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21 Curated Best Books of the Year Lists for 2021

21 Curated Best Books of the Year Lists for 2021

2021 has been another tumultuous year, to say the least. But the level of creativity has been high, as exemplified by the many excellent books published during the year.

Continuing my tradition of curating best-of-the-year book lists, you’ll find a variety of lists representing multiple genres.

For the second year in a row, a journalist has won the prestigious Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year: Nicole Perlroth of The New York Times, for This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race.

Bloomberg.com: The Best Books of 2021

The Economist: The Best Books of 2021

Esquire: The 50 Best Books of 2021

Financial Times: Best Books of the Year 2021

Independent Book Review: 35 Impressive Indie Press Books of 2021

Library Journal: Best Books 2021

Literary Hub: Best of the Year

The New York Public Library: Best Books of 2021

The New York Times: 100 Notable Books of 2021

The New Yorker: The Best Books We Read in 2021

NPR: Books We Love 2021

Oprah Daily: Our 20 Favorite Books of 2021

Publishers Weekly: Best Books 2021

Real Simple: 59 Best Books of 2021—According to Real Simple Editors

Smithsonian magazine: The Best Books of 2021

TIME: THE 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2021

USA TODAY: The best books of 2021: These 17 titles received four-star reviews from USA TODAY critics

Vogue: The Best Books to Read in 2021

Washington Independent Review of Books: Our 51 Favorite Books of 2021

The Washington Post: The 10 Best Books of 2021

Year-End Lists: 2021 Books

Congratulations to all of the authors on the best-of lists. And for authors publishing in 2022, you’ve got a blank slate: the best-of lists are a year into the future, and hope springs eternal.

Happy reading for the rest of 2021 and into the year!

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