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 2019

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, History: World


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Inspirational, Psychology, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1989

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: The Future

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

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Aug 1989) by Stephen R. Covey is one of the most influential self-help books of the late twentieth century. To date, the title has sold over 40 million copies and has been a New York Times bestseller. Covey was named as one of Time Magazine’s 25 Most Influential Americans of 1996. His book is classified under the categories of Business Management, Organizational Behavior, and Personal Success in Business... Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

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


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Science / Nature, Urban Development, Sociology


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Teams

Tags History: World, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Class, Self Discovery

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Literature, Jewish Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Adventures of Augie March is a 1953 novel by Saul Bellow. In the novel, Bellow’s third, the eponymous title character chronicles his eventful life from an underprivileged childhood in Chicago to his waning wanderlust in Paris. The novel is critically acclaimed and won the 1954 National Book Award for Fiction. Bellow was a lauded author in his lifetime, winning prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution... Read The Adventures of Augie March Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags War On Terrorism / Iraq War, Military / War, History: U.S., History: Middle Eastern, Politics / Government, Journalism, History: World


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Romance, Humor, New Adult, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Inspirational, Science / Nature, History: World, Health / Medicine, Climate Change, Relationships, Sociology


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Nation

Tags History: Asian, Philosophy, Indian Literature, Sociology, Asian Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Sports, Relationships, Psychological Fiction

Published in 2011, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach is a work of literary fiction depicting the interwoven journeys of characters at Westish, a fictional small liberal arts college in Wisconsin. Henry Skrimshander is a talented baseball shortstop whose future is jeopardized by an errant throw. His development intersects with that of his teammate Schwartz; his roommate, Owen; college president Guert; and Pella, Guert’s daughter and a newly enrolled student of Westish. The novel... Read The Art of Fielding Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: New Age, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Relationships, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Education, Philosophy


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Coming of Age

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


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Femininity

Tags Indian Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

The Bear and the Nightingale (2017) is a historical fantasy novel by Katherine Arden. The story is set in medieval Russia and was heavily inspired by the country’s folklore and history. It follows Vasilisa “Vasya” Petrovna, a girl who lives in an isolated village at the edge of a forest and can communicate with household spirits and other supernatural beings that others cannot see. Her life is upended when her father marries a pious woman... Read The Bear and the Nightingale Summary