#ThisBook

#ThisBook, 20 Books

Back in May 2014, the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction launched the #ThisBook campaign. The aim was simple: to find out which books, written by women, have had the biggest impact on readers.

Boston Public Library: Top Genre Books of the 2010s

Boston Public Library, 120 Books

The top 10 genre specific books of the 2010s from the Reader Services Department at the Boston Public Library. Please note that this list only includes specific genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Horror, Memoirs, Middle School, Picture Books, Romance, Science Fiction, Self-Help, Social Justice, Thrillers, and Young Adult. Their general Fiction and Non-fiction are in another list.

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence, 23 Books

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year and serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers.

Powell's Essential List: 25 Essential Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books Isn't Enough: Our 25 Honorable Mentions

Powells' City of Books, 25 Books

Powell's Books has unveiled a follow-up to their celebrated Essential List: 25 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far), introducing an "Honorable Mentions" list that spotlights outstanding titles which narrowly missed inclusion. After extensive deliberations and contributions from the entire Powell's team, this list comprises exceptional science fiction and fantasy books that have significantly impacted the genre. Despite focusing on works published after 1999, to maintain a contemporary perspective, the list also acknowledges timeless classics that, due to various constraints, couldn't be featured in their initial selection. This Honorable Mentions list serves as a tribute to the depth and diversity of the genre, including both beloved works from the last two decades and enduring favorites that continue to resonate with readers. Powell's encourages readers to explore these selections and share their own indispensable titles, further enriching the ongoing conversation about the essential reads in science fiction and fantasy.

The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010s)

Literary Hub, 39 Books

The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010-2019) chosen by the Literary Hub staff. This does not include translated books. This actually includes 39 books because they included 19 additional books in "Dissenting Opinions" section. I am assuming those are in ranked order.

The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s

Paste Magazine, 40 Books

Novels have inherent power. From building new worlds to reanimating history, they have the ability to enthrall and challenge us. But their most powerful trait is that they offer an escape while still encouraging readers to think critically, weaving entertainment and reflection into one experience.
As the decade comes to a close, we want to celebrate the novels that impacted us during the last 10 years. This list includes 40 novels published in English between 2010 and September 2019, and we’ve limited it to one book per author. The Paste staff tends to read fantasy and literary fiction, so you’ll notice the majority of the titles below fit those labels. And this list is obviously subjective; it’s by no means representative of the only “good” novels published during the last 10 years. This is simply a collection of the books we wept over, laughed with and were inspired by during a tumultuous decade.

We loved these books, and we believe you will, too.

Ockham New Zealand Yearly Fiction Award Winners

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, 27 Books

The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are literary awards presented annually in New Zealand. The awards began in 1996 as the merger of two literary awards events: the New Zealand Book Awards, which ran from 1976 to 1995, and the Goodman Fielder Wattie Book Awards, which ran from 1968 to 1995 (known as the Montana Book Awards from 1994 to 1995).

Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

NPR, 100 Books

NPR did a readers survey of the Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy books in 2011. More than 60,000 ballots were cast in our annual summer reader's survey — click here to see the full list of 100 books, complete with links and descriptions. Below is a list of the top 100 winners.

Paste Magazine's Best Books of the Decade(2000-2009)

Paste Magazine, 26 Books

The top 20 best books of the 2000s by Paste Magazine. It includes both fiction and nonfiction.

Books of the Decade

The Guardian, 52 Books

The 50 books that defined the decade(2000)

The 10 Best of the Decade(2000)

Entertainment Weekly, 10 Books

Entertainment Weekly's top 10 best books of the 2000s

Boston Public Library: Top Fiction and Non-Fiction Books of the 2010s

Boston Public Library, 20 Books

The top 10 books of the 2010s from the Reader Services Department at the Boston Public Library. Please note that this list only includes the fiction and non-fiction books. The genres are aggregated in a different list.

International Dublin Literary Award

International Dublin Literary Award, 28 Books

The International Dublin Literary Award (Irish: Duais Liteartha Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Chliath), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. It promotes excellence in world literature and is solely sponsored by Dublin City Council, Ireland. At €100,000, the award is one of the richest literary prizes in the world.

Great Books of the Western World

Great Books Foundation, 130 Books

Great Books of the Western World is a series of books originally published in the United States in 1952 by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. to present the western canon in a single package of 54 volume...

The 40 best plays of all time

Independent, 41 Books

Paul Taylor and Holly Williams choose 40 brilliant plays to watch, hear or read

Top 50 Books

The Folio Society, 49 Books

These top 50 books were voted on by The Folio Society members in 1997. The Folio Society is a London-based publisher, founded by Charles Ede in 1947 and incorporated in 1971.

25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century

Powell's Books, 25 Books

It’s hard for us to believe that it’s been 17 years since we first toasted the new millennium. In January 2001, a gallon of gas cost $1.46. Facebook was three years from launching. 9/11 hadn’t happened. Huge political and cultural shifts were only months away… and some of the best books we’ve ever read were waiting in the wings. This year, for our fifth annual 25 Books to Read Before You Die list, we’ve selected novels, poetry, short stories, and nonfiction that speak to central concerns of 21st-century life: among them, race, heredity, identity, war, and the vanishing wild. From double agents to Hurricane Katrina to intergalactic travel, these 25 vastly different books create a stunning portrait of the dislocation, perseverance, and hope at the heart of life in 21st-century America.

The Dream of the Great American Novel

Book, 16 Books

Writer Lawrence Buell discusses the primary contenders for the title of the "Great American Novel".

The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written

Easton Press, 102 Books

Easton Press's selection of the greatest books of the Western Canon.

The 100 Best Books in the World

AbeBooks.de (in German), 101 Books

German bookseller website AbeBooks.de makes their selection for the "100 greatest books ever written".

50 Books to Read Before You Die

Barnes and Noble, 55 Books

Barnes and Noble's selection of the 50 most essential books.

The Indian Fiction Top 25

Jerry Pinto, Indian poet and novelist, 25 Books

This is a list of the top 25 Indian fiction books by Jerry Pinto. Jerry is a Mumbai-based Indian-English poet, novelist, short story writer, translator, as well as journalist. Pinto's works include Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb, which won the Best Book on Cinema Award at the 54th National Film Awards, Surviving Women and Asylum and Other Poems.

Der Kanon (The Canon)

Der Kanon, 20 Books

Der Kanon (German pronunciation: [deːɐ̯ ˈkaːnɔn], "The Canon") or more precisely Marcel-Reich-Ranickis Kanon is a large anthology of exemplary works of German literature.
Edited by the literary critic Marcel Reich-Ranicki (1920–2013), he called the anthology, announced on 18 June 2001 in the German news magazine Der Spiegel under the title
"The Canon of worthwhile German Works", his magnum opus. This list is not the full Canon, this is only the novels.

National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction

National Book Critics Circle, 48 Books

The National Book Critics Circle Award is an annual award given by the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) to promote the finest books and reviews published in English.

James Tait Black Memorial Prize: Fiction

James Tait Black Memorial Prize, 111 Books

The James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are literary prizes awarded for literature written in the English language.
The winners are chosen by the Professor of English Literature at the university, who is assisted by postgraduate students in the shortlisting phase, a structure which is seen to lend the prizes a considerable gravitas.

For the book prizes works of fiction and biographies must be written in English. The nationality of the author does not matter, but submissions must be first published (or co-published) in Britain during the calendar year of the award. Any given author can only win each prize once. However, he or she can win both prizes at the same time.

The Ultimate Book Bucket List: The 75 Best Books Of All Time

Refinery29, 75 Books

What is the best book of all time? This question is impossible to answer — to some, the best book of all time might be Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. To others, it could be A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. If we’re looking at plain numbers, it appears that The Bible is the best-selling book of all time — but does that really make it the best book of all time?
Because there are just so many books well worth a read, we’ve collated some of the very best stories ever told for you in the list below. They’re even sorted by genre, so you can pick your favourite and get started — do you like fiction, non-fiction, romance, or even fantasy? We’ve got you covered.

National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction

National Book Critics Circle, 45 Books

The National Book Critics Circle Award is an annual award given by the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) to promote the finest books and reviews published in English.

The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books for Every Kind of Reader

Men's Health, 49 Books

Joshua St. Clair and Milan Polk created this list for Men's Health titled "The 50 Best Sci-Fi Books for Every Kind of Reader"

The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993

Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com, 100 Books

The 100 greatest american novels picked by Jeff O’Neal, Editor-in-Chief & Co-founder of Bookriot.com

The 80 Books Every Man Should Read

Esquire, 80 Books

An unranked, incomplete, utterly biased list of the greatest works of literature ever published.

Powell's Essential List: 25 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century

Powells' City of Books, 25 Books

Powell's Books has curated a compelling list of the 21st century's best science fiction and fantasy novels, offering an escape into realms far beyond the mundane realities of our current world. This collection is a vibrant tapestry of narratives, featuring distant planets, formidable dragons, and epic space romances. It brings together a diverse array of characters—from mutants and robots to prophets and space creatures—embarking on adventures filled with mythology, galactic wars, and profound philosophical inquiries. These selections are not just about escapism; they boldly tackle significant contemporary issues such as climate change, race, gender identity, sexuality, and class, while also delving into the universal themes of love, loss, heartache, and hope. Highlighting the imaginative potential of the 21st century, Powell's list presents 25 essential reads that promise to enchant, challenge, and inspire readers with their visionary insights and fantastical worlds.

The 13 Best Science Books for the General Reader

The Guardian, 13 Books

Steven Weinberg, The Nobel laureate, lists his 13 best science books for the general reader

The 25 Best Science-Fiction Books of All Time

Spy.com, 25 Books

Timothy Beck Werth, an avid Science Fiction book reader and collector, made a list of The 25 Best Science-Fiction Books of All Time, for Spy.com

The 50 Best Plays of All Time

TimeOut, 50 Books

New York is practically synonymous with theater, and from Broadway to Off Broadway to Off-Off Broadway, there are countless opportunities to see top-notch dramatic works. Of the countless shows that have been produced since the dawn of performance, it’s nearly impossible to choose the best plays. But we’ve done just that with our list of the best plays of all time.

What does it mean to say which plays are the best? Quality, popularity, universality, influence and historical importance all factored into the decision-making process. From Greek tragedies and Shakespearean comedies to Tony Award winners and modern experimental theater, this opinionated list by the late theater journalist and critic and Andy Propst covers some truly excellent works

Top 200 Science Fiction Books (Pre-2000)

Sci-Fi Lists, 200 Books

This is a list of the best 200 Pre-2000 science fiction books as determined by Peter Sykes at Sci-Fi Lists.

Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels

David Pringle, 100 Books

Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, An English-Language Selection, 1949-1984 is a nonfiction book by David Pringle, published by Xanadu in 1985 with a foreword by Michael Moorcock. Primarily, the book comprises 100 short essays on the selected works, covered in order of publication, without any ranking. It is considered an important critical summary of the science fiction field.

Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time

National Geographic Adventure Magazine, 101 Books

The 100 greatest adventure books chosen by National Geographic.

A Science Canon (Ian McEwan)

The Guardian, 15 Books

Thirty years ago, Richard Dawkins published his groundbreaking book The Selfish Gene. Ian McEwan argues that it is part of a long history of literary science writing, in which the pursuit of truth and the excitement of new ideas is conveyed in luminous prose

The Twenty Greatest Philosophy Books (Book from 2006)

James Garvey, 20 Books

The essential guide to the top twenty greatest books in philosophy for those who have just never quite found the time to read them.

In this witty and engaging book, James Garvey offers an introductory account of the must-read books from the whole history of philosophical writing. From Plato to Popper, Descartes to Wittgenstein, the greatest books in philosophy have had a huge impact on the development of contemporary society, politics, economics and culture. This entertaining and intelligent guide introduces the philosophical questions central to these books that are of genuine interest to the general reader and opens up often complex and challenging ideas for wider debate.

James Garvey is the Managing Director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and the Editor of The Philosophers' Magazine

Mary Warnock's top 10 philosophy books

Mary Warnock, 10 Books

Lady Mary Warnock is a crossbench life peer, moral philosopher and author of a number of books on philosophy, including The Intelligent Person's Guide to Ethics. This is her list of her favorite philosophy books

Top 100 Fantasy Books

Fantasy Book Review, 103 Books

Fantasy Book Review lists their Top 100 Fantasy Books of all time, with links to their reviews of each one. Here's what their description says:

The 100 fantasy books that we - and other readers - simply cannot recommend highly enough; books that we've all loved reading. Click on a book title to read the full review.

The Drama 100 - A Ranking of the Greatest Plays of All Time

Book, 100 Books

Which plays are truly great, and why? This book by Daniel Burt profiles 100 of the greatest plays drawn from all cultures and periods of literature.

22 of the Funniest Novels Since ‘Catch-22’

New York Times, 22 Books

Three critics from the New York Times put together a list of 22 of the funniest novels written in English since Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” (1961).

The 101 GREATEST PLAYS of the Past 100 Years (1920-2020)

Broadway World, 102 Books

The 101 GREATEST PLAYS of the Past 100 Years (1920-2020) as determined by Peter Nason

The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008

Entertainment Weekly, 100 Books

Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008.

The 100 Best Science Fiction Books of All Time

Tor, 116 Books

This list, "The 100 Best Science Fiction Books of All Time," was curated by the team at Tor Online, a prominent platform for science fiction literature. In an initiative launched last year, they reached out to their audience, calling upon readers to nominate their favorite science fiction novels. The aim was to compile a definitive list that celebrates the richness and diversity of the science fiction genre, spanning its entire history up to the present day. The titles selected do not necessarily represent the most original, successful, challenging, or influential works in the field, acknowledging that such a collection could never be exhaustive or objective. Instead, the list stands as a broad cross-section of science fiction literature, including both timeless classics and notable contemporary works, intended to offer readers a comprehensive and inspiring exploration of the genre. The selection process, detailed by editor Markus Mäurer in a series of articles, underscores the collaborative effort between the editorial team and the genre's enthusiastic readership, making it a unique and representative compilation for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

100 Main Fantasy and Science-Fiction Books

www.mirf.ru (Russian), 112 Books

List done by multiple people on a Russian publication.

Critera:" Our list includes only those books and series that have become universally recognized pillars of fantasy literature or have had a significant impact on the development of individual fantasy trends. At the same time, we did not give in to the temptation to attribute the main contribution to science fiction to English-speaking authors: almost a fifth of our list is occupied by books by Russian masters of the word.

So, here are those 100 books that, according to MirF, any self-respecting fan of science fiction simply must read!" (translated)

50 Greatest Plays of The Past 100 Years (1913–2013)

Entertainment Weekly, 50 Books

Entertainment Weekly lists the 50 greatest plays of the past 100 years. Here's the description from their website:

Stage plays can have the power to move us, make us laugh, and speak to the human condition more than most art forms. From Southern gothic character studies such as A Streetcar Named Desire to sprawling epics that encapsulate a specific place and time like Angels in America, the past century has seen some of our most defining stories originate on the stage for the benefit of rapt theatergoers.

Ahead, we've ranked what we believe to be the greatest plays of the past 100 years, with links to where you can purchase them all to read (though we encourage you to seek them out if any are being mounted on the stage in your area).

Women's Prize for Fiction

Women's Prize for Fiction, 28 Books

The Women's Prize for Fiction (previously called Orange Prize for Fiction (1996-2006 & 2009-12), Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction (2007-2008) and Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (2014-2017)) is one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary prizes, annually awarded to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English, and published in the United Kingdom in the preceding year.

40 Essential Feminist Books to Read for Women's History Month

Harpers Bazaar, 40 Books

Harpers Bazaar list of the 40 essential feminist books. Here's the description from their website:

a list of thought-provoking books that cover everything from reproductive justice and economic equity to domestic labor and sex work. Whether you're looking to brush up on the early days of the movement, be inspired by modern-day feminist heroes, or witness how far we've come (and how far we still have to go), these are the perfect books to pick up for Women's History Month—and every other time of year.