'Books of the Month' News, Reviews and Resources

• 5 Books Bill Gates Wants You to Read This Winter 2019 / 2020 - TIME Magazine.
• 5 New Books You Should Read to Ring in 2020 - "If the 2010s were all about the fear of missing out (thanks, social media), then 2020 is already about learning how to set boundaries and when to say no."
• 5 Fashion Books For Your Coffee Table - The New York Times.
• 5 summer books & other things to do at home 2021 - "Whether you’re looking for a distraction or just spending a lot more time at home, you can’t beat reading a book." Gates Notes. The Blog of Bill Gates.
• 6 books to help understand the US & its politics - "From the pursuit of happiness to the economy - in the run-up to the election, here are some books that offer context, insight and perspectives on the US."
• 7 Books Every Man Should Read - "This selection of seven essential books is tailored to broaden your horizons and equip you with timeless wisdom and practical insights into various aspects of life. From navigating the intricacies of human relationships to developing resilience in adversity, these books offer a roadmap to a more fulfilled, well-rounded existence."
• 8 Must-Read Books You Might Have Missed in 2018 - "Here are the best under-the-radar books that you may have missed in 2018, from 'Disoriental' by Negar Djavadi to 'Belonging' by Nora Krug."
• 9 Books From Elon Musk’s Reading List That Could Change Your Life - "When he’s not building rockets, boring tunnels beneath Los Angeles, or sending cars into space, Elon Musk reads a lot. Here are 9 nonfiction books he thinks we should all read."
• 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2014 - The New York Times.
• 10 Best Books of 2015 - The New York Times.
• 10 Best Books of 2016 - The New York Times.
• 10 Best Books of 2017 - The New York Times.
• 10 Best Books of 2018 - "The editors of The Times Book Review choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles this year."
• 10 Best Books of 2019 - "The editors of The Times Book Review choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles this year."
• 10 Best Books Through Time - "Each fall, the editors of the Times Book Review select the best fiction and nonfiction titles of the year. Now, we call this list the 'Ten Best Books' and have done so since 2004."
• 10 Best Fiction Books of 2018 - "The best of this year’s fiction deals with prisons of all kinds — literal ones, but also dead-end jobs, luxury apartments and uncomfortable home states."
• 10 Best Fiction Books of 2019 - TIME Magazine.
• 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2018 - "Here are TIME's picks for the best nonfiction books of 2018, from Zora Neale Hurston’s 'Barracoon' to Tara Westover’s 'Educated.'"
• 10 books Trump recommended this year - "The president has endorsed at least a dozen books this year - despite claiming he ‘doesn’t have the time’ to read - and they all have one thing in common."
• 10 Most Borrowed Books of All Time at the New York Public Library - "As it approaches a milestone 125th anniversary, the New York Public Library is looking back on its most borrowed books of all time. One of the largest and most iconic public library systems in the U.S., the New York Public Library has 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island."
• 10 Must-Read Business Books for 2020 - "Gartner experts share their list of must-read books for business executives - from the recent to the classics - to help you hone your leadership skills and tackle the business and societal challenges of 2020."
• 10 of the best novels set in Germany - that will take you there - "The ‘ignominy of division and joy of reunification’ are only part of the journey when exploring Germany through its fiction."
• 11 best new sci-fi books to check out on your new Kindle 2020 - "Something to read in the new year."
• 12 New Books We’re Reading This Summer 2016 (and 6 Not So New) - The New York Times.
• 16 Best True Crime Books of All Time - "From classics like Truman Capote's In Cold Blood to newer page-turners like Ron Stallworth's Black Klansman, these books are must reads."
• 17 Great Books About American Presidents - The New York Times.
• 18 books billionaire Warren Buffett thinks everyone should read - Business Insider.
• 19 Ingenious Design Books to Inspire You in 2017 - Wired.
• 20 easy, enjoyable ways to read more brilliant books - "Do you love reading - but all too often find yourself just scrolling through your phone or watching TV? Here is how to get lost in literature again."
• 21 Most Anticipated Books of 2021 - TIME Magazines.
• 25 Best Coffee Table Books For Your Home in 2022 - "How do you make something like a coffee table a bit more appealing to the naked eye? You top it with some visually-enticing reading material, of course. Not just any reading material will do, however. What you need is something intriguing, unique, and artistic, helping to accent your home’s natural beauty and invite guests into the living area for a quick browse."
• 25 books that will blow your mind - Business Insider.
• 25 Expert Tips to Reading WAY More Books This Year - "Instead of trying to power through a book that you're not enjoying, put it down."
• 31-day literary diet for January - "Looking for a more positive new year resolution? From a Shirley Jackson short story to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 30-minute Ted talk, nourish your mind with our one-a-day selection of literary treats."
• 33 of the best books of 2023 - "Sandra Newman to Justin Torres. From a reimagining of Orwell's 1984 to the story of Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi, these are BBC Culture's picks of the best fiction of the year."
• 42 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2019 - "From Margaret Atwood's 'The Testaments' to Ta-Nehisi Coates' 'The Water Dancer,' here are the most anticipated books of fall 2019."
• 42 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2020 - TIME Magazine.
• 50 best books of 2017 - The Telegraph.
• 50 best books of the year 2022 - "From anti-romcoms and horror to razor-sharp essays and state-of-the-nation novels, it's been a brilliant year for books. Here are BBC Culture's top picks."
• 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years - "The New York Times’s book critics select the most outstanding memoirs published since 1969."
• 73 books to read while the sun is out - The New York Times.
• 100 best books of the 21st century - "Dazzling debut novels, searing polemics, the history of humanity and trailblazing memoirs ... Read our pick of the best books since 2000."
• 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - "As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers - with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review."
• 100 best fantasy books of all time - "With a panel of leading fantasy authors - N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Sabaa Tahir, Tomi Adeyemi, Diana Gabaldon, George R.R. Martin, Cassandra Clare and Marlon James - TIME presents the most engaging, inventive and influential works of fantasy fiction, in chronological order beginning in the 9th century."
• 100 Best Novels - The Guardian.
• 100 bestselling books of the past 50 years 2024 - "To celebrate 50 years of the Sunday Times bestseller list, we have calculated the nation’s most popular books over the past five decades - how many have you read?"
• 100 greatest British novels - BBC.
• 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 - "The fiction, nonfiction and poetry that deepened our understanding, ignited our curiosity and helped us escape."
• 100 Must-Read Books of 2023 | TIME - "The fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that entertained and enlightened us."
• 100 must-read books of 2024 | TIME - "Gripping novels and short stories, eye-opening histories, moving memoirs, and more. These are the books that entertained and enlightened us."
• 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2014 - The New York Times.
• 100 Notable Books of 2015 - The New York Times.
• 100 Notable Books of 2016 - The New York Times.
• 100 Notable Books of 2017 - The New York Times.
• 100 Notable Books of 2018 - "The year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review."
• 100 Notable Books of 2019 - "The year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review."
• 100 Notable Books of 2023 - "Each year, we pore over thousands of new books, seeking out the best novels, memoirs, biographies, poetry collections, stories and more. Here are the standouts, selected by the staff of The New York Times Book Review."
• 100 Notable Books of 2024 - "Here is the standout fiction and nonfiction of the year, selected by the staff of The New York Times Book Review. As you browse, you can keep track of how many you’ve read or want to read. By the time you reach No. 100, you’ll have a personalized reading list to share."
• 2021: Fiction to look out for - "With a host of dazzling second novels in the offing, plus the return of big hitters such as Kazuo Ishiguro and Jon McGregor, 2021 is shaping up to be a special year."
• 2021: Nonfiction to look out for - "Biographies of Philip Roth and DH Lawrence, the curious death of Robert Maxwell, and dispatches from the Covid frontline."
• 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature - was awarded to the French author Annie Ernaux "for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory".
• 2023 in books: highlights for the year ahead - "The best fiction and nonfiction to look forward to in the new year, from Zadie Smith to Simon Schama, Margaret Atwood to Rory Stewart."
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama review - behind the power & the pomp - "America’s former commander-in-chief shares his character flaws and fears for the presidency in this poetic, introspective account of his childhood and first term in the White House."
• All the Books Carrie Bradshaw & Co. Have Been Reading in And Just Like That... - "Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed a lot of books appearing on the series so far - Carrie is a writer and literature is her forte, after all. But many have clearly been put there to be noticed by viewers, with some (hello, Miranda’s book on sobriety) even having their own storylines. It turns out a lot of work went into carefully selecting every single one of the books—including the hundreds visible in background shots of Carrie’s bookshelves - and Sarah Jessica Parker helped to select them herself."
• AMAZON.COM BEST SELLERS - "Our most popular products based on sales. Updated frequently."
• AMAZON.COM BEST SELLERS KINDLE - as of July 7, 2024: 50,000+ results.
• best books of 2022, according to cultural tastemakers - "If you've reached the end of the year feeling as though you didn't read enough, we've got you. Here are some of the best books of the year according to notable authors, artists, image-makers and other cultural tastemakers."
• Book Review: 'Triumph of the Yuppies,' by Tom McGrath - "The Long Life of Yuppie Scum. In 'Triumph of the Yuppies,' Tom McGrath revels in the stories of a generation that turned its back on protest and bought into consumer culture."
• books of 2021, chosen by our guest authors - "From piercing studies of colonialism to powerful domestic sagas, our panel of writers, all of whom had books published this year, share their favourite titles of 2021." The Guardian.
• best books of 2021 so far - BBC Culture.
• best books & audiobooks of 2020 so far - "Hilary Mantel’s trilogy was finished at last, Blake Gopnik exposed Warhol’s private life and Richard E Grant brought new life to Iris Murdoch. Here are our highlights of the year to date."
• best short stories for every taste & mood - "The perfect lockdown reading choices for whatever your state of mind."
• Bill Gates-Recommended Read Is The Bestselling Book Of The Year 2024 So Far - "'The Women' by Kristin Hannah, which tells a fictional story of military nurses serving in Vietnam, is the bestselling book released in 2024 so far with 829,115 print copies sold."
• Bill Gates Recommends These Five Books For 2020 - "Bill Gates continued his annual tradition of recommending his top five favorite books on Tuesday. 2020 was, the billionaire wrote on GatesNotes, his personal blog, 'a lousy year,' so he chose his favorites in the hopes that readers can end it on a 'good note.'"
• Bill Gates: This Book Is 'One of the Most Important' - TIME Magazine.
• Blinkist - since 2012. "Big ideas in small packages." Blinkist lets you read the key lessons from 3000+ nonfiction books in 15 min or fewer. Start your free trial today and find out how.
• Bill Gates' Bookshelf - "Learn more about Books."
• Books Hunter S. Thompson Thinks You Should Read - Electric Literature.
• books that help us to embrace middle-age - "In the recent books about mid-life, it's the Gen-X adults doing the growing up. Lindsay Baker talks to the authors who are exploring the ups and downs of ageing."
• Common abbreviations of book terms - "Learn about the most common abbreviations of book terms."
• Coronavirus: Books to enjoy while in quarantine - "From tales of pandemic to reflections on isolation, here is a shelf’s worth of books to keep you going during a quarantine."
• David Bowie reveals his favourite 100 books - The Telegraph.
• David Bowie’s top 100 books - the complete list - BowieBookClub.
• Donald Trump: Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success - "'A first-rate financial thriller . . . Lucky Loser is one of those rare Trump books that deserve, even demand, to be read.' - Alexander Nazaryan, The New York Times. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters behind the 2018 bombshell New York Times exposé of then-President Trump’s finances, an explosive investigation into the history of Donald Trump’s wealth, revealing how one of the country’s biggest business failures lied his way into the White House."
• Food Books To Feed The Soul - Forbes.
• How Celebrity Memoirs Got So Good - "One way to explain this shift is fairly simple: the move toward unfiltered storytelling tracks with the dominance of social media, a tool that has undeniably transformed the celebrity landscape. Gone are the days of the inaccessible, mysterious A-lister of the tabloid era, whose public perception was determined largely by the whims of paparazzi. Now, with platforms like Instagram, access to public figures and the inner workings of their lives are just a screen swipe away - and firmly within their control, making authenticity (or at least the performance of it) the key to attracting a loyal audience."
• How the ‘brainy’ book became a publishing phenomenon - The Guardian.
• How to Share Books & Movies Through Amazon Household - "The retail giant offers a way to share your Prime benefits - including Kindle titles, audiobooks, and free shipping - with others in your home."
• I read all those Trump tell-alls. Here's what I learned - "Hardly a day goes by without another book about the Trump White House - by a devoted former aide or a disgruntled ex-employee. Together, what do they tell us about the man?"
• Losing Yourself in a Good Book - The New York Times.
• Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming sells 10 million copies - "Michelle Obama's memoir is on course to become the most popular autobiography to date, according to its publisher."
• Most Overrated Books of All Time - Ranker.
• Print Wikipedia - "The entire English language Wikipedia in nearly 7,500 volumes."
• Proust Ink - "A Website Celebrating the Life and Works of Marcel Proust." Join renowned Proust biographer William C. Carter as he guides you through In Search of Lost Time. Read the novel and enjoy the lectures on your own schedule. 30 multimedia lectures with reading assignments, supplementary files, & live webcams.
• Read by Famous - "From Their Hands To Yours." We sell books that were owned and read by people who have achieved high levels of recognition in their particular fields. Not copies of titles they have read, but the actual books that these people owned and read.
• SILICON VALLEY’S SECRETS are HIDING in marc ANDREESSEN’S LIBRARY - Wired.
• Skim reading is the new normal. The effect on society is profound - "When the reading brain skims texts, we don’t have time to grasp complexity, to understand another’s feelings or to perceive beauty. We need a new literacy for the digital age."
• Steve Jobs’ Favorite Books & Bands - "Steve Jobs once famously said that people don’t read anymore, but he did, and amongst the revelations of Walter Isaacson’s biography of Apple’s co-founder are his favorite books and bands."
• The 10 Best Books of 2012 - The New York Times.
• 'The Art of Her Deal': Melania Trump's prenup renegotiation - "Melania Trump was in no rush to move into the White House. That’s when she renegotiated her prenup, a new book says."
• THE BEST BOOKS OF 2013 - Amazon.com.
• THE GREAT COURSES - Audio & Video Lectures from The World's Best Professors - on Amazon.com. The company offers more than 1,536 courses, which span more than 30,000 hours of content across several subject categories: business and economics, fine arts, music, ancient and medieval history, modern history, literature and English language, philosophy and intellectual history, religion, science, mathematics, social sciences, and better living. As of July 7, 2024: 869 results.
• THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS - Amazon.com.
• The rise of apocalyptic novels - "In our times of uncertainty, the latest fiction about climate disaster is unsettling - but also strangely comforting."
• This decade we’ve become obsessed with reading - and writing - about ourselves - "It’s no longer just celebrities whose lives fascinate us. The experience of the non-famous matters more than ever before."
• Top 10 books about self-improvement - "In time for new year resolutions, a cultural historian chooses some of the best guides to making a better life, dating back to some of our earliest literature."