The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023

The fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that entertained and enlightened us

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A Day in the Life of Abed Salama

A living remedy, above ground, after sappho, after the funeral, all the sinners bleed, anansi's gold, august blue, the bee sting, biography of x, birnam wood, chrome valley, the covenant of water, crook manifesto, the deadline, doppelganger, dyscalculia, the end of drum-time, family lore, fire weather, ghost music, the good life, the great reclamation, the great white bard, greek lessons, the half known life, the heaven & earth grocery store, hello beautiful, the hive and the honey, holding pattern, holler, child, how not to kill yourself, how to say babylon, i am still with you, i do everything i'm told, i have some questions for you, i love russia, king: a life, let us descend, let's go let's go let's go, liliana’s invincible summer, the male gazed, master slave husband wife, mott street, my name is barbra, none of the above, north woods, nothing special, our migrant souls, our share of night, owner of a lonely heart, pineapple street, the postcard, poverty, by america, the rachel incident, river sing me home, some people need killing, temple folk, terrace story, this other eden, the three of us, thunderclap, to free the captives, the vaster wilds, vengeance is mine, victory city, waiting to be arrested at night, wandering souls, what happened to ruthy ramirez, what you are looking for is in the library, when crack was king, the wren, the wren, you could make this place beautiful, the young man.

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By Rachel L. Swarns

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by Nathan Thrall

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by Nicole Chung

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By Clint Smith

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By Alice McDermott

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by Selby Wynn Schwartz

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by Tessa Hadley

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By Saskia Hamilton

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by S.A. Cosby

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by Yepoka Yeebo

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by Deborah Levy

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By Paul Murray

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by Jen Beagin

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By Catherine Lacey

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by Eleanor Catton

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by Justin Torres

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By Mahogany L. Browne

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By Abraham Verghese

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by Colson Whitehead

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by Jill Lepore

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by Abdulrazak Gurnah

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by Naomi Klein

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by Camonghne Felix

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by Hanna Pylväinen

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By Katie Barnes

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by Elizabeth Acevedo

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by John Vaillant

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By Monica Youn

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by Naomi Alderman

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by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz

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by Rachel Heng

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by Farah Karim-Cooper

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by Han Kang

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by Emma Cline

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by Pico Iyer

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by James McBride

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by Ann Napolitano

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by Paul Yoon

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By Jenny Xie

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by Latoya Watkins

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by Clancy Martin

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By Safiya Sinclair

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by Emmanuel Iduma

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by Megan Fernandes

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by Rebecca Makkai

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by Emily Wilson (translator)

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By Elena Kostyuchenko

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by Jenny Erpenbeck

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by Jonathan Eig

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by Jesmyn Ward

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by Cleo Qian

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by Cristina Rivera Garza

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by Victor LaValle

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By Manuel Betancourt

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by Ilyon Woo

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by Lydia Kiesling

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by Ava Chin

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by Barbra Streisand

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by Travis Alabanza

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by Daniel Mason

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by Nicole Flattery

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by Héctor Tobar

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by Mariana Enriquez

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by Beth Nguyen

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by Elliot Page

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by Jenny Jackson

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by Anne Berest

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by Matthew Desmond

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by Caroline O’Donoghue

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by Tania Branigan

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by Sarah Rose Etter

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by Eleanor Shearer

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by Patricia Evangelista

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by Prince Harry

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by Darrin Bell

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By Aaliyah Bilal

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by Hilary Leichter

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By Jenn Shapland

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by Paul Harding

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by Ore Agbaje-Williams

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By Laura Cumming

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by Tracy K. Smith

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by Ann Patchett

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by Teju Cole

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by Lauren Groff

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by Andrew Lipstein

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by Marie NDiaye

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by Salman Rushdie

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by David Grann

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by Tahir Hamut Izgil

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by Cecile Pin

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by Claire Jiménez

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by Michiko Aoyama

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by Donovan X. Ramsey

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by Anne Enright

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by Esther Yi

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by R.F. Kuang

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by Maggie Smith

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by Annie Ernaux

This project is led by Lucy Feldman and Annabel Gutterman, with writing by Judy Berman, Shannon Carlin, Eliana Dockterman, Mahita Gajanan, Cady Lang, Megan McCluskey, Rachel Sonis, Karl Vick, Olivia B. Waxman, Lucas Wittmann, Laura Zornosa, and Meg Zukin; photography editing by Eli Cohen; art direction by Victor Williams; video by Andrew Johnson and Sam McPeak; and production by  Juwayriah   Wright .

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New York Times Best Sellers: Current List

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33 books that made it to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list this year (so far)

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

  • The New York Times Bestseller List shows the bestselling fiction and nonfiction books of the week.
  • On top of new releases, old favorites continue to make the list, sometimes years after publication.
  • We've collected some of the best fiction and nonfiction books that held the #1 spot in 2022 so far.

Insider Today

There are so many ways to discover a great book, but the New York Times Best Sellers list has compiled the most popular fiction, nonfiction, and children's books from vendors across the country for almost a century and has become a measure of success for writers everywhere. 

Titles that reach the coveted #1 spot are usually highly anticipated releases from beloved authors, sequels to which readers have been counting down, or juicy celebrity memoirs. But with the rise of influencer recommendations on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, books published years prior still make appearances again and again, like "It Ends With Us" , which was published in 2016 but has been a #1 New York Times Bestseller for nine weeks so far in 2022. 

The full list is posted weekly on the New York Times website , but we collected some of the best new fiction and nonfiction books to hold the #1 spot so far in 2022. 

33 books that ended up as #1 bestsellers on the New York Times Best Sellers list in 2022 so far:

Fiction and poetry, "dream town" by david baldacci.

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"Dream Town" by David Baldacci, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.50

"Dream Town" is the third book in David Baldacci's "Archer" series but can be read as a standalone. As private investigator and World War II veteran Archer plans to celebrate the New Year with a friend, Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter, feels her life is in danger and hires him to investigate. When a body is found in Eleanor's home and she suddenly disappears, Archer winds through the glamor of 1950s Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Hollywood in a suspenseful and exciting series of events to find Eleanor and the murderer in this noir crime thriller. 

"Book Lovers" by Emily Henry

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"Book Lovers" by Emily Henry, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.58

Nora Stephens is a literary agent who is ready to become the heroine of her own story when her sister, Libby, invites her on a trip away from the city to the little town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Though Nora is expecting a month of romance novel-like meet-cutes and bookshop days, she continually runs into Charlie Lastra, a book editor from the city with whom she has a deep-seated rivalry. "Book Lovers" is one of our favorite romance reads of the summer — check out our full review here . 

"House of Sky and Breath" by Sarah J. Maas

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"House of Sky and Breath" by Sarah J. Maas, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.74

The highly anticipated sequel to Sarah J. Maas' "House of Earth and Blood" hit shelves in February 2022 and quickly rose to the top of the bestseller list. Readers follow Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar on their search for normalcy after saving Crescent City, but as oppression grows around them, the duo knows they must continue to fight for what's right in this incredible fantasy novel with a deeply satisfying conclusion.

"In the Blood" by Jack Carr

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"In the Blood" by Jack Carr, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.49

As former Navy SEAL James Reece watches the news from his Montana home, he sees a name he recognizes from his time in Iraq listed as a victim of a missile attack on a passenger aircraft in Burkina Faso, Africa. With ties to the intelligence services in two nations, James is sure her death is no accident and enlists old and new friends on his mission to track down her killer, unaware of the dangers that may await him. 

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

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"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.98

Readers still can't get enough of this 2018 Reese's Book Club pick as it continues to outshine new releases for the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list, four years after its original publication. In this historical fiction read, Kya Clark is known as the "Marsh Girl," who learns and lives from the land until a popular boy is found dead and her community immediately suspects her as the murderer.

"Nightwork" by Nora Roberts

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"Nightwork" by Nora Roberts, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.99

"Nightwork" blends romance and suspense as Harry Booth leaves Chicago, continuing his work as a subtle thief-for-hire after his mother's death. Though his work requires him to remain unattached, he finds his resolve softening as he grows nearer to Miranda Emerson until his past catches up to him and casts a dark shadow over his life once more. 

"It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover

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"It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.17

This 2016 Colleen Hoover novel continues to reach the #1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller list due to its huge popularity on BookTok . "It Ends with Us" is a fast-paced contemporary romance novel about Lily, who dives heart-first into a relationship with the almost-too-good-to-be-true neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. When a past love and life resurface, her relationship with Ryle becomes threatened. 

"Sparring Partners" by John Grisham

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"Sparring Partners" by John Grisham, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.47

Josh Grisham is a bestselling author of legal thrillers like "A Time to Kill" and "The Pelican Brief." His new collection, "Sparring Partners," consists of three novellas, one starring his beloved character Jake Brigance, another featuring a death row inmate three hours before execution, and the final story following two feuding brothers who inherited a law firm when their father went to prison. You can find more of John Grisham's best books here .

"Call Us What We Carry" by Amanda Gorman

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"Call Us What We Carry" by Amanda Gorman, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.80

2021 Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman's latest collection, "Call Us What We Carry," was the first read to top the New York Times Bestseller List in 2022, praised by readers for Gorman's insightful and profound views. These poems include brilliant reflections upon history, society, and the human experience including painful memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and hopeful dedications to the future. 

"Run, Rose, Run" by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

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"Run, Rose, Run" by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.00 

Written by a beloved music legend and the bestselling author of all time, "Run Rose Run" is an entertaining and suspenseful James Patterson mystery about a young woman running both from her past and towards a promising future in the music industry. As AnnieLee Keys lands in Nashville, she still finds herself constantly looking over her shoulder as her past and secrets lurk ever nearer. 

"The Paris Apartment" by Lucy Foley

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"The Paris Apartment" by Lucy Foley, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $25.98

When Jes moves into her half-brother's Parisian apartment in search of a fresh start, she's not only surprised by his apparent wealth but his sudden disappearance. As she begins to dig into his situation in an effort to find him, Jes's worry grows and her brother's peculiar and unfriendly neighbors each emerge as suspects. 

"Abandoned in Death" by J.D. Robb

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"Abandoned in Death" by J.D. Robb, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.34

J.D. Robb is the pseudonym under which Nora Roberts publishes her "in Death" series, with "Abandoned in Death" as the 54th installment. In this latest mystery novel, detective Eve Dallas begins to investigate the peculiar homicide of a woman found neatly arranged on a New York City playground bench, with a fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon on her neck and an ominous note reading "Bad Mommy." As Eve investigates a clearly troubled killer, other similar disappearances emerge and intensify the urgency of the case. 

"The Hotel Nantucket" by Elin Hilderbrand

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"The Hotel Nantucket" by Elin Hilderbrand, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.99

When billionaire Xavier Darling purchases The Hotel Nantucket, he renovates and revitalizes the abandoned lodge that was once popular until a 1922 fire killed a young girl. As the hotel's new general manager, Lizbet, pulls together a passionate staff, they fight against the hotel's bad reputation, the lingering ghost, and each other to change fate and find a brighter future. 

"The Match" by Harlan Coben

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"The Match" by Harlan Coben, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.37

This action-packed sequel to "The Boy from the Woods" follows Wilde as he discovers the identity of his father through a DNA genealogy website and a second match that pulls him into a secret community of online doxxers. As the story unfolds through murder, scandal, and gripping suspense, it seems a serial killer is targeting the online community — and Wilde might be poised as the next target.

"Hook, Line, and Sinker" by Tessa Bailey

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"Hook, Line, and Sinker" by Tessa Bailey, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.38

"Hook, Line, and Sinker" is a swoon-worthy contemporary romance about Fox Thornton, a notorious charmer, and Hannah Bellinger, who's in town for work, staying in Fox's spare bedroom, and completely immune to his charming ways. Though Hannah initially has her eye on a coworker, she can't seem to resist slowly falling for Fox as they spend more and more time together as he tries to prove he's not interested in another temporary fling.

"The Investigator" by John Sandford

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"The Investigator" by John Sandford, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.64

Letty Davenport is bored at her desk job when her boss, Senator Colles, offers her an investigative role with the Department of Homeland Security to uncover a series of reported crude oil thefts, possibly part of something much larger and more sinister. As Letty and her partner head to Texas, they soon find a far deadlier and more dangerous situation than they could have imagined.

"The Judge's List" by John Grisham

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"The Judge's List" by John Grisham, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.94

"The Judge's List" is John Grisham's sequel to his 2016 thriller, "The Whistler,"  and continues Lacy Stoltz's story three years later as she uncovers a startling case — that of a Florida judge turned serial killer. As the judge stays one step ahead of the law and continues to hunt down those who have wronged him, Lacy must end his murderous crusade before she becomes the next name on his list. 

"Finding Me" by Viola Davis

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"Finding Me" by Viola Davis, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.53

This honest and unforgettable memoir is Viola Davis' reflection upon her journey to self-love by facing herself and her past. From poverty and bullying to systemic racism in Hollywood, Davis recounts the challenges she faced during childhood, her rise into stardom, and those she continues to face today.  

"The Office BFFs" by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

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"The Office BFFs" by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.18

"The Office" characters Pam Beesley and Angela Martin have little in common, but the actresses that brought them to life bonded from the first days on set. "The Office BFFs" is a dual memoir of Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's experiences as they made memories with the cast, walked their first red carpet, became moms, and created a lifelong friendship that continues to this day. 

"Happy-Go-Lucky" by David Sedaris

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"Happy-Go-Lucky" by David Sedaris, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.79

"Happy-Go-Lucky" is a collection of funny personal essays about how David Sedaris' life changed during the COVID-19 lockdown and continues to change as the world adjusts to a new normal. In these essays, Sedaris captures the humor and irony of these experiences and the ultimate desire for connection that drives our society. 

"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk

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"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.40

Written by a trauma expert with over 30 years of experience working with trauma survivors, "The Body Keeps the Score" is a psychology book about how traumatic stress "rewires" our brains. As an alternative to drugs or talk therapy, Dr. van der Kolk asserts how we can reactivate many trauma-affected areas of our brains through innovative treatments and therapies. 

"Tanqueray" by Stephanie Johnson and Brandon Stanton

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"Tanqueray" by Stephanie Johnson and Brandon Stanton, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.49

In 2019, Stephanie Johnson was featured in a "Humans of New York" story, capturing the attention of millions of readers as they learned of her rise from a brutal childhood to becoming one of the best-known burlesque dancers in New York City known as Tanqueray. Written alongside Brandon Stanton, the author of "Humans of New York," "Tanqueray" tells Stephanie Johnson's full story, including all the challenges and triumphs that led to her success and fame. 

"Bittersweet" by Susan Cain

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"Bittersweet" by Susan Cain, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.48

Bittersweetness is often thought of as a moment or feeling where something good and bad intersect, but in this psychology read, Susan Cain demonstrates how embracing a "bittersweet" state of mind can help us connect to ourselves and each other. Already known for her heartfelt and enlightening writing style in her other bestseller, "Quiet,"  this nonfiction book uses bittersweetness to teach readers about our relationships with creativity, compassion, leadership, longing, and love. 

"The Storyteller" by Dave Grohl

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"The Storyteller" by Dave Grohl, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.99

Dave Grohl has become internationally renowned as the drummer for Nirvana and the Foo Fighters and in this memoir, he details the incredible musical and personal experiences that made him the man he is today. Grohl's personality naturally shines through his writing and is further brought to life in his audiobook narration.

"The 1619 Project," edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman, and Jake Silverstein

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"The 1619 Project," edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman, and Jake Silverstein, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $22.80

In 1619, a cargo ship of 20-30 enslaved people from Africa arrived on the shores of Virginia, igniting a system of brutal slavery and racism that would span centuries. Originally published in The New York Times as a collection of 18 essays and 36 poems and works of fiction, "The 1619 Project" demonstrates how this often-buried history radiates through contemporary American society and offers a new origin story for the United States.

"Unthinkable" by Jamie Raskin

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"Unthinkable" by Jamie Raskin, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.59

"Unthinkable" is a new memoir by Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin whose life permanently changed at the beginning of 2021 as he mourned his son's sudden and tragic passing, lived through the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, and led the impeachment efforts against President Trump for inciting violence. This read recounts these painful events by intertwining personal and professional narratives into a single vivid memoir.

"James Patterson" by James Patterson

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"James Patterson" by James Patterson, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.50

James Patterson is one of the world's most successful writers and his memoir is a collection of interesting and remarkable stories from his life. Written with a comfortable and casual tone, Patterson explains how he developed a love of reading as an adult, met famous musicians and actors before he made a name of his own, and even wrote the famous "Toys 'R Us" jingle while working in advertising. You can find some of James Patterson's best books here .

"Enough Already" by Valerie Bertinelli

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"Enough Already" by Valerie Bertinelli, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.29

Valerie Bertinelli is an award-winning actress whose new memoir uses personal and relatable stories to offer readers advice on how to achieve a healthier and happier outlook on life. Bertinelli shares her struggles with harsh personal criticism and the journey on which she embarked to transcend our need for perfectionism and reach, instead, for joy. 

"From Strength to Strength" by Arthur C. Brooks

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"From Strength to Strength" by Arthur C. Brooks, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.99

This self-help read identifies how many people, including the author himself, struggle to find purpose and success as they age, often feeling as though they may be "declining" as a sense of professional or social irrelevance emerges with age. In "From Strength to Strength," Arthur C. Brooks demonstrates how readers can refocus their priorities and habits in order to make their older years equally full of happiness, purpose, and success.

"One Damn Thing After Another" by William P. Barr

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"One Damn Thing After Another" by William P. Barr, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $21.91

William P. Barr was the attorney general during two different presidential administrations — President George H.W. Bush and President Donald Trump. This memoir traverses the most memorable and affecting events Barr faced in his years as attorney general while comparing the vast similarities and differences between the Bush and Trump presidential legacies. 

"Freezing Order" by Bill Browder

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"Freezing Order" by Bill Browder, available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.80

After Bill Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was beaten to death in a Moscow jail, Browder set out to uncover why Magnitsky was killed and bring the killers to justice. In his investigation, Browder followed a trail beyond a tax refund scheme, through Russian government involvement, and to the corruption that runs far deeper than he could have imagined. 

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The New York Times Best Sellers Nonfiction

The Complete List of New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers

Go beyond just the current list of New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers 2024 to discover every bestselling book listed on the NYT Bestseller List in 2024.

Since 1931, The New York Times has been publishing a weekly list of bestselling books. Since then, becoming a New York Times bestseller has become a dream for virtually every writer.

When I first started reading adult books, one of the first places I went for book recommendations was the New York Times Nonfiction Nonfiction Best Sellers. I wanted to know what books were the most widely read, and start with those.

However, scrolling through the list week by week on The New York Times website is rather annoying. I just wanted all the bestselling nonfiction books gathered together in one place.

When I couldn’t find it, I decided to create it.

Here are all the New York Times nonfiction bestsellers from this year. I’ve got the current #1 and this week’s bestselling list, both of which you can find all over the place.

This list also compiles every book that appears on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers list in 2024 for Hardcover Nonfiction. Every week I update it so you can get the most accurate view of the year in one place.

Since this is a bit of a sprawling post, feel free to jump to the section that most interests you or take your time scrolling through the complete list of New York Times nonfiction best sellers.

Quick Links

  • Current #1 NYT Bestseller
  • Current New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List
  • Previous #1 Fiction Best Sellers
  • Heavyweights (10+ Weeks)
  • Fan Favorites (5+ Weeks)
  • Honorable Mention (2+ Weeks)
  • One Hit Wonders

Don’t Miss a Thing

Current #1 New York Times Best Seller

book cover The Wager by David Grann

David Grann

( 43 Weeks ) In 1742, a patched-together vessel washed up on the shores of Brazil with thirty emaciated men. They told an astounding tale of surviving after the HMS Wager was shipwrecked chasing a Spanish treasure galleon. After cobbling together a raft, they floated for 100 days and traveled 3,000 miles. The sailors were lauded as heroes until six months later when three more castaways washed ashore accusing the first men of mutiny. With accusations of treachery and murder, a court-martial is convened to find the truth, with the guilty party likely to be hung.

Publication Date: 18 April 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Current List of New York Times Best Sellers

The survivors of a shipwrecked British vessel on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain have different accounts of events.

book cover Outlive by Peter Attia

A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.

book cover Medgar and Myrlie by Joy-Ann Reid

The MSNBC host details how the wife of the civil rights leader Medgar Evers carried forward their legacy after his assassination in 1963.

book cover Oath and Honor by Liz Cheney

The former congresswoman from Wyoming recounts how she helped lead the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6. Attack on the United States Capitol.

book cover What Have We Here? by Billy Dee Williams

The stage and screen actor traces his life from his childhood in Harlem to becoming a pop culture icon.

Book Cover The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Grammy Award-winning pop star details her personal and professional experiences, including the years she spent under a conservatorship overseen by her father.

book cover Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

The late actor, known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” shares stories from his childhood and his struggles with sobriety.

book cover I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

The actress and filmmaker describes her eating disorders and difficult relationship with her mother.

book cover Life After Power by Jared Cohen

A look at the lives of seven presidents after their time in the White House.

Book Cover Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

The author of “The Code Breaker” traces Musk’s life and summarizes his work on electric vehicles, private space exploration and artificial intelligence.

book cover The Grift by Clay Cane

An overview of Black Republicanism from the time of President Lincoln to the present.

book cover The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen

The president and chief executive of the National Constitution Center reframes a famous phrase.

book cover The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory by Tim Alberta

The author of “American Carnage” looks at divisions within the American evangelical movement.

book cover The Lede by Calvin Trillin

A longtime writer for The New Yorker profiles reporters and shares stories from his time as a journalist.

book cover Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions by Ed Zwick

The director, writer and producer recounts his four decades of working in Hollywood.

See what Upcoming Releases are coming out soon!

Previous #1 New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers

book cover Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Greenlights

Matthew mcconaughey.

(99 Weeks) Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey offers a memoir on his approach to getting the most satisfaction out of life. McConaughey poured over decades of his diaries to share the highs and lows of his life and the funny stories that shaped him along the way.

Publication Date: 20 October 2020 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

I’m Glad My Mom Died

Jennette mccurdy.

(71 Weeks) Both vulnerable and hilarious, Jennette McCurdy’s tell-all memoir sends a poignant message of the dangers of child acting. McCurdy brilliantly embraces her inner child by describing how desperately she wanted to please her mom by acting, even if it lead to an eating disordered and a chaotic relationship with her family that she didn’t full understand until attending therapy after her mother’s death. 

Publication Date: 9 August 2022 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

What Happened to You?

Bruce d. perry and oprah winfrey.

(58 Weeks) Instead of asking What’s wrong with you? , we should be asking What happened to you ? Oprah Winfrey teams up with neuroscientist Bruce D. Perry to discuss how understanding the trauma we faced at a young age can impact our behaviors now. By understanding our past, we can shift our viewpoint and see a clear path to healing.

Publication Date: 27 April 2021 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Peter Attia

(47 Weeks) Who doesn’t want to live longer? Peter Atria has all the strategies that will help you live longer … and better. Using the latest science, Atria explains how to improve your physical, cognitive, and emotional health so that you can help prevent chronic disease and extend your lifespan.

Publication Date: 28 March 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Matthew perry.

(32 Weeks) Known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends , Matthew Perry gives a behind-the-scenes look at the hit sitcom. Yet, while his career was hitting a high, Perry struggled through some of his darkest days. In this candid memoir, Perry discusses his lifelong battle with addiction and the persistence, hope, and friends who helped him along the way.

Publication Date: 1 November 2022 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Walter Isaacson

(23 Weeks ) From the author of  Steve Jobs  and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter.

Publication Date: 14 March 2023 Amazon | Goodreads I More Info

book cover Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

Poverty, by America

Matthew desmond.

( 18 Weeks ) The United States of America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. Sociologist Matthew Desmond explores the root of poverty in America. From concentrating wealth (and poverty) to subsidizing those already financially secure, Desmond gives a searing look into how America keeps the rich rich and the poor poor.

Publication Date: 21 March 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

The Woman in Me

Britney spears.

( 17 Weeks ) In the 1990s, Britney Spears burst onto the scene and became a cultural pop icon and leading the way for the teen pop revival of the 90s and 00s. Yet fame brought personal struggles and a shocking conservatorship that trapped her for decades. In her new memoir, Britney Spears discusses her journey and the power of telling your own story. Though not the best-written memoir of the year, The Woman in Me shocks with details about Spears’s life and contemplates the private pain of a public figure.

Publication Date: 24 October 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Book Cover Prequel by Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

(15 Weeks ) Rachel Maddow traces the fight to preserve American democracy back to World War II, when a handful of committed public servants and brave private citizens thwarted far-right plotters trying to steer our nation toward an alliance with the Nazis.

Publication Date: 17 October 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

Oath and Honor

( 11 Weeks ) The former congresswoman from Wyoming recounts how she helped lead the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. In relating her experiences during the attack, and everything that came after, she tells the story of this perilous moment in our history, those she believes helped Trump spread the stolen election lie, those whose actions preserved our constitutional framework, and the risks she believes we still face.

Publication Date: 5 December 2023 Amazon | Goodreads  

Medgar & Myrlie

Joy-ann reid.

( 2 Weeks ) In this groundbreaking and thrilling account of two heroes of the civil rights movement, Joy-Ann Reid uses Medgar and Myrlie’s relationship as a lens through which to explore the on-the-ground work that went into winning basic rights for Black Americans, and the repercussions that still resonate today.

Publication Date: 6 February 2024 Amazon | Goodreads  

Save for Later

The Complete List of New York Times Best Sellers Nonfiction

Heavyweights (10+ Weeks on the NYT Bestseller List)

book cover The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos

The In-Between

Hadley vlahos.

( 16 Weeks ) Hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos shows palliative care teaches as much about how to live your life as how to die. Vlahos recounts the most memorable patients she’s worked with: a woman who never questioned her faith until death, a man seeing visions of his late daughter, and a young patient regretting how much she cared about others’ opinions.

Publication Date: 10 January 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Killing the Witches by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Killing the Witches

Bill o’reilly and martin dugard.

( 13 Weeks ) The 13th book in the Killing series takes on the Salem Witch Trials and the mass hysterical that gripped the town in the 1690s. When young girls began having violent fits, three young women were arrested, accused of being witches. Soon the mania swept the entire New England town, with hundreds accused and almost two dozen executed.

Publication Date: 26 September 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Being Henry by Henry Winkler

Being Henry

Henry winkler.

( 11 Weeks ) Henry Winkler rose to stardom starring as the iconic “Fonz” in Happy Days . With poignant humor, Winkler’s memoir tells of his troubled childhood, his struggles with severe dyslexia, and his rise to fame. Yet what do your greatest days seem to be behind you? Winkler writes of the challenge to escape typecasting and his eventual star in other roles, all while staying one of the nicest men in Hollywood.

Publication Date: 31 October 2023 Amazon | Goodreads | More Info

book cover Behind the Seams by Dolly Parton

Behind the Seams

Dolly parton.

( 11 Weeks ) Iconic singer-songwriter Dolly Parton shares the story of her lifelong love with fashion and how she developed her own distinctive style. With gorgeous photographs of her costume archive, Parton discusses her boldest dresses and hairstyles, telling never before heard stories that span her illustrious career.

Publication Date: 17 October 2023 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson

Democracy Awakening

Heather cox richardson.

( 10 Weeks ) During the impeachment crisis of 2019, historian Heather Cox Richardson started a daily newsletter explaining the historical context of current events. Richardson argues that a small group of wealthy citizens have fought to distort history to lead American into authoritarianism. Explaining several decades of American politics, Richardson suggests a way forward to America’s future.

Publication Date: 26 September 2023 Amazon | Goodreads

book cover My Name is Barbra by Barbra Striesand

My Name is Barbra

Barbra streisand.

( 10 Weeks ) Iconic entertainer Barbra Streisand has dominated the entertainment business throughout her career, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards for her various performances. In a frank and funny memoir, Streisand takes readers through her life – growing up in Brooklyn, her breakout performance in Funny Girl, her career success, her advocacy, and all her opinions along the way.

Publication Date: 7 November 2023 Amazon | Goodreads

Fan Favorites (5+ Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List)

book cover My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee

My Effin’ Life by Geddy Lee

Amazon | Goodreads (9 Weeks) The musician known for his work with the band Rush chronicles his life as the child of Holocaust survivors and his time in the limelight.  

The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory by Tim Alberta

Amazon | Goodreads (9 Weeks) The author of “American Carnage” looks at divisions within the American evangelical movement.  

book cover Ghosts of Honolulu by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.

Ghosts of Honolulu by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.

Amazon | Goodreads (8 Weeks) The story of a Japanese American naval intelligence agent, a Japanese spy and events in Hawaii before the start of World War II.  

book cover Teddy and Booker T. by Brian Kilmeade

Teddy and Booker T. by Brian Kilmeade

Amazon | Goodreads (6 Weeks) The Fox News host gives an account of the relationship between President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington.  

book cover King by Jonathan Eig

King by Jonathan Eig

Amazon | Goodreads (5 Weeks) A biography of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., which includes new archival material and reflections from some who worked, lived and fought with him.  

New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers

Honorable Mention (2-4 Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List)

book cover Read Write Own by Chris Dixon

One Hit Wonders (1 Week on the New York Times Best Seller List)

book cover Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker

Do You Agree with The New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers?

What books do you think are the best of the year? Do you think The New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers deserve the hype? As always, let me know in the comments!

More New Book Releases:

  • The New York Times Fiction Bestseller List
  • The Most-Anticipated Upcoming Releases of 2024
  • The 2023 New York Times Nonfiction Bestsellers
  • The Current Celebrity Book Club Picks
  • The Top 50 Books of the Last Decade

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California Today

Updating the California Reading List

We’re adding Amy Tan’s San Francisco classic “The Joy Luck Club,” John Steinbeck’s early novel “Tortilla Flat” and more.

Soumya Karlamangla

By Soumya Karlamangla

The book cover for “Play It as It Lays” by Joan Didion.

I’m always on the lookout for my next great book, and I’m guessing you might be, too.

Today we’re updating our California Reading List, a guide to nonfiction books and novels that are especially good at illuminating life in the Golden State.

New to the list are Amy Tan’s San Francisco classic, “The Joy Luck Club,” and John Steinbeck’s early novel “Tortilla Flat,” a portrait of life in Monterey after World War I. Another popular suggestion readers sent in was “Men to Match My Mountains” by Irving Stone, a gripping history of westward expansion and the settling of California that was published in 1956.

You can peruse the full list here. The latest additions are shown in bold.

Keep emailing me your suggestions at [email protected], and include your full name and the city where you live.

Here are thoughts readers shared about the latest entries, lightly edited:

“Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California” by Frances Dinkelspiel (2008)

“A fascinating and engaging book illuminating the life and influence of Isaias Hellman on the growth and changes in California from the 1850s to current times. Finance, business, health care, discrimination and the incredible power of money and financial acumen. As a Jew who grew up in Los Angeles and has lived in the Bay Area for over 40 years, the book taught me so much about the history of the regions I have lived in. My book club selection years ago, it received a positive vote from my entire book club, which rarely happens, especially for a nonfiction title.” — Farrell May Podgorsek, San Jose

“The Browns of California: The Family Dynasty that Transformed a State and Shaped a Nation” by Miriam Pawel (2018)

“Miriam Pawel possesses a remarkable talent for zooming out and revealing a broader narrative than one might expect. In this book, she doesn’t limit herself to the prominent politicians in the Brown family, such as Gov. Jerry Brown and his father, Pat Brown. Instead, she delves into four generations, offering more than just a political family biography. Through the lens of the Brown family, Pawel paints a vivid portrait of California’s own history.” — Natalia Molina, Los Angeles

“The Long Goodbye” (1953) and “The Big Sleep” (1939) by Raymond Chandler

“ You can’t go wrong with any of the Philip Marlowe books, especially ‘The Big Sleep’ and ‘The Long Goodbye.’ To read them is to get a lesson in the L.A. geography of that era, a picture of the society of that time, and not to mention an unforgettable cast of characters.” — Marty Levy, Los Angeles

“Ask The Dust” by John Fante (1939)

“In this novel, Arturo Bandini, the young author’s fictional alter ego, struggles to become a famous writer in Depression-era Los Angeles. I first read this story in the 1980s when I was in my early middle age. Reading it made me almost wish I had been alive and young and as impudent as Bandini is in the story, and just as hungry as he was to make it as a recognized, successful writer, in the Los Angeles of those 1930s. Robert Towne, who wrote the screenplay for ‘Chinatown’ and wrote and directed the motion picture adaptation of ‘Ask the Dust ,’ has called ‘Ask the Dust' the greatest novel ever written about Los Angeles.” — Jim Luther, Mendocino

“The Golden Gate” by Vikram Seth (1986)

“A story about a group of friends in the Bay Area in the ’80s — love, tech, relationships, etc., and it’s written in rhyme! I loved it, have given it to friends and family — they loved it, too. A small wonder!” — Ellen Grobman, Amherst, Mass.

“Play It as It Lays” by Joan Didion (1970)

“Didion’s novel, set in Southern California, provides a vivid portrait of the state while telling the story of a woman whose life is falling apart. The driving sequences evoke the southland like no other book I have read.” — Elizabeth Rood, San Francisco

The rest of the news

California is set to approve rules to protect workers from excessive heat indoors after missing a 2019 deadline for the change, CalMatters reports.

A federal judge blocked enforcement of a state law allowing government officials and individuals to sue manufacturers and sellers of “abnormally dangerous” firearms, The Los Angeles Times reports.

In the campaign for U.S. Senate, Representative Adam Schiff is still leading the primary field overall, while Representative Katie Porter is barely ahead of the former baseball star Steve Garvey in a tight race for second, according to a new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California . The top two candidates in the primary, regardless of party, will compete in the general election in November.

Edith Ceccarelli died on Thursday , two weeks after her 116th birthday, at the Mendocino County care home where she lived, The Press Democrat reported. Read our article about Ceccarelli’s extraordinarily long life and most recent birthday party.

Southern California

China has reached agreements with the San Diego Zoo and the Madrid Zoo in Spain to send giant pandas to Western countries, resuming a tradition of animal-based diplomacy.

More than 2,000 homeless people died in Los Angeles last year, an 8 percent increase from the year before and a 291 percent increase from 2014, according to a review of data from the county medical examiner that was obtained by The Guardian.

A widespread AT&T outage cut off connections for cellphone users in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta for several hours on Thursday. The cause was under investigation. White House officials said it did not appear to have been a cyberattack.

L.A. County has sued the food delivery service Grubhub, accusing it of business practices that “take advantage” of consumers , drivers and restaurants, KTLA reported. Grubhub said it was “disappointed” by the lawsuit, adding: “Our practices have always complied with applicable law, and in any event, many of the allegations are incorrect or have been discontinued.”

Northern California

Two children were killed when part of a hillside collapsed near the Shasta Dam, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said.

The San Francisco city attorney has reached a $2.1 million agreement with Qwick, a hospitality-staffing company based in Arizona that the city accused of illegally misclassifying workers in California and denying them guaranteed wages and benefits, The San Francisco Examiner reports.

What are the best California movies? “Chinatown”? “Vertigo”? “La La Land”?

Tell us which movie you would put on a California movie list and why. Email us at [email protected]. Please include your full name and the city in which you live.

And before you go, some good news

The Bay Area has no shortage of great sandwiches, and the number of restaurants, delis and counters serving creative spins on the classic lunchtime fare has expanded recently, as chefs with temporary pop-ups have settled into more permanent brick-and-mortar shops and traditional restaurants wade into the sandwich game.

Cesar Hernandez and Soleil Ho of The San Francisco Chronicle have put together a running list of the 25 best sandwiches to try in the Bay Area, including a few affordable options under $10.

Duc Huong, a Vietnamese deli chain that serves a top-notch banh mi at a low price — it has a buy-four-get-one-free deal — makes the list. So do Little Lucca, a specialty sandwich shop with an old-school feel that’s been in business since 1980, and Newkirk’s, with its California twist on East Coast bodega favorites like the bacon, egg and cheese.

Read the full list before your next lunch.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. Enjoy your weekend. — Soumya

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword .

Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at [email protected] .

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox .

A reader note in an earlier version of this newsletter incorrectly referred to Joan Didion’s novel “Play It as It Lays.” It is her second novel, not her first.

How we handle corrections

Soumya Karlamangla reports on California news and culture and is based in San Francisco. She writes the California Today newsletter. More about Soumya Karlamangla

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  17. The 10 Best Books Through Time

    The 10 Best Books Through Time - The New York Times Advertisement A Look Back of Best Books of the Year The 10 Best Books Through Time Each fall, the editors of the Times Book Review...

  18. The Complete List of New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers

    Since 1931, The New York Times has been publishing a weekly list of bestselling books. Since then, becoming a New York Times bestseller has become a dream for virtually every writer. When I first started reading adult books, one of the first places I went for book recommendations was the New York Times Nonfiction Nonfiction Best Sellers.

  19. Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels (100 books)

    David wrote: "Time somehow missed "Ulysses" and "Finnegan's Wake," which are clearly genius works of the English language. However, this list focuses on great English language novels and, if it drives readers in..." Ulysses didn't come out after 1923, and this list is about the books from 1923 to 2005. Agreed on Finnegan's Wake though.

  20. Sunday Times Chart

    Find 1000's Of Best-Selling Books At Your Fingertips. CALL US NOW 020 8798 9218. MY BASKET. CALL US NOW. 020 8798 9218. Home; About Us; Most Popular . Sunday Times Best Seller List. ... Sunday Times Chart. The top five hardbacks for fiction and for non-fiction, published each Sunday. WHAT : new poems from the Poet Laureate of Punk ...

  21. The Best Books of 2021

    100 Notable Books Advertisement The 10 Best Books of 2021 Editors at The Times Book Review choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles this year. 663 Nov. 30, 2021 閱讀繁體中文版 Artwork by Matt...

  22. Books

    Home to The Sunday Times Bestsellers List, this is where you can find expert opinions on the best books of the moment, plus online exclusive content such as our picks of the most exciting...

  23. L.A. Times Book Prize finalists for 2023 announced

    The finalists for the 44th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes were revealed Wednesday morning. Palestinian human rights activist and writer Raja Shehadeh, novelist Yiyun Li and comedian Maria Bamford ...

  24. Books

    Book reviews, book news and author interviews. Articles about bestselling fiction and non-fiction from the Los Angeles Times.

  25. The Best Books of 2022

    371 By The New York Times Books Staff Published Nov. 29, 2022 Updated Nov. 30, 2022 閱讀繁體中文版 Fiction The Candy House, by Jennifer Egan You don't need to have read Egan's Pulitzer-winning " A...

  26. Updating the California Reading List

    I'm always on the lookout for my next great book, and I'm guessing you might be, too. Today we're updating our California Reading List, a guide to nonfiction books and novels that are ...