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 2010
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous
Tags History: U.S., Military / War, History: World, Western, Biography
First published in 2010, Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History is a work of historical nonfiction by S.C. Gwynne and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. The book narrates a history of the Comanche Nation through the lens of the Parker family, from whom the book’s central figure, Quanah Parker, descends. It explores themes... Read Empire of the Summer Moon Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Arts / Culture
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language, Identity: Race
Tags Humor, Race / Racism, Arts / Culture, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Self Discovery
Tags Business / Economics, Self Help, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Italian Literature, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, History: World
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Immigration / Refugee, African Literature, Black Lives Matter, Business / Economics, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Travel Literature
Nigerian author Teju Cole’s Every Day Is for the Thief is a work of autofiction originally published in Nigeria in 2007 and published in the US in 2014. The novel unfolds in picaresque style from the first-person perspective, as a narrator who closely resembles the author returns to Nigeria after 15 years in the US to reckon with Nigerian national identity and his own legacy. Surprised to find that he feels less comfortable in his... Read Every Day Is for the Thief Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Love / Sexuality, Religion / Spirituality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Politics / Government, History: World, Race / Racism
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity
Tags Humor, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Self Help, Biography
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Immigration, Natural World: Place, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Education, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Grandparents
Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, History: Middle Eastern, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration
Tags Realistic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2019
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Chinese Literature, Asian Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy
Ted Chiang’s Exhalation is a collection of nine science fiction short stories. Published in 2019, the stories feature time travel, robots, artificial intelligences, and human beings grappling with an everchanging world. Seven of the nine stories appeared in previous publications, going on to win multiple Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. Through the science fiction/dystopian genre, Exhalation explores forgiveness, parenting, technology ethics, free will, and climate change. This is Ted Chiang’s second collection, following Stories of... Read Exhalation Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Immigration
Tags WWII / World War II, History: World, Military / War, History: U.S., History: European, Grief / Death, Japanese Literature, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, September 11 Attacks, History: U.S., Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Falling Man is a 2007 novel by American author Don DeLillo. The novel explores the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. This guide uses an eBook version of the 2011 Picador edition of Falling Man.Plot SummaryOn September 11, 2001, a group of 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacks commercial passenger planes and attempt to crash them into American landmarks. In addition to one plane that crashed... Read Falling Man Summary