a hit film starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. When Nick Dunne wakes up on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary to find his wife missing, he quickly becomes the police’s chief suspect. Amy’s friends reveal she was afraid of him, there are strange searches on his computer and persistent calls to his mobile phone, but Ben swears he knows nothing about any of this. So what really happened to Amy Dunne? 

Murder on the Orient Express

By agatha christie.

Agatha Christie belongs on any essential reading list, and Murder on the Orient Express is widely regarded as her most famous murder mystery. A train journey is delayed by thick snow. So when a passenger on the train is found murdered in his bed, it is the perfect opportunity for Agatha Christie's famous detective, Hercule Poirot, to prove his ability and solve the crime using the power of his brain. Now also a major motion picture, delve into the suspense, twists and turns of this story from the queen of mystery herself. 

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

By john le carré.

From one of our greatest storytellers, this enduring novel follows George Smiley – a troubled man on infinite compassion and also a single-mindedly ruthless adversary as a spy. A mole implanted decades ago by Moscow Centre has burrowed his way into the highest echelons of British Intelligence. His treachery has already blown some of its most vital operations and its best networks. It is clear that the double agent is one of its own kind.  Once identified, the traitor must be destroyed. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a modern classic in which John le Carré expertly creates a total vision of a secret world. 

Absolute Power

By david baldacci.

This conspiracy thriller imagines the dark heart of the White House, and an unsettling cover-up ordered by the president himself. In a heavily guarded mansion in the Virginian countryside, professional burglar and break-in artist, Luther Whitney, is trapped behind a one-way mirror. What he witnesses destroys his faith not only in justice, but all he holds dear. The book kicked off American crime giant David Baldacci’s career. Absolute Power is a powerful shot of exactly what he does best.

The best thriller books of 2023 and beyond

Historical fiction books to read before you die, burial rites, by hannah kent.

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, Burial Rites is a dark yet thrilling work of historical fiction. When a young woman is sentenced to death for murder in the remote wilds of Northern Iceland in 1829, a priest is given the task of proving her innocence and saving her life. With time running out, and the harsh Icelandic winter drawing ever near, will Agne’s secrets be uncovered and her life be spared? Based on a true story, with its sparse, atmospheric setting, and characters you feel like you can reach out and touch, Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites is an unputdownable must-read. 

The Pillars of the Earth

By ken follett.

Set in medieval England, this classic of historical fiction tells the story of a cathedral as it is being built, and the skill, ambition and chaos surrounding it. Ken Follett brings history to life through human stories, and this is his most popular book, introducing readers to the world of Kingsbridge , the city where the cathedral is constructed. An epic, spellbinding tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England,  The Pillars of the Earth  is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

Discover all of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge novels, including new book The Armour of Light

By toni morrison.

This Pulitzer-prize winning novel is arguably the most iconic work of Toni Morrison, an essential and important voice of contemporary American literature. It is the mid-1800s and as slavery looks to be coming to an end, Sethe is haunted by the violent trauma it wrought on her former enslaved life at Sweet Home, Kentucky. Her dead baby daughter, whose tombstone bears the single word, Beloved, returns as a spectre to punish her mother, but also to elicit her love. Morrison combines the visionary power of legend with the unassailable truth of history in this enduring novel. 

by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko  is a captivating multigenerational saga set against the backdrop of 20th-century Korea and Japan. The novel centers on Sunja, who, after becoming pregnant by a wealthy man, becomes determined to forge her own path. The story delves into the lives of Sunja's descendants as they grapple with discrimination, ambition, and the complex ties that bind a family together.  Pachinko  is a deeply moving journey through generations, inviting readers to witness the enduring power of love, the pursuit of belonging, and the indomitable human spirit that thrives even in the face of adversity.

by Sebastian Faulks

Published to international critical and popular acclaim, this intensely romantic yet stunningly realistic novel spans three generations and the unimaginable gulf between the First World War and the present. It is the story of Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman who arrives in Amiens in 1910. Over the course of the novel he suffers a series of traumatic experiences, from the clandestine love affair that tears apart the family with whom he lives, to the unprecedented experiences of the war itself.

The 50 best historical fiction books of all time

Books in translation to read before you die, before the coffee gets cold, by toshikazu kawaguchi.

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time. This opportunity is not without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . . Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful novel has stolen the hearts of readers the world over. Through it, we meet four visitors to the café and ask: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu's  Tao Te Ching  is the source of Zen Buddhism, and is probably the most broadly influential spiritual text in human history. According to legend, Lao Tzu left China at the age of eighty, saddened that men would not follow the path to natural goodness. At the border with Tibet, a guard asked him to record his teachings and the  Tao Te Ching  is what he wrote down before leaving. Lao Tzu's spirituality describes the Cosmos as a harmonious and generative organism, and it shows how the human is an integral part of that cosmos.

The Alchemist

By paulo coelho.

First published in Portuguese, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling over thirty million copies worldwide. The story follows Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. This is a magical fable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all follow your dreams.

by Shusaku Endo

When Father Rodrigues sets sail to Japan in the 1640s to help oppressed Christians and search for his missing former teacher, he discovers a land different to everything he’s ever known. Soon finding himself a victim of religious persecution, he’s forced to choose between his faith or the people he set out to save. A classic of its genre which caused major controversy when it was first published in 1967, Silence is an exploration of faith and suffering and a must-read for anyone with an interest in Japanese culture and history. 

Translated classics to add to your bucket list

Dystopian books to read before you die, station eleven, by emily st. john mandel.

One snowy night in Toronto famous actor Arthur Leander dies on stage while performing the role of a lifetime. That same evening a deadly virus touches down in North America, and the world is never the same again. Twenty years later Kirsten, an actress in the Travelling Symphony, performs Shakespeare in the settlements that have grown up since the collapse. But then her newly hopeful world is threatened. Emily St. John Mandel's carefully plotted time-slip narrative asks us big questions: if civilization was lost, what would you preserve? And how far would you go to protect it?

Nineteen Eighty-Four

By george orwell.

George Orwell ’s  Nineteen Eighty-Four  is one of the most famous and influential novels of the 20th century. The year is 1984. The country is impoverished and permanently at war, people are watched day and night by Big Brother and their every action and thought is controlled by the Thought Police. Winston Smith works in the department of propaganda, where his job is to rewrite the past. Spurred by his longing to escape, Winston rebels. This terrifying dystopia, which he created in a time of great social and political unrest, remains acutely relevant and influential to this day.

The Handmaid's Tale

By margaret atwood.

This novel has become a cultural byword for all things dystopian. The book is set in the fictional Republic of Gilead, a religious totalitarian state in what was formerly known as the United States. In an age of declining birth rates, Offred, along with her fellow Handmaids, are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Yet even a repressive state cannot eradicate hope and desire. Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing,  The Handmaid's Tale  is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force. If you already love The Handmaid's Tale , discover what to read next with this tailored list. 

Never Let Me Go

By kazuo ishiguro.

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2005, Never Let Me Go breaks the boundaries of the literary novel. Hailsham seems like a pleasant English boarding school, far from the influences of the city. Its students are well tended and supported, trained in art and literature, and become just the sort of people the world wants them to be. But, curiously, they are taught nothing of the outside world and are allowed little contact with it. Kazuo Ishiguro beautifully paints a story of love, friendship and memory, charged throughout with a sense of the fragility of life.

The best dystopian novels of all time

You may also like, the best fiction books of 2024, and all time, 13 classic european novels to add to your reading list, our all-time favourite booker prize-winning and nominated novels.

The 23 most popular books of the past year, according to Goodreads members

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• If you're looking for a great new book, it can be difficult to know where to start.
• The books on this list are the most popular reads among Goodreads members in the past year.
• The titles range from new romances to classics and everything in between.

Because there are nearly infinite books in the world, it can be difficult to know which one to pick up next. When I don't know what to read, I turn to fellow readers for the books they've read and adored, gravitating towards the titles I hear my friends mention over and over again. 

Similarly, the internet can provide plenty of word-of-mouth reviews and rankings. The books on this list come from the most popular Goodreads members picked up in the last year, according to the 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge (where readers aim to read as many books as they can in one year). Goodreads is the world's largest platform for readers to rate, review, and discover new book recommendations, with over 125 million members sharing their favorite reads.

If you're looking to start off the new year right with a great new read, here are some of the most popular books readers are snagging right now. 

The 23 most popular books right now, according to Goodreads members:

"the midnight library" by matt haig.

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.29

Nora Seed feels stuck in her life, bound to the choices she made that she still isn't sure were right. When Nora is ready to leave it all behind, she finds herself in a peculiar library, where each of the infinite books offers a portal to a parallel world, showing her all the many ways her life could have been slightly or drastically different, had she made other decisions.

"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.19

" The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue " is a genre-bending fantasy book about a young woman named Addie who, in 1714, makes a bargain with a dark god and becomes cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Addie's story spans three centuries and countless countries — until she meets a boy in New York City in 2014 who can finally remember her.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.42

Evelyn Hugo was an iconic Hollywood actress, just as notoriously remembered for her seven marriages as she was for her movie performances. Finally ready to tell her story, Evelyn Hugo chooses a little-known journalist named Monique, who goes to Evelyn's luxurious apartment to hear the truth behind Evelyn's lifetime of friendships, ambitions, and many loves.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.19

Considered one of the greatest novels of all time , " To Kill a Mockingbird " is an unforgettable historical fiction novel from 1960 that follows young Jean Louise Finch during a time of great racial inequality in her community. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer defending a Black man wrongly accused of a terrible crime as he faces a community desperate for a guilty conviction.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.44

" The Great Gatsby " is a classic about the wealthy Jay Gatsby, set during the Jazz Age in New York. When Nick Carraway moved to Long Island to find a job in New York City as a bond salesman, he meets his next-door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties and is constantly in pursuit of the stunning Daisy Buchanan.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.98

Kya Clark is known to most as the "Marsh Girl," running barefoot and wild in her quiet fishing village, having attended only one day of school. When a popular young boy is murdered, Kya's story unravels as the town accuses her of causing his death.

"1984" by George Orwell

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.48

" 1984 " is an iconic science fiction novel that imagines a dystopian future ruled by a totalitarian state, perpetually at war and at the mercy of strong propaganda. Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting historical records to conform to the state's version of events while secretly dreaming of rebellion and imagining what life would be like without Big Brother.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $5.47

" Pride and Prejudice " is a cherished, classic Jane Austen romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Loved for their unique relationship comprised of witty banter and flirting, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fall for each other in this story of class, wealth, and the duty of marriage.

"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.35

In this Greek mythology-inspired tale , Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled by his father because of a misunderstanding when he meets the legendary Achilles. As the two form a unique relationship, Helen of Sparta is kidnapped and Achilles, along with all the heroes in Greece, joins the cause against Troy as they face a choice between love and fate.

"The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15.70

Though the Vignes twin sisters grew up identical in their small, southern community, their lives split in young adulthood as one sister now lives in the same community with her Black daughter while the other passes for white in a white community. A beautiful story of influence and decisions emerges as their lives intersect over generations when their daughters finally meet.

"The Guest List" by Lucy Foley

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.09

Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, a fascinating group of friends and family converge to celebrate the marriage of a rising television star and an ambitious magazine publisher. When someone is found dead, everyone becomes a suspect with their own strange and mysterious potential motives.

"People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry

Alex and Poppy became best friends on a happenstance summer road trip in college, spurring a tradition of summer trips together — until two years ago, when everything changed between them. Though they haven't spoken since, Poppy desperately needs her best friend back and reaches out to Alex to see if they can try to rekindle their friendship in this adorable romance.

"It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.99

Ryle Kincaid is a stunning, assertive neurosurgeon with a soft spot for only Lily, who can't believe her luck that there's a spark between them. As the two fall into a passionate relationship, Lily can't help but think of her first love, Atlas. As her relationship with Ryle becomes more and more complicated, Atlas reappears and further complicates everything.

"The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14

" The Four Winds " is an award-winning historical fiction novel that illuminates the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression, where farmers faced deadly droughts that often forced them from their land. To learn more about why we love this book, you can check out our review here.

"Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.80

Famous surfer Nina Riva is preparing to host her iconic, annual party with her equally famous siblings, though she doesn't know the party will be literally up in flames by morning. As each sibling's story unravels, this historical fiction novel traverses from the party in 1983 to the Rivas' childhood, revealing long-buried secrets and spinning the present entirely out of control.

"The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides

Alicia Berenson had a seemingly perfect life with a painting career, a beautiful home, and a photographer husband until one night her husband returned home and Alicia shot him five times in the face and never spoke again. As Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, attempts to work with Alicia to get her to talk, his own twisted motives emerge in this gripping psychological thriller with many versions of the truth.

"Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.12

When a bank robbery goes terribly wrong, eight strangers find themselves being held hostage in an apartment with more in common than they imagined. Each anxious for their own reasons, the tensions mount as the police surround the apartment in this thought-provoking story of compassion where all the pieces slowly fit together.

"Red, White & Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.97

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz has a long-running nemesis: Prince Henry. When the tabloids catch the two in a confrontation, the plan for damage control includes staging a fake friendship between the boys in this fun, fan-favorite Queer romance.

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.33

Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other in school, dropping the facade when Connell picks his mother up from a housekeeping job at Marianne's house. The two form a peculiar connection, drifting apart and back together over the years in this story about class, friendship, and human nature.

"The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.92

Originally written for the author's children, " The Hobbit " is a beloved prequel to the " Lord of the Rings " series where readers are introduced to the fantasy world of Middle-earth. When Bilbo Baggins is tricked into hosting a party, the wizard Gandalf convinces him to join him and a group of dwarves on an adventure to retrieve a treasure guarded by a dragon, igniting an epic tale adored by readers of all ages.

"Beach Read" by Emily Henry

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.35

January Andrews is a bestselling romance author, plagued with writer's block and staying at a beach house to try and write a new novel by her editor's deadline. When she meets the next-door literary fiction writer named Augustus, they decide to switch genres in an attempt to escape their creative ruts.

"The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.50

Before Hannah's new husband, Owen, disappears, he manages to slip her a note reading "protect her," which she knows refers to his 16-year-old daughter, Bailey. When the FBI arrests Owen's boss and comes to their home unannounced, Hannah and Bailey realize Owen isn't who they thought and must uncover the truth behind his disappearance while building a future together of their own.

"The Duke and I" by Julia Quinn

Available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.27

" The Duke and I " is the first Regency-era romance in the " Bridgerton " series, about Daphne Bridgerton who agrees to a fake courtship with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. While Daphne needs her own prospects to soar and the Duke intends to avoid marriage altogether, their plan seems to be working perfectly — until the two can't deny the spark that seems to be igniting between them. If you love this book already, check out our list of other Julia Quinn novels to find your next great romance read. 

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• Entertainment

34 Great Books to Suit Any Mood or Interest

With all these choices (humor! thrills! non-snobby cultural criticism!) you're bound to find your next great read.

There are several science-backed benefits of reading real books —relaxation being one of them. Count falling asleep faster as another health benefit of reading a book before bed . It can also be a fun summer activity for when you're short on funds. And, starting or joining a book club not only boosts your cognitive skills but also fills your schedule with an activity that can improve your emotional health and combat cabin fever —all too common during COVID. The Great Gatsby, for example, is a classic book that's perfect for any book club. It's also a great book to revisit when you're feeling nostalgic for the past . Those in their 20s might want books that offer valuable lessons on life, love, and friendship. Whatever the subject, a few good books tucked in a care package can't help but brighten anyone's day.

When we're looking for good books to read, we browse bestseller lists, click around Goodreads and Instagram, and ask friends for their recommendations. But the usual blanket categories and genres can be a bit too broad, and often, we've found that we get the best recommendations when we choose books based on our mood or our interests.

If you're looking for interesting books to read, we've compiled a list of 34 super-specific recommendations you won't be able to put down. This list has you covered, no matter how you're feeling.

If You're Looking for an Honest Story About Losing a Mother

Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner This is the memoir and debut book of Michelle Zauner, lead singer of the indie band Japanese Breakfast . Zauner writes about growing up Korean American and how losing her mother to cancer when she was 25 forced her to reconnect with her identity. It's a story of Zauner's grief and an exploration of all the gifts (language, food, history) her mother left behind. Zauner's memoir would be a wonderful addition to the growing list of great mother-daughter books .

If You're Looking for a Novel That Reads Like Poetry

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous , by Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese-American poet and his debut novel is written in the form of a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Exploring race, class, and masculinity, the novel handles difficult topics with beauty and the kind of lines that will hang in the air long after you've set the book down.

If You Like Sharp Humor and Quick Reads

One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter , by Scaachi Koul

Written by Buzzfeed senior writer Scaachi Koul, this collection of essays is rich with relatable humor, no matter how specific the scenarios. Koul invites the reader into some of her most miserable and mortifying life moments, from feeling like an outsider as the daughter of Indian immigrants in Canada to shaving her knuckles to fit in at school.

If You Want to Remember bell hooks

All About Love , by bell hooks

Feminist scholar and activist bell hooks died in 2021 at age 69, but her works have long been and will remain timeless. Her 1999 book is, as the title says, all about love, from personal, psychological, and philosophical perspectives.

If You Really Missed Traveling (and Anthony Bourdain)

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

Had to cancel your dream vacation due to the pandemic? This posthumous collection of essays and reflections captures the late travel and food writer and TV host Anthony Bourdain's favorite places on the planet—and may just inspire your future travels.

If You Want Something a Little Dishy

Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

This summer-perfect read about secrets in a marriage offers an insider's glimpse into the New York theater and Hollywood scenes.

If You Need to Be Reminded of (the Greatness of) the Great Outdoors

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens

Kya grows up wild and nearly alone along the North Carolina shores, where the natural world becomes her classroom and her great love. (It may just encourage you to go outside and commune with yourself and your nearest stretch of wilderness.)

If You're Worried You're a Helicopter Mom

Girls With Bright Futures, by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman

This thriller follows three moms as they go into overdrive to try to get their daughters a single, coveted spot at Stanford—including possibly attempted murder. (So no, you're doing just fine!)

If You Ever Wondered What Life Was Like in Your Dream House

The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett

Spoiler alert: Life isn't as perfect on the inside of a dream house as it appears. This artful portrait of a dysfunctional family—and the house they inhabit—is worthy book club fare.

If You Appreciate Great Dialogue

Normal People , by Sally Rooney

If you haven't yet read Rooney's Normal People or her 2017 debut, Conversations with Friends , the Irish author's novels are great books to read if you like biting dialogue and stories about messy, real relationships.

If There Aren't Enough True Crime Podcasts for You

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland , by Patrick Radden Keefe

We'll say it: There are tons of true crime books and podcasts—but very few of them actually solve said crimes or offer much in the way of new information (of course, no shame in getting a rundown or entertaining commentary!). But this fact is what sets Say Nothing apart. You don't need to know much about the conflict in Northern Ireland to immediately be sucked into Keefe's reporting and writing, then completely enraptured when he starts to figure out who murdered Jean McConville.

If You Want Something a Little...Unsettling

Trust Exercise , by Susan Choi

In Choi's experimental coming of age novel, which won the 2019 National Book Award for fiction, two theater kids, Sarah and David, fall in love and explore their relationship for their craft under the watchful eye of their drama teacher. The twists are unexpected and the setting—a high-pressure arts school in the 1980s—is pitch-perfect. You'll want to talk about it with everyone.

If You're Looking to Learn Something

Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier , by Aldo Sohm and Christine Muhlke

Aldo Sohm has been named the best sommelier in the world and oversees the wine program at one of New York City's top restaurants. Despite such accolades, he and Christine Muhlke have written a highly approachable handbook. Full of fun charts and illustrations, the unfussy Wine Simple demystifies everything from buzzy natural wines to tasting like a pro at your next dinner out.

If You Want to Read Cultural Criticism Without the Usual Snobbery

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion , by Jia Tolentino

In her debut collection of nine original essays, the popular NewYorker.com writer interrogates everything from millennial scammers to the Internet. It's compulsively readable, thanks in large part to Tolentino's own self-reflection and autobiographical elements.

If You Want to Spend a Little Less Time on Your Phone

24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, by Tiffany Shlain

In 24/6, filmmaker and popular speaker Shlain introduces readers to what she calls a "Technology Shabbat"—the one day, every week, where she and her family turn off all electronic devices. Beyond detailing the many ways she and her family have benefited, Shlain gives helpful, reassuring advice for embracing your own tech shabbat and curbing device use.

If You Can't Read Enough About Hygge, Lagom, and Swedish Death Cleaning

The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way , by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

You've death-cleaned your home. You hygge with the best of them come winter. But have you heard of ichigo ichie, the Japanese art of savoring the moment, yet? Let the authors of The Book of Ichigo Ichie be your guides.

If You Just Finished Binge Watching and Reading The Handmaid's Tale

Women Talking, by Miriam Toews

A lot of books claim to be "the next Handmaid's Tale ," but Women Talking really fits the bill. This feminist fiction novel about a group of Mennonite women who are drugged and attacked by men from their community is particularly haunting because it's based on real events. Margaret Atwood herself says the story "could be right out of The Handmaid's Tale ," so it has the official stamp of approval. If you're feeling helpless about the state of the world, Women Talking will inspire you to stand up, use your voice, and keep fighting.

If You're Happy With a Smart, Grown-Up Romance

The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang

Stella is great with numbers, but because she has Asperger's, she's not so great at romance. To gain experience, she hires an escort to practice and perfect her skills in the bedroom—and accidentally falls in love with him. Helen Hoang's #ownvoices novel is equal parts sweet and steamy. After reading The Kiss Quotient , you can jump immediately into the next book in the trilogy: The Bride Test , a companion novel about a woman searching for love and an autistic man who doesn't know if he can return her feelings.

If Oddball Families Make You Smile

Mostly Dead Things, by Kristen Arnett

Everyone's family has their strange quirks, and Jessa's is no exception. After her father commits suicide in their family's taxidermy shop, their behavior gets even stranger; for starters, her mom begins making aggressive and sexually suggestive taxidermy art. Jessa takes over the business and tries to be strong for everyone but struggles to reach her loved ones that refuse to talk about their issues. Mostly Dead Things is one of the strangest, most bizarre books you'll ever read—in the best possible way.

If You're Down for a Literary Masterpiece You Can Read in One Sitting

Looker, by Laura Sims

Sometimes, it's hard to categorize a book into just one genre. Looker isn't exactly a thriller or a mystery, but it contains elements of both. It offers a peek into the mind of an unnamed woman growing more and more unstable by the page. As she mourns her own broken life, she becomes obsessed with her neighbor, a famous actress. While Looker is short—less than 200 pages—it's packed with themes of obsession, jealousy, and madness. Laura Sims made every word count.

If You Want a Good Cry (Two Boxes of Tissues, Minimum)

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying, by Nina Riggs

This memoir, published posthumously, sets out to answer the question: How do you make your life meaningful when you know your time is limited?

If You Wore Out Your Copy of Like Water for Chocolate

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender

Fans of magic realism should dig into this tale of a young girl whose mother's despair is a key ingredient in her desserts.

If You Just Went Through a Breakup

Alone Time , by Stephanie Rosenbloom

​​ Four cities, four seasons, and countless tables for one. In this memoir, Stephanie Rosenbloom explores the joys of solo adventuring.

If You Love Quirky Science and Psychology

Swearing Is Good For You , by Emma Byrne

A damn good read, packed with scientific proof that sometimes it's OK to drop a few f-bombs.

If You Want to Fulfill Your Fantasies of Working on a Winery

The Shortest Way Home , by Miriam Parker

When Hannah finds herself with everything she's ever wanted (at least she thinks so?), she can't resist giving it all up for a dream she never knew she had.

If You've Been Looking for Another Book Like Where'd You Go Bernadette

What You Don't Know About About Charlie Outlaw , by Leah Stewart

A quirky tale of two Hollywood stars who break up only to find themselves needing each other more than ever—especially after one of them is kidnapped on a desert island.

If You're Breastfeeding Your Cluster Feeding Baby

Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You , by Lin-Manuel Miranda

You know you want Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda to be your best friend. While you may not be able to join his entourage and follow him around all day, you can get his book. Inspired by his lovely messages to his fans on Twitter, this illustrated collection of sayings will encourage you to seize the day, the night, and all of the other hours in between.

If You Want to Be Put Into a Good Mood

Becoming , by Michelle Obama

Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has lived an accomplished life, but it hasn't been without hardships. In Becoming , Obama weaves the story of her inspiring life, from the years she spent growing up on the South Side of Chicago to her life in the White House. You will earn to a new appreciation of the former First Lady when you learn about all the things she's experienced—and triumphed over—and her story will inspire you to live a more daring life.

If You're About to Have a Baby

Overwhelmed , by Brigid Schulte

You've probably heard by now that you won't be sleeping much after you welcome your bundle of joy (and noise) into the world. Parenthood can be challenging and exhausting, but you don't have to feel like you've lost yourself while you're creating a life for someone else. Journalist Brigid Schulte lays out how our always-on culture can get the best of us and what you can do to take back some time for yourself.

If You're in Love

Kafka on the Shore , by Haruki Murakami

A novel of fantastical magic realism, Kafka on the Shore has a vivid, dreamy plot. Even more accomplished is the novel's turn of phrase, like this quote: "Anyone who falls in love is searching for the missing pieces of themselves. So anyone who's in love gets sad when they think of their lover. It's like stepping back inside a room you have fond memories of, one you haven't seen in a long time." With hundreds of lines like that one, Kafka on the Shore will have you going back again and again to find more gorgeous words to describe your own ardor.

If You're In a Bad Mood

I Remember Nothing , by Nora Ephron

Do you have one of those friends that can complain about anything, but their complaints are entertaining, literary delights? No? Well, Nora Ephron can satisfy that itch. In I Remember Nothing , Ephron, the late writer and creator of beloved movies like You've Got Mail, holds forth on the weird and wonderful changes that define modern life. Don't read this book in public: People will keep giving you weird looks when you can't stop laughing.

If You're Feeling Ready for a Vacation

Flâneuse , by Lauren Elkin

Each of us holds a desire to wander, but for Lauren Elkin, the urge is irresistible. In Flâneuse, Elkin meanders through the great cities of the world, including New York, Paris, Venice, and London, ruminating on the culture of strolling through cities and what it means to explore as a woman.

If You're Getting Hitched

The Wedding Date , by Jasmine Guillory

If you're about to get married, and you're planning a huge party for your nuptials, take a minute to see your wedding from your guests' perspective: attending a wedding without a plus one has the potential to be nerve-racking. In Jasmine Guillory's fun romance, The Wedding Date, Alex Monroe and Drew Nichols solve their potential date-less embarrassment by faking a relationship, and the result is as juicy and delightful as you can imagine.

If You're in the Mood for a Spine-Tingling Stories

The Thirteenth Tale , by Diane Setterfield

The Thirteenth Tale is a novel for book lovers. Although it's anything but cozy, it's the perfect book to read in chilly winter . Biographer Margaret Lea is tasked with telling the life story of the enigmatic author Vida Winter, whose lauded collection of stories is missing the eponymous 13th tale. As Winter unravels her life's story for Lea, her mysterious past of Victorian-gothic proportions unfolds.

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6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

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Our recommended books this week lean toward the multinational: a historical novel set on a Swedish island, a World War II account of American military pilots navigating a treacherous route over the Himalayas, a novel about migrants flooding into a small Sicilian town and Joseph O’Neill’s new novel, “Godwin,” about a Pittsburgh man on the hunt for a rumored soccer superstar in West Africa. Also up, we recommend Carvell Wallace’s moving, joyful memoir and Kimberly King Parsons’s novel about grief and desire. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

GODWIN Joseph O’Neill

This globe-trotting novel from the author of “Netherland” chronicles the quest of a man named Mark Wolfe to find a mysterious soccer prodigy in West Africa and the unraveling of his workplace back in Pittsburgh. Mark shares narratorial duties with his colleague Lakesha Williams, who speaks first in “Godwin” and also gets the last word.

“Uses sports as a window on global realities that might otherwise be too vast or too abstract to perceive. … The book bristles with offhand insights and deft portraits of peripheral characters. It is populous, lively and intellectually challenging.”

From A.O. Scott’s review

Pantheon | $28

THE SILENCE OF THE CHOIR Mohamed Mbougar Sarr

Seventy-two migrants settle in a small Sicilian town in this polyphonic novel, which won France’s most prestigious literary prize in 2021 and is here translated into English by Alison Anderson. Sarr not only follows the newcomers, but also considers the inner lives of the villagers, whose reactions vary considerably.

“Sarr points honestly and often brilliantly to the divisions between us and the world’s ragazzi, and in that empty space he offers a dozen different ways of seeing not only the other side, but ourselves as well.”

From Dinaw Mengestu’s review

Europa | Paperback, $18

SKIES OF THUNDER: The Deadly World War II Mission Over the Roof of the World Caroline Alexander

After the loss of a land route through Burma in 1942, Allied forces had to fly supplies over a treacherous stretch of the Himalayas to support the Nationalist Chinese government in its war against Japan. Alexander’s vivid retelling of this aerial feat is matched only by her exquisite rendering of the pilots’ fear.

“Riveting. … What unites this book with the author’s previous work is a fascination with human behavior in extremis.”

From Elizabeth D. Samet’s review

Viking | $32

WE WERE THE UNIVERSE Kimberly King Parsons

Reeling from the sudden death of her sister, a young Texas wife and mother lets her mind run freely to the siblings’ shared rebellious past — and her own present catalog of pansexual longings — in Parsons’s witty and profane debut novel, a tender, exuberant and often profoundly moving follow-up to her lauded 2019 story collection, “Black Light.”

“The ride could not be more rewarding; Parsons’s transgressive boldness allows us to feel the soul in places that moderation simply cannot reach.”

From Alissa Nutting’s review

Knopf | $28

ANOTHER WORD FOR LOVE: A Memoir Carvell Wallace

Wallace, a gifted journalist and essayist who came to writing in midlife, explores what it means to be a Black man, partner and parent in the world. While he is unstinting on the tribulations of his unstable childhood, — a troubled single mother, intermittent homelessness and mental health struggles — the reflections here are threaded through with rare, soulful vulnerability and a persistent sense of joy.

“Each anecdote continues to move the reader and implore us all to remember to connect. … This book is funny and heartbreaking, religiously vivid and lovingly open.”

From James Ijames’s review

MCDxFSG | $28

THE BLUE MAIDEN Anna Noyes

This haunting debut novel explores the sinister effects of a legacy of century-old witch hunts on a remote island in Sweden. At its center are a pair of sisters descended from one of the few women to be spared. Left to their own devices, Ulrika and Bea piece together their legacy and, over time, inflame their pastor father’s paranoia

“It isn’t until Bea marries and becomes a mother that her family’s secrets will be fully revealed. By then, of course, the damage has already been done.”

From Alida Becker’s historical fiction column

Grove | $26

Five Books for People Who Really Love Books

These five titles focus on the many connections we can form with what we read.

My dad likes to fish, and he likes to read books about fishing. My mom is a birder; she reads about birds. There are plenty of books on both subjects, I’ve found, when browsing in a gift-giving mood. These presents don’t just prove I’m familiar with their interests. They’re a way to acknowledge that we read about our pastimes to affirm our identity: Fly-fishers are contemplative sorts who reflect on reflections; birders must cultivate stillness and attention. What we choose to read can be a way of saying: I am this kind of soul.

For my part, I like reading more than I like almost anything else. And so, in the manner of my parents, I like to read books about books . Writers who write about writing, readers who write about reading—these are people I instantly recognize as my kind. We’re people who are always in the middle of a chapter, who start conversations by asking, “What are you reading right now?” For us, a meta-book is like coffee brewed with more coffee. It’s extra-strength literature.

If you really love books, or you want to love them more, I have five recommendations. None of these are traditional literary criticism; they’re not dry or academic. They take all kinds of forms (essay, novel, memoir) and focus on the many connections we can form with what we read. Those relationships might be passionate, obsessive, even borderline inappropriate—and this is what makes the books so lovable. Finishing them will make you want to pick up an old favorite or add several more titles to your to-read list.

U and I , by Nicholson Baker

I can now say that I’ve been reading Baker for more than 20 years, or more than half my life. But I didn’t know that would happen when I found U and I in a college friend’s car, borrowed it, and never returned it. The subject, not the author, appealed to me then—I loved John Updike. And so did Baker, though love is probably not the right word. This book-length essay is not quite, or not merely, an appreciation of Updike; it’s a hilarious confessional “true story” of Baker’s anxieties, ambitions, competitive jealousy, and feelings of inadequacy in the face of Updike’s abundant body of work. It’s rich too, with wonderful observations on reading and writing in general, as in a passage considering how much more affecting a memoir becomes once the author is deceased: “The living are ‘just’ writing about their own lives; the dead are writing about their irretrievable lives , wow wow wow.”

A poem by John Updike: 'Half Moon, Small Cloud'

Dayswork , by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel

I almost prefer to keep certain books on my to-read list forever, where they remain full of magical possibility and cannot disappoint me. Moby-Dick is one of them. What if, God forbid, I chance to read it at the wrong time or in the wrong place and it doesn’t change my life? So I turn to Dayswork instead, which feels like cheating—you get some of the experience of reading Moby-Dick without any of the risk. This very novel novel, written collaboratively by a novelist and a poet who happen to be married, is sort of a sneaky biography of Herman Melville, framed by a meta-narrative about a woman writing a book during lockdown. This narrator delivers a parade of delightful facts and quotes and anecdotes, which she’s been collecting on sticky notes. You could think of it also as a biography of Melville’s most famous novel, which has had its own life after his death and touched so many other lives. Dayswork is fragmentary, digressive, and completely absorbing.

Read: The endless depths of Moby-Dick symbolism

Written Lives , by Javier Marías, translated by Margaret Jull Costa

Marías is one of my favorite novelists, but I only recently encountered this work, a collection of short, dubiously nonfictional biographies in a very specific style. In the prologue, Marías explains that he had edited an anthology of stories by writers so obscure, he was forced to compose their biographical notes using odd, scanty evidence that made it all sound “invented.” It occurred to him that he could do the same thing for authors much more famous (Henry James, Thomas Mann, Djuna Barnes), treating “well-known literary figures as if they were fictional characters, which may well be how all writers, whether famous or obscure, would secretly like to be treated,” he explains. The result is marvelously irreverent, packed with unforgettable details (Rilke, supposedly, loved the letter y and used any excuse to write it) and endearing patterns (Marías would have us believe that many writers loathe Dostoyevsky). Written Lives immediately earned a spot on my shelf of most treasured objects, and every friend I’ve recommended it to has been equally enchanted.

Read: An introverted writer’s lament

Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life , by Yiyun Li

This sad and incredibly beautiful memoir from a writer best known for her fiction takes its title from a line in a notebook by the New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield. For Li, correspondence, diaries and journals, and literature in general are forms of consolation and companionship that make life worth living even in times of overwhelming despair. The memoir is a record of the reading experiences that saved Li from a dangerous depression. It made me want to dig more deeply into the work of all her favorite writers—Thomas Hardy, Ivan Turgenev, Elizabeth Bowen, William Trevor—because she describes them so warmly and affectionately, as if they were friends. Here, as in her novels, Li is philosophical, with a gift for startling aphorisms: “Harder to endure than fresh pain is pain that has already been endured,” she writes. And “One always knows how best to sabotage one’s own life,” or “What does not make sense is what matters.” Li’s work is so moving and so very wise.

Madness, Rack, and Honey , by Mary Ruefle

The American poet Mary Ruefle is one of those writers people like to call a “national treasure,” which always has to do with something beyond brilliance or talent, an additional spectacular charm that makes you wish you knew them in “real life.” This collection of lectures on poetry and topics adjacent to poetry (sentimentality, theme, the moon) is the perfect introduction to Ruefle’s particular charisma. She’s unabashedly devoted to poets and poems, but you don’t have to love poetry to fall in love with her voice. She’s plainspoken yet mysterious, always asking curious questions, about death and fear and secrets, and then answering herself with surprising authority. Ruefle is inclined toward quirky asides, but all roads lead back to books: “I offer my dinner guest, after dinner, the choice between regular and decaf coffee, when in fact I don’t have any decaf in the house,” she writes. “I am so sincere in my effort to be a good host that I lie; I think this probably happens all the time in poetry.” Ruefle offers a beautiful example of how a life filled with reading opens and alters the mind.

​When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

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The 15 best agatha christie books ranked.

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Agatha Christie's Poirot: The 15 Best Episodes, Ranked

Death on the nile: 10 agatha christie novels yet to receive film adaptations, death on the nile: 5 things it takes from the book (& 5 that are totally new).

• Agatha Christie's books are characterized by the combination of complex stories and realistic characters, making her one of the biggest titans in the detective and mystery genres.
• Her stories often feature famous detective characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and have inspired dozens of film and TV adaptations.
• The best Agatha Christie books demand careful reading and attention to clues and hints before revealing twist endings, rewarding readers who engage with the narrative.

Agatha Christie is one of the biggest titans in the detective and mystery literary genres, and the best Agatha Christie books combine her talent for weaving complex stories with multifaceted, realistic characters. Christie was born in 1890 and passed away in 1976, and in her 85 years, she wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections and was a central figure in the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction" . Her stories are sometimes one-offs, their own contained universes, and often feature her now world-famous detective characters, Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.

Recorded by Guinness World Records as the best-selling writer of all time, there are dozens of TV and movie adaptations of Agatha Christie books , including Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express . Many modern detective, mystery, and whodunit stories can trace their inspiration back to Christie. Only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may be said to have contributed more to the genre, and he is not as prolific as Christie. Her puzzle-box-like stories offer clues and hints that demand attention to the narrative, and the best Agatha Christie books reward careful reading before the twist finale is revealed .

15 4.50 From Paddington (1957)

In the us, it was published as what mrs. mcgillicuddy saw.

4.50 from Paddington is a Miss Marple story that sees Elspeth McGillicuddy going to visit her friend, the famous amateur sleuth. On the way, Elspeth's train passes another, and she witnesses a murder taking place on the other train. It's an exciting and twisting story that sees Miss Marple use her own housekeeper as an undercover agent to search for clues in a suspect's home.

However, 4.50 From Paddington is not as logically sound as many of her other stories, and some of Miss Marple's "discoveries" feel more like coincidence than earned. The book received positive reviews, but critics felt Miss Marple lacked direct involvement, and others did the heavy lifting . It was still successful, and it was adapted into a movie in 1961 called Murder, She Said . It was also part of both the BBC Miss Marple series in 1987 and the ITV Marple series in 2004.

This particular Miss Marple story has been adapted for most Miss Marple TV and movie adaptations, also including the anime series, Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple and the South Korean drama, Ms. Ma, Nemesis .

14 The Mysterious Affair At Styles (1921)

Christie eventually named her home after styles.

Hercule Poirot is arguably Agatha Christie's greatest invention, a Belgian detective with a stiff mustache who is punctual, prim, and single-handedly capable of solving even the most perplexing crimes. One of the standout characters in the mystery genre, Hercule Poirot has been played by numerous actors over the years, all keen to depict the recognizable, hyper-intelligent detective. Poirot's first appearance is in The Mysterious Affair at Styles , which is also Christie's first novel .

It's a simple murder mystery in a country home, quaint by Christie's novels' later standards, but it features many elements that would become staples of the modern mystery genre including a remote, picturesque setting. This book launched Christie's career and helped create one of the greatest literary detectives on this side of Sherlock Holmes.

The blurb in the first edition of the book reads:

This novel was originally written as the result of a bet, that the author, who had previously never written a book, could not compose a detective novel in which the reader would not be able to "spot" the murderer, although having access to the same clues as the detective. The author has certainly won her bet...

The very best episodes of Agatha Christies Poirot - arguably the very best adaptation of her world-famous beloved Belgian detective.

13 The Murder At The Vicarage (1930)

Miss marple appeared in short stories by christie before this novel.

The Murder at the Vicarage features the first novel appearance of the amateur detective Miss Jane Marple . Miss Marple is shrewd, cunning, and prone to noting comments in conversation that inevitably lead her to a crime's solution. In this story, Miss Marple solves the case of a murdered churchwarden. The side stories and characters weigh the book down, but the main plot is intriguing and surprisingly modern.

Self-assured and witty, Miss Marple has been played by several famous actresses . She's characterized as a gossip in The Murder at the Vicarage , but later stories see a softening of her character. Christie herself was not completely sold on Muss Marple's first mystery. " Reading Murder at the Vicarage now, I am not so pleased with it as I was at the time ," she wrote in Agatha Christie: An Autobiography . " It has, I think, far too many characters, and too many sub-plots. But at any rate the main plot is sound ."

12 Peril At End House (1932)

It was adapted into a graphic novel in 2008.

In Peril at End House , Hercule Poirot and two other Christie mainstays, Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, all convene on a vacation home in Cornwall where Magdala "Nick" Buckley insists they protect her from an impending murder attempt. Christie uses simple tricks and red herrings to hide the killer in plain sight, and the twist in the end is as ingenious as any she's produced . The melodrama between Nick and the other resort members can be tiresome, but the core plot and clues are all some of Christie's most well-written.

This novel was the first adapted for the 1990 Poirot television series.

Critics praised the novel when it was released, with praise for the plot and twists. Peril at End House was an immediate success and turned into a West London stage play just eight years after its publication. It was also adapted for television as part of Agatha Christie's Poirot in 1990 and was actually adapted into a graphic novel in 2008.

11 Crooked House (1949)

It was not adapted for the first time until 2008 for bbc radio 4.

Crooked House follows multiple generations of the Leonides family, who all live together under wealthy patriarch Aristide. After Aristide is found dead from poisoning, each one of his family members is considered a suspect. A fiancé to one of the grandchildren, Charles Hayward, serves as the protagonist and narrator.

It’s a suspenseful and thrilling tale with plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing. The end is a wildly unexpected and pitifully grim finale that doesn’t have any one person crack the case. Instead, the true killer reveals themselves, but not before the Leonides family is permanently fractured. Critics praised the novel, as it was an improvement on the previous release ( Taken at the Flood ) and introduced a new twist for the finish that was fresh and unique. A movie adaptation arrived in 2017 with Glenn Close, Gillian Anderson, Max Irons, and more starring.

10 Endless Night (1967)

The title comes from a william blake poem, endless night (1972).

*Availability in US

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Christie almost exclusively wrote crime and mystery fiction, but Endless Night may be the furthest she stretched the genre's conventions. While Endless Night is still primarily a mystery, the romance and gothic horror elements make for a unique tone . A young working-class man, Michael Rogers dreams of having a home and a loving wife. When he meets a wealthy woman named Greta, who is weary of her affluent lifestyle, they commit crimes that ultimately end with Michael imprisoned.

Endless Night is a sinister and dark novel, with twists coming even after it seems the story has pulled all its tricks. The ending will make a reader recontextualize the entire plot. The novel received almost universally positive reviews, with praise going to Christie for changing her style and still delivering out a page-turning mystery thriller. Endless Night was adapted into a movie in 1972 starring Hayley Mills.

9 A Murder Is Announced (1950)

It has been adapted for television in the us, uk, france, south korea, and japan.

Most Agatha Christie novels introduce the characters and setting first before moving into the inevitable murder mystery. A Murder is Announced instead introduces the story's conflict in the very first pages, as a notice is placed in a newspaper indicating the time and place a murder will soon occur. It's a very streamlined and tight read, where all the clues are clearly presented without giving away too much.

Miss Marple once again takes up the case in this post-WWII story where food stamps and slow government operations actually factor into the plot, unusual for Christie whose stories are not often connected to an exact time period. One of the most popular stories featuring Miss Marple, and one of the best critically reviewed, it has been adapted into nearly every Miss Marple series, even versions in France, South Korea, and Japan.

With Death on The Nile having hit cinemas, what's next for Agatha Christie-based movies? Perhaps, it's time to adapt a book that's never been adapted.

8 Evil Under The Sun (1941)

It was adapted into a movie in 1982, evil under the sun (1982).

Poirot goes on vacation in Devon, hoping for a quiet and relaxing time in Evil Under the Sun . However, a beautiful and widely disliked boarder at his resort, Arlena, is soon found dead. This evil deed pulls the famed detective into the plot to help solve the case and understand the reasons for the murder.

It's an unusual setting for Christie, away from the countryside and dinner parties. The mystery in Evil Under the Sun is a smartly written and complex puzzle that shows Christie at her most ingenious . Every detail is important, and she manages to lure the reader into one suspicion before completely flipping expectations. This is Hercule at his best, with the detective leading the suspects and the readers around until he reveals the guilty party at the end. The novel became a 1982 movie starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot.

7 Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case (1975)

It was adapted as the series finale of agatha christie's poirot.

Christie's last published novel before she passed, Curtain: Poirot's Last Case is also her indelible detective's last appearance . Poirot and Hastings return to the very same house from The Mysterious Affairs at Styles over 30 years later, and the story is of the same one-room murder mystery style that made Christie famous. Together, Poirot and Hastings solve the murders of five different people in a fresh and original novel that is one of the best of her late career.

It's a fitting and touching goodbye to Poirot, whose final words in literature are, " Goodbye, cher ami ." Interestingly, this was not a later Christie novel, as she had written it in the 1940s and waited until she knew she was coming to the end of her career to ensure Poirot got a fitting sendoff at the very end. It ended up as one of the best-selling books of 1976, ending her career on a high.

6 The A.B.C. Murders (1936)

It was adapted into a manga by yasushi hoshino in 2015.

Poirot, Hastings, and Chief Inspector Japp are reunited to uncover the identity of the A.B.C. murderer in The A.B.C. Murders . The serial killer picks his victims based on their names , selecting those with alliterative names starting with A.A. There are various false conclusions and mistaken suspects, but Christie manages all her different story threads into one complete and cohesive narrative.

It's one of her trickiest stories to solve , but once the ending is revealed, it's clear how well she placed the clues and hints before the story's finale. Critics at the time praised the novel for its ingenuity and creativity of the mystery and plot. It was adapted into a 1965 movie with Tony Randall as Hercule Poirot and then again as a 2012 Malayalam film called Grandmaster. There was also a 2018 BBC TV miniseries called The ABC Murders.

5 Five Little Pigs (1942)

It was also published under the title murder in retrospect.

Five Little Pigs is about a murder that takes place over a decade before the story begins . Caroline Crale was convicted of the murder of her husband and died in prison. However, her daughter, Carla Lemarchant, insists to Hercule Poirot that her mother is innocent and the culprit is one of five people who were also present at the time of the murder, whom he nicknames the "Five Little Pigs."

Like many of Christie's novels, the title for this one comes from a nursery rhyme.

The crime is told from five different perspectives, and it's a testament to Christie's writing that she manages to make each retelling feel fresh and engaging. The satisfying solution to the murder is also moving, as Carla realizes knowing the truth won't release her mother nor will the true culprit be apprehended. The novel received high praise when it was released, with critics commenting on how Christie can keep things mysterious and satisfying when she finally springs the truth.

4 Death On The Nile (1937)

It has had stage, tv, film, radio, graphic novel, and computer game adaptations, death on the nile.

Death on the Nile follows Hercule Poirot on holiday, taking a steamship cruise on the Nile River in Africa. Poirot discovers that one of his companions on the steamship is a murderer and must quickly figure out who it is before more passengers are killed. Beyond the intricate story that resolves in an exciting and unexpected finale, Death on the Nile features some of Christie's strongest character writing .

With a large cast trapped together, Christie manages to paint each character as a separate and unique person who stands out on their own. Reviews at the time were positive, with critics praising Christie's plotting and ability to hide the mystery until she chooses to reveal it. The book was also adapted into two successful movies, one in 1978 with Peter Ustinov and a second in 2022 by Kenneth Branagh.

Death on the Nile is another Agatha Christie film adaptation that stays true to the novel but also makes some pivotal changes.

3 The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd (1926)

The story was originally serialized in the london evening news.

Dr. James Sheppard narrates The Murder of Roger Ackroyd , a Poirot novel widely considered one of Christie's greatest books. The story follows the murder of the eponymous Roger Ackroyd, who is killed by his own dagger. Poirot uncovers the plot to kill Mr. Ackroyd, and the twists and turns to get to the final reveal are carefully inserted throughout the novel. Each character appears to have their own motivations and secrets, but the true killer's reveal is a massive twist that completely changes the trajectory of the story in a way that hadn't been done before in mystery novels.

The British Crime Writers' Association voted The Murder of Roger Ackroyd the best crime novel ever written (via The Independent ). The novel also has a shocking ending that ties the entire mystery together in what remains a controversial moment. It was adapted in 1931 as the movie Alibi, the first sound film based on an Agatha Christie story.

2 Murder On The Orient Express (1934)

In addition to screen adaptations, the story has also been adapted for a board game, computer game, and video game, murder on the orient express.

Murder on the Orient Express finds Poirot traveling from Istanbul to London on the titular train. While aboard, a passenger, Samuel Ratchett, is killed after receiving death threats. Every other passenger on the Orient Express is a suspect, and Poirot discovers that the web of conspiracy is much larger than he could have imagined. With the train stopped mid-journey in a snowstorm, there is no way off, creating a perfect location for Hercule Poirot to take on one of his greatest mysteries.

It's the story that other mystery stories are compared to and the improbable ending does not feel unbelievable thanks to how concisely written the plot and characters are. One of Christie's most famous novels , Murder on the Orient Express has been adapted across many artistic mediums. It was famously made into a movie in 1974 with Sidney Lumet as the director and Albert Finney as Poirot and again in 2017 with Kenneth Branagh, taking on both directorial duties and starring as Poirot.

1 And Then There Were None (1939)

It is the most adapted of christie's novels around the world, and then there were none (1945).

The best-selling crime novel of all time, with over 100 million copies sold (via The Guardian ), And Then There Were None (titled in the US as Ten Little Indians ) is Christie's best and most notable book . An unknown host invites a group of eight strangers to an island, and once there, someone kills them off one by one. This book is not a Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple murder mystery, but that is because this is a very different case, where there would be no survivors in the end.

And Then There Were None has been adapted into 10 movies, 15 TV shows, 2 radio plays, 4 prominent stage plays, 3 video/computer games, a board game, a graphic novel, a visual novel, and a web series.

Endlessly parodied and paid homage to, And Then There Were None is the definitive mystery chamber story. Agatha Christie's magnum opus is tightly written, ingenious, spooky, and has clues and pitfalls that feel earned. It's full of shocks and surprises from the start, and many mystery and crime thrillers owe thanks to this iconic story. " I wrote the book after a tremendous amount of planning, and I was pleased with what I had made of it, " Christie wrote in her autobiography. " It was clear, straightforward, baffling, and yet had a perfectly reasonable explanation. "

• Agatha Christie

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13 best books to read on holiday: Top reads for 2024

The top-rated summer books to add to your reading list .

No holiday packing list would be complete without a gripping book to escape into. Whether you're a romance fan or love a thrilling page-turner, I've rounded up the very best holiday reads to enjoy on your sun lounger this summer – reviewed by the HELLO! team.

From top-rated mystery novels to cult favourite fantasy books taking over TikTok, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this list, combining new releases for 2024 with trending authors. If paperbacks aren't for you, you'll find Kindle and Audible options available to sit back and relax into your new book while on the go. 

Best trending book: The Last Devil To Die: Thursday Murder Club 4 by Richard Osman

Best romance book: Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid  

Best thriller book: The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden

Best non-fiction book: Things No One Taught Us About Love by Vex King

How I chose the best holiday books 

• Reviews:  Most of the books in this list have been reviewed by the HELLO! team, while others have been included due to their top ratings. 
• Paperback/audible options: Who wants to carry around a hardback book on holiday? Certainly not me. If paperback isn't an option, Audible is available for those who prefer to listen to books rather than read them.
• Popularity:  Many of the books in the list have been a huge hit on TikTok, going viral for their popularity. So we know they're on plenty of people's wishlists, including ours.

TikTok Trending Books 

The last devil to die: the thursday murder club 4 by richard osman.

Richard Osman's 'Thursday Murder Club' novels took the internet by storm, with the third book 'The Bullet That Missed' breaking a record for the fastest-selling adult fiction hardback ever. The fourth installment of the series 'The Last Devil To Die' sees the gang come together again after an old friend in the antique business has been killed and a dangerous package he was protecting goes missing. 

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

HELLO! Reviews

"I'm a Colleen Hoover fan girl at this point, and I've got quite the collection. I first read 'It Ends With Us', and absolutely loved it. I'm counting down the days to watch the movie starring Blake Lively later this summer. BookTok is obsessed with 'Verity' and I enjoyed that one but it's not in my top 3 Colleen Hoover books. My recent fave has to be 'Ugly Love'. Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce

Colleen Hoover provides readers with hit after hit, and 'Ugly Love' is a clear winner on TikTok. The novel centres around Tate Collins meeting airline pilot Miles Archer. Forget love at first sight, this is attraction at first sight! The pair embark on a no-strings-attached arrangement but as you might expect, things get a little messy.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Despite being released back in 2020, 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' still makes its way onto my TikTok For You Page constantly. The fantasy series has gained a cult following, and has been described by author Alexandra Bracken as, "a gorgeously written tale as lush and romantic as it is ferocious."

Romance Books

Maybe in another life by taylor jenkins reid.

"From the author of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo', Taylor Jenkins Reid writes a captivating Sliding Doors-style novel that will have you hooked from start to finish. I loved the style of alternating chapters that play out the results of Hannah's small decision, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next." Sophie Bates, Commerce Writer  

The book follows two storylines of Hannah Martin, following the meeting of an old flame. In alternating chapters we see the two stories unfold with different outfits and large-scale consequences for Hannah and those around her, raising the question of whether anything is truly meant to be, and whether there is really such thing as a soul mate. 

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

"Someone on Amazon described this book as 'Delicious, like a bag of chips you can't put down until it's finished' and I have to agree. This isn't full on, and sexy as other books you can buy in the romance category, but it's definitely sweet and easy, and light, with all the magic of first love. It gave me all the feels - similar to when I watched 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', the Amazon Prime hit based on the book by Jenny Han. It's almost a little bit Hallmark (but I say that in a good way). Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce  

The story centres around Sam, who has the perfect life; she has a great job, the perfect fiancé, and a home she loves in the busy city. But when she returns home to her family's Long Island beach house to discuss wedding planning, she bumps into her first love, Wyatt. He's the man who broke her heart. As they spend more time together, the spark comes rushing back. But what happens when she's about to say 'I do'? You'll be smiling so much when you read this book

Paris For One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes

"Jojo Moyes is the author of the bittersweet 'Me Before You' -  she also wrote the screenplay for the film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin (yes, I ugly cried watching it) - and her short story collection is the perfect escape while on holiday or at home in your garden, too. And because it's in small doses of 11 tales – a real rollercoaster of love, humour and heartbreak about navigating the world of amour – it's perfect for any moment, no matter how brief, whether unwinding at the end of the day or relaxing in a sun lounger. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the first, and longest, story - 'Paris for One' - the story of Nell, who goes on her romantic weekend trip to Paris alone after her terrible boyfriend bails on her last minute - had me hooked! It's a breezy read that's engaging, too." Karen Silas, Senior Lifestyle Editor

If you're a fan of modern romance, 'Emily in Paris' and charming short stories, you'll love 'Paris for One and Other Stories' by Jojo Moyes. It has 11 heartwarming short stories, so it's perfect for those who struggle to dive into long books on their travels. 

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

"When I asked my Instagram followers for holiday book recommendations, this one came up so many times. I immediately ordered and I'm so glad I did. It has been hyped up on Bookstagram and BookTok, but I now know why. It's genuinely one of the BEST books I've ever read! It's one of those books that you carry on reading through the night even though you know you've got to go to sleep, it's just an addictive read. I have now read the sequel (which is called 'It Starts With Us' - you may as well buy both of them at the same time) and I cannot wait to see the movie. This is a great holiday book. It's an emotional rollercoaster - it made me laugh, it made me cry and I'm now officially in the Colleen Hoover fan club." Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce

Everyone has heard of 'It Ends With Us' by now. The number one bestseller went viral on TikTok and Instagram and is currently being made into a movie starring Blake Lively. The story revolves around Lily, a girl who hasn't always had it easy but she's determined to live the life she wants. When she meets Ryle Kincaid, he changes everything. But can her past life come back to haunt her? You'll have to read it to find out.

Comedy Books 

The f**k it list by melanie cantor.

"This is the perfect holiday book to enjoy on the sun lounger. Witty and relatable, the heartwarming read will have you laughing and crying, and you'll be rooting for protagonist Daisy from the very first page." Sophie Bates, Commerce Writer  

Melanie Cantor's 'The F**k It! List' has been described as a "triumphant comedy about a woman taking on the world on her own terms." It follows the story of Daisy who has just caught her boyfriend cheating on her fortieth birthday, sending her to feel like her dream of having a baby has been shattered. The uplifting read follows Daisy's attempt to tick off items from her F**k It list in order to take control back over her life.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

"I devour anything Curtis Sittenfeld writes and her latest book is practically perfect for your holiday read. It's a love story, her books usually are, but not as you know it. It's got bite, zing and Sittenfeld's classic female lead who you root for, no matter what. It was the sort of book I never wanted to end!" Carla Challis, Commerce Partnerships Editor  

From bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld, 'Romantic Comedy' tells the story of a TV scriptwriter who thinks she's done with love until an unlikely interest overturns her assumptions about romance. Reese Witherspoon described the novel has, "a hilarious, sweet, smart read that you're going to love!"

Thriller Books

The housemaid is watching by freida mcfadden.

"Freida McFadden's 'The Housemaid' series hooked me from the first novel, and I haven't been able to put down any of the pulse-racing books since. It's full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end." Sophie Bates, Commerce Writer

'The Housemaid is Watching' is the latest installment in Freida McFadden's series, and the psychological thriller can be read as a standalone if you haven't been following the popular series. The tension-packed novel will make you question how well you know your neighbours.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Inspired by Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None', Alice Feeney's Daisy Darker is the clever and compelling story of the Darker family isolated on their private island in Cornwall. Together for the first time in a decade, the family will be cut off from the rest of the world when the tide comes in, and when the tide goes out nothing will be the same again, because one of the family members is a killer.

Non-Fiction Books

Things no one taught us about love by vex king.

'Things No One Taught Us About Love' offers a guide into strengthening relations and understanding the true nature of love from the author of the bestselling 'Good Vibes, Good Life'. The book is described on Amazon as, "for anyone looking to harness the power of the universe, and their own self-understanding, to manifest stronger, deeper relationships."

Good Pop Bad Pop by Jarvis Cocker

"I grew up with Britpop in the Nineties and Jarvis Cocker's band Pulp were the number one repeat band on my stereo - so I knew I had to read this book. I absolutely adored it, although it's definitely not your typical autobiography. This is not a tell-all of his Common People days of fame and success - it ends with a 1988 acceptance letter from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, a decade before his career really took off. It's charming, funny and nostalgic in equal measures - a highly enjoyable read." Katherine Robinson, Senior Lifestyle Editor

The memoir from Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker delves into his unique life in 20th-century pop culture. It unfolds as Jarvis reviews the contents of his loft, deciding to keep or throw the objects he has stashed away there - each one with a story attached to it that reveals something pivotal about his youth and the things that shaped him and prepared him for his role as the quirky lead singer that went on to garner national treasure status.

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The best comics of 2024 so far

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Nothing beats having a new comic book in your hot little hands and settling in for a good read. Fortunately, 2024 has delivered fantastic comics from every side of the industry — and there are lots more on the way.

But for now, these are Polygon’s best comics of the first half of 2024. Stay tuned for more!

Comics were considered eligible if they were graphic novels published for the first time in 2024 or series that were collected for the first time, or published their final collection, in 2024. Everything on this list is available in paperback or collected form for your eager hands — no worries for trade-waiters.

Tokyo These Days

By Taiyo Matsumoto

I’ve never read a cartoonist that makes me feel the space between each panel as strongly as Taiyo Matsumoto. He doesn’t have to fill a page with the buzzing of cicadas or the pulse of a city’s streets for me to hear them in my ear; on a deep instinctual level he knows what two images juxtaposed together will create that ambience, and fill his pages with room tone. He is a master of quiet.

There are also few cartoonists as loud as Matsumoto. His distorted figures and grotesquely expressive close-ups are a gonzo hallmark of his work like Tekkonkinkreet or Ping Pong , which makes the still moments in those stories stand out all the more.

Yet Tokyo These Days has none of those moments of noisy bravura. It’s a more restrained, somber work, about Shiozawa, a career manga editor who surreptitiously decides to quit the business. Yet before he fully settles into retirement, he gives himself a final to-do list: to meet with several struggling cartoonists he used to work with and ask what happened to the love and passion that once lived in their stories, to see if there is any bit of romance left in the medium that wrung them all out. Burning out has never looked so beautiful. — Joshua Rivera

Transformers

By Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

Skybound Entertainment’s stealth launch of an interconnected G.I. Joe/Transformers setting was one of the best-kept comic book secrets of 2023. What has become clear as the Energon Universe has rolled out, however, is that Transformers is among 2024’s best comics set in any interconnected brand universe.

Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers is a war comic where the tanks and planes can punch and kick and vertical suplex each other off of cliffs — and it’s some of the most beautiful action put on the page this year. There’s more of a sense of scale and weight in any given panel of Transformers than there is in the whole of a Michael Bay movie. And when it comes to implied motion in a static image, Johnson is simply one of the best in the business.

But for a book that’s 90% the wildest “giant robots that can turn into cars and planes” action you’ve ever seen, the stakes are as small and personal as the families of precocious teens Spike and Carly. The real miracle of Transformers is how Johnson keeps it all pinned to an emotional ground — and when the fights are so good, that’s saying something. — Susana Polo

By Sanford Greene, Jonathan Hickman, Rachellle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramanga

There is a tendency to overrepresent the contribution of writers in discussions about comics, especially when they loom as large as Jonathan Hickman. So it’s something that Doom doesn’t even open with his words, but with late rapper MF Doom’s. “Living on borrowed time/The clock ticks faster” begins the stand-alone one-shot, cribbing the opening bars of “Accordion,” a track off the era-defining album Madvillainy . It’s a good tone-setter: The writer, like the reader, is just along for the ride.

The wonderfully kinetic artist/writer Sanford Greene is the MC here, setting the stage for a story about the greatest villain in the Marvel Universe at the end of everything. This wouldn’t be the first story about Doctor Doom as the last man standing between a version of the Marvel Universe and a Galactus gone mad — but it is perhaps the most thrilling. Doom ’s lean, mean script sets the stakes as big as they come, and then gets out of the way to let Sanford Greene absolutely rip, folding the character’s entire history into one cosmic battle. His linework is unrestrained chaos fitting the story’s scope, with Greene and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg rendering the end of the world in magenta and green.

In a fallow era for American superhero comics, Doom is a goddamn meteor streaking across the sky, with metaphors made flesh wrestling above all of existence. The magic trick Greene and Hickman pull here is a very old one, when you think about it. Here it is, the bare minimum of what a good superhero comic should be, spun into one of the coolest damn books you can read. Straw spun into gold. — JR

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two

By Emil Ferris

In 2017, Emil Ferris’ debut graphic novel, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters , exploded out of nowhere to become one of the most acclaimed books of the 2010s. Presented as the spiral notebooks of Karen Reyes, a precocious grade schooler who loves art and creature features, the comic was dazzling in its voice and density. Through Karen’s monster-obsessed eyes, Ferris gave readers a vivid ballpoint-pen portrait of ’60s Chicago and its sex workers, queer and BIPOC denizens, and related outcasts as Karen attempts to solve a murder and uncovers a family secret.

The first half of a two-volume work, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters spent seven years suspended on a cliffhanger as a dispute between Ferris and publisher Fantagraphics kept the fate of Book Two in limbo until now. Ferris’ struggle to publish this voluminous work has not been in vain — My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two is as awe-inspiring a conclusion as its predecessor was an opening act.

Following the template set by the first volume, Karen’s journals depict a girl dealing with tumultuous change within and without, in parallel with the city around her. Under Karen’s pen, fictitious monsters are a comfort as she comes to grips with a life more perilous than she realized, one haunted by gangsters, crooked cops, and killers that threatens to swallow her and her older brother Diego alive. Answers to the questions posed in the first act elude her in the second — and the ones she does find are overwhelming.

Ferris has done something incredible in these two volumes. She’s crafted a coming-of-age story like no other, a comic that considers the ways we have made monsters out of the innocent so monstrousness can run rampant, and funneled all through the pen of a 10-year-old unaware she’s experienced a lifetime of horror. She draws herself as a little werewolf to cope, but also maybe to inspire. There are good monsters and bad monsters, and it’s on us to decide which we’re going to be. —JR

By Chip Zdarsky and Jacob Phillips

A crime drama lives or dies on its tone, and a detective series lives or dies on its hook — and Newburn , a modern noir crime drama with the structure of a detective series, lives quite well indeed.

Newburn ’s tight two-volume story introduces Easton Newburn, private detective, as he takes on an apprentice partner. The twist is that Newburn doesn’t work for just anybody: He’s the neutral party that all of New York City’s organized crime families depend on to get to the real truth. Writer Chip Zdarsky spins up a cadre of murder mysteries where the answer is never just whodunit but “who’s gonna pay for it without throwing the city into gang war,” while artist Jacob Phillips’ understated colors and linework belie just how talented you have to be to make a book with this many conversations feel tense and dynamically staged.

Newburn ’s marriage of crime comics and the odd-couple detective duo slides easily into the most compelling questions of both genres: This detective is the best at what he does, but has he left his humanity behind him? And if these righteous people live so close to the unrighteous, how long until they topple over the brink? Or have they already? — SP

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