The Best of "Best Book" Lists

The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature


Publication year 2019

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family

Tags LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Biography


Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Economics

Tags Arts / Culture


Publication year 2001

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Relationships, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Gender / Feminism, Parenting, Psychology, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2013

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Self Discovery

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant, explores the concept of reciprocity in the workplace and how it can lead to personal and professional success. First published in 2013, the book bridges the genres of business psychology and self-help, providing readers with actionable strategies to enhance their careers and professional relationships. Grant, an organizational psychologist and professor, draws on his extensive research and real-world examples to demonstrate the power of... Read Give and Take Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (Harper Teen, 2016) is the second installment of the New York Times bestselling Red Queen YA fantasy series and follows a group of fugitives and rebels as they work to build an army to take on the powerful ruling class. Glass Sword follows Red Queen and is the prequel to King’s Cage. Aveyard grew up in western Massachusetts before moving to Los Angeles, California where she received her degree in... Read Glass Sword Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2007

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Sociology, Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Politics / Government

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (2007) is a polemical text by English writer Christopher Hitchens. The author argues that religion is a cultural construct that represses people more than it liberates them. He examines religion’s role in sexuality, science, and human dignity and posits that organized religion rarely (if ever) benefits humanity at large. Hitchens was a noted columnist and contributing editor to Vanity Fair magazine.Its themes include mass delusions, the misogyny... Read God Is Not Great Summary


Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Romance, Military / War, American Civil War, Southern Literature, History: World

Gone with the Wind (1936) is the only novel by author Margaret Mitchell published during her lifetime. It is an enduring but controversial classic of American literature, and according to one poll, its popularity among American readers is only exceeded by the Bible. Thirty million copies have been sold worldwide.The novel’s tale of the Civil War is told from the perspective of the wealthy planter class that ruled the antebellum South, a class from which... Read Gone With The Wind Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

Tags Humor, Health / Medicine, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

Goodbye, Vitamin is Asian American author Rachel Khong’s debut novel. Khong, whose grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, explores how Alzheimer’s disease affects a family in this work of literary fiction. Written as a series of diary entries, Khong’s protagonist, Ruth Young, meditates on memory, forgiveness, and the challenges inherent in familial relationships as she navigates an adulthood that is not turning out as planned.Published in 2017, Goodbye, Vitamin received positive reviews and was named one of... Read Goodbye, Vitamin Summary


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Technology, Psychology, Crime / Legal, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2019

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Self Discovery

Tags Psychology, Biography, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Religion / Spirituality, Race / Racism, American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Go Tell it on the Mountain is a semi-autobiographical novel by James Baldwin. Published in 1953, the novel tells the story of a teenager in 1930s Harlem named John Grimes as well as his wider family, dealing with themes of religion, sexuality, and race. This guide uses an eBook version of the Modern Penguin Classics edition of the novel. Plot SummaryGo Tell it on the Mountain is set on the 14th birthday of the protagonist... Read Go Tell It on the Mountain Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, American Revolution, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2017

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., American Civil War, Military / War, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, WWII / World War II, Satire, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, American Literature, Classic Fiction

Gravity’s Rainbow is a 1973 historical satire by American novelist Thomas Pynchon, who is known for complex narratives that are often dense, fragmented, and episodic. The story is set during the last days of World War II as characters search for a mysterious rocket developed by the German military. The novel has been hailed as one of the most important English language works of the 20th century.Pynchon, disinclined to engage with the press or public... Read Gravity's Rainbow Summary