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 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Education, Arts / Culture, Natural Disaster, Philosophy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Sports, Relationships, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2005
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: World, Biography, History: U.S., History: The Americas, Politics / Government, Travel Literature, Action / Adventure
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey (2005) is a work of nonfiction by Candice Millard, a former writer and editor for National Geographic. The book describes Roosevelt’s 1914 expedition down an unexplored river in the Amazon rainforest, which nearly cost him his life. Despite poor preparation for the trip, Roosevelt and the group managed to overcome the Amazon’s physical and psychological challenges and placed a 1,000-mile river on the map in a historic... Read The River of Doubt Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Gender / Feminism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War, History: World, Romance
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Jewish Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, British Literature, Gothic Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Parenting, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Depression / Suicide, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Western, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Jewish Literature, Christian literature, History: World, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Gender / Feminism, History: Middle Eastern
In The Secret Chord (2015), Geraldine Brooks, a former journalist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of historical fiction, turns to the story of the biblical King David. She uses this figure from religion and history to study human nature. Her David is far from a saint. He is a complex character: “a man who dwelt in the searing glance of the divine, but who sweated and stank, rutted without restraint, butchered the innocent, betrayed those... Read The Secret Chord Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags History: World, Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: U.S., Social Justice, Psychology, Biography
The Secret History of Wonder Woman is a nonfiction book by Jill Lepore, published in 2014. It falls into the categories of history, comics, women’s studies, and biography, and won the American History Book Prize from the New York Historical Society. Lepore is a professor of American history at Harvard University and a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine. This guide was written from the hardcover first edition.SummaryThe first section, called “Veritas,” includes nine... Read The Secret History of Wonder Woman Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World, Indian Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2020
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Self Discovery, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Russian Literature, History: World
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Race
Tags Satire, Humor, Race / Racism, African American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Paul Beatty is the author of the 2015 novel The Sellout—a satire that makes fun of contemporary norms around race and identity. In the novel, Beatty applies his no-holds-barred idea of comedy to segregation, slavery, police brutality, and countless tragic and fraught issues that people typically treat with extreme seriousness and sensitivity. Through the main character, Me, the book provides an ironic and unexpected take on themes like Racial and Personal Identity and Capitalism’s Power... Read The Sellout Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language
Tags Grief / Death, Biography
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Indigenous
Tags Nature Writing
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Society: Nation, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Literature, History: World