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