The 100 best books of the 21st century

The Guardian (2019), 100 Books

Dazzling debut novels, searing polemics, the history of humanity and trailblazing memoirs ... Read our pick of the best books since 2000

The Best Fiction Books of the 2010s

Time (2020), 10 Books

Here are TIME’s picks for the 10 best fiction books of the 2010s, in order of publication year.

The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s

Paste Magazine (2020), 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.

Top 10 Fiction Books of the Decade(2010)

Entertainment Weekly (2020), 20 Books

To celebrate the end of the 2010s, Entertainment Weekly’s Must List is looking back at the best pop culture of the decade that changed movies, TV, music, and more (catch up on our list so far, which includes the MCU’s big Snap, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s history-making hit Hamilton, and Beyonce’s iconic Coachella set). Today, we look back on our favorite fiction books of the past 10 years.

25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century

Powell's Books (2018), 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 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels

BBC (2015), 20 Books

What are the greatest novels of the opening years of this tumultuous century? In search of a collective critical assessment, BBC Culture contributor Jane Ciabattari polled several dozen book critics, including The New York Times Book Review’s Parul Sehgal, Time magazine's book editor Lev Grossman, Newsday book editor Tom Beer, Bookslut founder Jessa Crispin, C Max Magee, founder of The Millions, Booklist's Donna Seaman, Kirkus Reviews' Laurie Muchnick and many more. We asked each to name the best novels published in English since 1 January 2000. The critics named 156 novels in all, and based on the votes these are the top 12.

*Note
Although it says 12, they list more

Who voted? It says "several dozen" people and lists a few by name. I am going to go with 36

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

The Book (2006), 1001 Books

A book edited by Peter Boxall, and written by over 100 hundred international critics.

The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time

The Guardian (2017), 100 Books

After two years of careful reading, moving backwards through time, Robert McCrum has concluded his selection of the 100 greatest nonfiction books. Take a quick look at five centuries of great writing

A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Canon

Vulture (2018), 100 Books

A panel of critics tells us what belongs on a list of the 100 most important books of the 2000s … so far.

here's a list of the voters:

Alice Bolin, essayist
Sloane Crosley, author, most recently of Look Alive Out There
Molly Fischer, senior editor, the Cut
John Freeman, author, editor of Freeman’s
Dagoberto Gilb, author of several short-story collections
Mark Greif, author, Against Everything
Lidija Haas, New Books columnist, Harper’s
Edward Hart, senior editor, New York
Michiko Kakutani, former chief book critic, the New York Times
Hillary Kelly, critic and essayist
Dan Kois, editor of the Slate Book Review
Maris Kreizman, book critic and essayist
Laura Lippman, crime novelist
Christian Lorentzen, book critic, New York
Tom Lutz, editor-in-chief, Los Angeles Review of Books
Wyatt Mason, contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine
Heller McAlpin, book reviewer for the Washington Post, NPR, and others
Laura Miller, books and culture columnist, Slate
Eileen Myles, poet
Sarah Nicole Prickett, critic for Artforum, Bookforum, et al.
Nathaniel Rich, author, most recently, of King Zeno
Jess Row, novelist and critic
Luc Sante, critic and author of Low Life
Nikil Saval, co-editor, n+1
Lila Shapiro, culture journalist
Christine Smallwood, critic and writer
Adam Sternbergh, contributing editor, New York
Kate Tuttle, president, National Book Critics Circle
David Velasco, editor-in-chief, Artforum
Oscar Villalon, editor and critic
Sarah Weinman, author, The Real Lolita
Thomas Chatterton Williams, contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine

The New Vanguard

New York Times (2018), 15 Books

Our critics chose 15 remarkable books by women that are shaping the way we read and write fiction in the 21st century.

who voted?
Dwight Garner, Jennifer Szalai and Parul Sehgal

The Great American Read

PBS (2018), 100 Books

PBS and the producers worked with the public opinion polling service “YouGov” to conduct a demographically and statistically representative survey asking Americans to name their most-loved novel. Approximately 7,200 people participated.

The results were tallied and organized based on our selection criteria and overseen by an advisory panel of 13 literary industry professionals. The criteria for inclusion on the top 100 list were as follows:

Each author was limited to one title on the list (to keep the list varied).

Books published in series or featuring ongoing characters counted as one eligible entry on the list (e.g. the Harry Potter series or Lord of the Rings)to increase variety.

Books could be from anywhere in the world as long as they were published in English.

Only fiction could be included in the poll.

Each advisory panel member was permitted to select one book for discussion and possible inclusion on the top 100 list from the longer list of survey results.

Waterstone's Books of the Century

LibraryThing (1997), 102 Books

Waterstones is a bookstore chain with more than 200 stores in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Europe. In January 1997, Waterstones announced the results of its Books of the Century poll to find out what the public considered to be the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century. Over 25, 000 people took part in the poll and the Book of the Century was revealed as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

The best books in Spanish for the last 25 years

El Pais (2016), 24 Books

50 critics, writers and booksellers from both sides of the Atlantic choose the milestones of the last quarter century.

Best German Novels of the Twentieth Century

Wikipedia (1999), 10 Books

The Best German Novels of the Twentieth Century is a list of books compiled in 1999 by Literaturhaus München and Bertelsmann, in which 99 prominent German authors, literary critics, and scholars of German ranked the most significant German-language novels of the twentieth century.

The group brought together 33 experts from each of the three categories. Each was allowed to name three books as having been the most important of the century.

The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers

The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization (2002), 121 Books

The 101 great books recommended by "The College Board", an American not-for-profit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education.

Third World Novels… The Top 10

New Internationalist (1989), 10 Books

There are many gifted Third World writers who can
help you transcend barriers of language and tradition
but you might find it difficult to know where to start. As a guide,
the NI has chosen its ten best novels - the ones which are both
enjoyable to read and give a vivid impression of life in developing
countries. They are not listed in any significant order.

who voted?
I researched this list and could only find information on 1 single person working on this list

The 100 Greatest British Novels

BBC (2015), 104 Books

This list, titled "The 100 Greatest British Novels," aims to provide an outsider's perspective on the best British literature by exclusively polling 82 book critics from outside the UK, curated by BBC Culture contributor Jane Ciabattari. The selection criteria focused on novels only, excluding nonfiction, plays, poems, and short story collections, and required the authors to be British. Each critic submitted a ranked list of 10 novels, with their top choice receiving 10 points, which were then totaled to determine the final ranking. The listing reflects a global perspective, drawing on critics from diverse regions including the United States, Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, India, and the Middle East, comprising both literary scholars and active book reviewers from reputable publications. In total, 228 novels were nominated, from which the top 100 were selected based on the points system.

The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years

Parade Magazine (2016), 88 Books

A list of voted on by 17 employees(book sellers) at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN for Parade Magazine.

25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years

Wasafiri Magazine (2013), 23 Books

The 25 books were chosen by 25 respected names in international writing, many of whom have contributed over the years to Wasafiri magazine, including Indra Sinha, Blake Morrison and Fred D’Aguiar.

Note: I don't think the voters understood "the last 25 years" bit. There are many books that are much much older. Also this list is 23 books and not 25, since 3 authors picked 100 Years of Solitude

The Dream of the Great American Novel

Book (2014), 16 Books

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

The Best Classics

The Times (2006), 93 Books

The Times selection of the 100 best classic works of literature.

50 Books to Read Before You Die

Barnes and Noble (2015), 55 Books

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

50 Books to Read Before You Die

Complex (2012), 50 Books

Complex Magazine's selection of 50 must-read books.

Who voted?
Written by Matt Barone (@MBarone) and Ross Scarano (@RossScarano)

Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale

Raymond Queneau (1956), 111 Books

"In the early 1950s Raymond Queneau asked several dozen French authors and critics to list the hundred books they would choose if they had to limit themselves to that number. He reproduced all their responses in the book Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale (Gallimard, 1956), along with the overall top 100 list reproduced above."

Who voted? There were 40 authors and critics who responded
Raymond Abellio – Jean Anouilh – Marcel Arland – Alexandre Arnoux – Jacques Audiberti – Gaston Bachelard – Gérard Bauer – Hervé Bazin – Yvon Belaval – André Berry – André Billy – Henri Bosco – André Breton – Pierre Brisson – Blaise Cendrars – Paul Claudel – Jean Cocteau – Louis-René des Forêts – André Dhotel – Roland Dorgelès – Bernard Dorival – Marcel Duhamel – Raymond Dumay – Georges Dumézil – Paul Éluard – Lucien Fabre – Maurice Garçon – Georges Huisman – Georges Izard – Marcel Jouhandeau – Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler – Joseph Kessel – Valéry Larbaud – Michel Leiris – Léon Lemonnier – Marguerite Liberaki – Armand Lunel – Pierre Mac Orlan – André Maurois – Jean Meckert – Robert Merle – Henry Miller – Marianne Moore – Paul Morand – Maurice Nadeau – Brice Parain – Jean Paulhan – Benjamin Péret – Gaëtan Picon – Francis Poulenc – Frédéric Prokosch – Raymond Queneau – Jean Rostand – Denis de Rougemont – Jules Roy – Armand Salacrou – Georges Simenon – Jules Supervielle – Edmond Vermeil

Great Books

Anthony O'Hear (2013), 22 Books

A short list of essential works of the Western Canon, as selected scholar Anthony O'Hear.

The Great Books Reader

Book (2011), 29 Books

"In this volume you will be guided by esteemed professors and writers who have selected excerpts from the most important books in Western Civilization. A brief essay illuminates each excerpt and puts the work in context. Take your education to the next level by letting some of the best thinkers of today walk you through the most influential books in history."

100 Books to Read in a Lifetime

Amazon.com (UK) (2014), 100 Books

Amazon UK editors select 100 books that they deem "essential".

100 Best Novels Written in English

The Guardian (2015), 100 Books

Respected literary critic Robert McCrum selects the definitive 100 novels written in English.

The 100 Best Books in the World

AbeBooks.de (in German) (2021), 101 Books

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

The Bigger Read List

English PEN (2003), 160 Books

The English PEN staff compiled a list of the best works not written in the English language. This list combines their list with the suggestions made by Fred Armentrout, President of Hong Kong (English-Speaking) PEN.

who voted and how many people voted?
Best estimate:
Core curators: ~7 English PEN staff
Member contributors: on the order of 30–50 people (call-out responders)
Named external contributor: 1 (Fred Armentrout)
Total individuals who actually affected the list: ≈ 40–60

For this list Let's assume 40 people voted

100 Best Books

Montana State University (2010), 106 Books

Michael Sexson, English teacher at Montana State University, in 2000 had his class of 45 students compose a list of the 100 greatest works of literature ever written, in their collective opinions.

Select 100

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2015), 100 Books

"This list was compiled by tabulating nominations by UWM faculty, staff and students for the Select 100. It includes changes which have resulted from nominations received since the original list was released. We asked you to recommend books which you have found to be so useful and important that no one could consider himself/herself an educated or enlightened person without having read them. This is your cumulative response."

100 Essential Books

Bravo! Magazine (2009), 100 Books

The Brazilian cultural magazine Bravo! selects 100 essential books.

The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written

Easton Press (1979), 102 Books

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

48 Good Books

University of Buffalo (2010), 49 Books

Recommended literature by the Undergraduate Academies and Libraries of the University of Buffalo.

description from their old website:
In cooperation with the UB Libraries, the UB Undergraduate Academies announce the Good Books project, a list of 48 good books which embody the mission and spirit of the five Undergraduate Academies: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Perspectives, Research Exploration and Sustainability The Academies Council members, an advisory board of faculty and staff, nominated books that have been personally important to them. You could read one book from this eclectic list, which ranges from biography to politics to poetry, each month over the course of your college career. Some of these books may be familiar, others quite unknown, but Council Members put their heads together to devise a list of “unrequired reading” that have inspired inquiry, pleasure, and a renewed engagement with civic life.

who voted?
the page says "The Academies Council members, an advisory board of faculty and staff, nominated books"

I am going to assume it's a minimum 10 unknown people who worked on this list.

Recommended Books

Academy of Achievement (2017), 72 Books

Here, in their own words, are the answers to the question, What book did you read when you were young that most influenced your life? The answers reflect the wonderfully varied power of books, and remind us of some neglected timeless classics and other works we may want to take into our own lives.

This seems to be recommendations from celebrities, authors, critics, and other famous people

The Ideal Library

Book (2024), 121 Books

100 prominent cultural figures, mostly writers, were polled for their choice of an "ideal library". The following list is a tally of every book that received at least 2 votes.

The Celebrity Reading List

Gardiner Public Library (2007), 72 Books

The Gardiner Public Library, from 1988 to 2007, polled various famous figures from all around the world (writers, artists, filmmakers, politicians, actors, etc.) to ask for their book recommendations. This list is based on the books that received at least two mentions.

The creators of the list asked a total of 489 celebrities and does list every single person's name

The 16 Greatest Books of All Time

NYU Local (2008), 46 Books

Two book editors for the nyulocal.com present their list of the 16 greatest books of all time, with a list of runner-ups as well.

The Greatest Novel of All Time

William Faulkner (1962), 1 Books

Author William Faulkner named Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" as the single greatest novel of all time.

Greatest Prose Works of the 20th Century

Vladimir Nabokov (1965), 4 Books

Author Vladimir Nabokov's selection of the Top 4 greatest prose works of the 20th century.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List

Thomas C. Foster (2003), 125 Books

English professor Thomas C. Foster, at the end of his book, includes a recommended "reading list".

The Graphic Canon

Book (2012), 171 Books

The classic canon of Western civilization meets the artists and illustrators who have remade reading in the last years of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century in Russ Kick's magisterial, three-volume, full-color The Graphic Canon, volumes 1, 2, and 3. - Amazon

100 Life-Changing Books

National Book Award (2006), 100 Books

National Book Award-winning authors got together to select what was, in their opinions, 100 life-changing books.

There were 38 National Book Award authors who submitted life-changing book picks; they are: Adam Bagdasarian, Ai, Andre Dubus III, Ann Cameron, B.H. Fairchild, Beth Kephart, Charles Wright, Clarence Major, Deirdre Bair, Ellen Howard, Howard Norman, Ivan Doig, Jacques Barzun, Jean M. Auel, Jill Abramson, John Balaban, Joseph Bruchac, Joyce Carol Oates, Joyce Carol Thomas, Kimberly Willis Holt, Laurie Halse Anderson, Lloyd Alexander, Lois Lowry, Mark Bowden, Milton Meltzer, Myron Levoy, Nikki Giovanni, Paul West, Philip Schultz, Richard Peck, Richard Wilbur, Sherod Santos, Stephen Dixon, Stephen King, Susan Mitchell, Tony Hillerman, Tor Seidler, Tracy Kidder.

Best Books Ever

Book Depository (2006), 100 Books

"Whatever it's called we love a list of what we think are the best books of all time so we've compiled an entirely arbitrary and personal selection of 100 titles below for you to disagree with."

Finest Works of Fiction

Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors (1980), 55 Books

In Novels and Novelists, A Guide to the World of Fiction (1980) Seymour-Smith and the other contributors selected about 55 works of fiction as receiving full marks on the four criteria used for evaluation: Readability, Characterization, Plot, and Literary Merit. These represent, for the contributors, the finest works of fiction that have been written.

How to Read and Why

Harold Bloom (2000), 42 Books

Information is endlessly available to us; where shall wisdom be found?" is the crucial question with which renowned literary critic Harold Bloom begins this impassioned book on the pleasures and benefits of reading well. For more than forty years, Bloom has transformed college students into lifelong readers with his unrivaled love for literature. Now, at a time when faster and easier electronic media threatens to eclipse the practice of reading, Bloom draws on his experience as critic, teacher, and prolific reader to plumb the great books for their sustaining wisdom. - Amazon

The 100 Greatest Novels

greatbooksguide.com (2007), 104 Books

Critic Ted Gioia's selection of the 100 greatest novels ever written.

Great Books

The Learning Channel (2006), 47 Books

"Great Books is an hour-long documentary and biography program that aired on The Learning Channel. The series was a project co-created by Walter Cronkite and former child actor Jonathan Ward under a deal they had with their company Cronkite-Ward, the The Discovery Channel, and The Learning Channel. Premiering on September 8, 1993, to coincide with International Literacy Day, the series took in-depth looks into some of literature's greatest fictional and nonfictional books and the authors who created them. The series is mostly narrated by Donald Sutherland." - Wikipedia

"Our Readable Century", The Best Books of the 20th Century

January Magazine (2000), 17 Books

Literary publication January Magazine polled writers for their favorite works of 20th century fiction. These were the most mentioned books. There were 48 authors polled. This particular list is every book that got more than 2 votes.

There is an honorable mention list that has the rest of the books that can be found here: https://thegreatestbooks.org/lists/1045