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 1979
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class
Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Animals
In small town Oklahoma during the 1970s, a rough-and-tumble teenager learns to navigate the world with his older brother and a mostly absent father in S. E. Hinton’s young adult fiction novel Tex. Published in 1979, the book was subsequently made into a popular movie starring young Matt Dillon in the title role. Hinton herself has written that Texas McCormick is the favorite of all her iconic characters, so good natured and even tempered that... Read Tex Summary
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Humor, Satire, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Politics / Government
Originally published in 1994, Thank You for Smoking is a political satire novel centered around Nick Naylor, a lobbyist for the fictional Academy of Tobacco Studies, an organization founded by the tobacco industry with the true purpose of countering negative scientific data and public condemnation of tobacco. Nick’s job has made him a pariah, as he has humiliated everyone from grieving relatives of cancer victims to federal employees. He also must watch his back, as... Read Thank You for Smoking Summary
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 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature, Industrial Revolution
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