New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century

A curated list of the best books of the 21st century as voted by literary luminaries and the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

Cover of Pastoralia

Pastoralia

3.5

George Saunders' acclaimed collection of stories blurs the line between the absurd and the profound, offering a hypnotic and original take o…

Cover of Pulphead

Pulphead

4.3

A sharp-eyed, uniquely humane tour of America's cultural landscape, from high to low, by the award-winning John Jeremiah Sullivan. This coll…

Cover of The Friend

The Friend

4.1

A poignant exploration of grief and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her dog, blending wit and insight into a moving meditation on l…

Cover of We the Animals

We the Animals

4.2

Three brothers navigate a chaotic, loving, and sometimes dangerous childhood in a mixed-race family, forging their own paths as they grow up…

Cover of Runaway

Runaway

3.9

Juliet's escape from a stifling teaching job leads her into a whirlwind of passion and betrayal, exploring the complexities of love and lost…

Cover of The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch

3.3

A gripping tale of loss, art, and obsession, 'The Goldfinch' follows Theo Decker as he navigates a world forever changed by tragedy, drawn i…

Cover of The Overstory

The Overstory

3.9

A monumental novel that intertwines the lives of nine strangers with the ancient, interconnected world of trees, revealing a hidden catastro…

Cover of Fun Home

Fun Home

4.0

A darkly humorous and heartbreaking graphic memoir exploring family, identity, and the complex relationship between a daughter and her close…

Cover of Life After Life

Life After Life

3.8

What if you could live your life over and over again, perfecting it each time? Ursula Todd does just that in this captivating novel that ble…

Cover of The Sympathizer

The Sympathizer

4.0

A gripping spy novel set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, exploring the life of a conflicted captain torn between two worlds and ide…

The New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century is a curated list of the top 100 books of the 21st century, as voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics, and other book lovers. The list includes a diverse range of genres and themes, reflecting the rich literary landscape of the past two decades. Each book is accompanied by a brief description and, in many cases, a personal endorsement from a notable author or critic. This list is a valuable resource for readers looking to discover new books or revisit beloved classics.

Source: https://archive.is/EtN68