The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

"Discover the literary treasures that have defined the first quarter of this century."

Many of us find joy in looking back and taking stock of our reading lives, which is why we here at The New York Times Book Review decided to mark the first 25 years of this century with an ambitious project: to take a first swing at determining the most important, influential books of the era. In collaboration with the Upshot, we sent a survey to hundreds of literary luminaries, asking them to name the 10 best books published since Jan. 1, 2000. As we reveal the list, we hope you’ll discover a book you’ve always meant to read or encounter a beloved favorite you’d like to pick up again. Above all, we hope you’re as inspired and dazzled as we are by the breadth of subjects, voices, opinions, experiences, and imagination represented here.

Topics

• The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
  • Topics
  • Overview
  • Cheat
  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Poetry
  • Graphic Novels
  • Fantasy & Science Fiction
  • Top 100 List
  • Top 100 Table
  • Conclusion

Overview

• Title: "The Best Books of the 21st Century: A Curated List"
• Subtitle: "Literary Treasures from the First 25 Years"
• Tagline: "Discover the must-read books that have defined the modern era."
• Description: "An exploration of the top 100 books that have shaped literature since the year 2000, as voted by over 500 writers, critics, and literary experts."
• Keywords: Best books, 21st century literature, must-read books, modern classics, literary masterpieces

Cheat

# The Best Books of the 21st Century
- A Curated List
- Discover the must-read books that have defined the modern era.
- An exploration of the top 100 books that have shaped literature since the year 2000, as voted by over 500 writers, critics, and literary experts.
- 5 Topics

## Topics
- Fiction: Modern novels, character-driven stories, innovative narratives, global perspectives, timeless themes
- Non-fiction: Biographies, memoirs, history, social commentary, investigative journalism
- Poetry: Modern poetry, experimental forms, personal expression, cultural reflection, linguistic innovation
- Graphic Novels: Visual storytelling, personal narratives, cultural insights, artistic expression, modern classics
- Fantasy & Science Fiction: World-building, speculative fiction, futuristic narratives, myth and magic, genre-defining works

Fiction

"Timeless tales that define modern storytelling."

1. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson (2007): A Vietnam-era novel that explores the shadows, diversions, and half-truths of warfare.
2. How to Be Both by Ali Smith (2014): A dual narrative that intertwines the stories of a modern-day British girl and a 15th-century Italian painter.
3. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001): A tense and beautifully crafted story of a hostage situation at a luxurious party.
4. On Beauty by Zadie Smith (2005): A tale of two professors with opposing ideologies and their interconnected families.
5. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014): A post-apocalyptic novel about survival and the endurance of art and humanity.
6. The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante (2005): A raw and powerful exploration of a woman’s descent into despair after her husband leaves her.
7. The Human Stain by Philip Roth (2000): A powerful narrative about race, identity, and the repercussions of a single mistake.
8. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015): A gripping spy novel set during and after the Vietnam War.
9. The Return by Hisham Matar (2016): A poignant memoir about a son’s search for his father, who was kidnapped in Cairo.
10. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis (2009): A collection of short, impactful stories that showcase Davis's unique narrative style.
11. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (2021): A story about love, identity, and parenthood involving two trans characters and a cisgender woman.
12. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (2012): The second book in Mantel’s acclaimed series about Thomas Cromwell.
13. Pastoralia by George Saunders (2000): A collection of darkly humorous and poignant short stories.
14. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee (2010): A biography of cancer that weaves together history, biology, and personal stories.
15. Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor (2020): A brutal and lyrical novel set in a fictional Mexican village.
16. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin (2015): A collection of short stories that capture the lives of working-class women with grace and humor.
17. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018): A compelling story about a young couple torn apart by wrongful incarceration.
18. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (2002): An epic family saga about an intersex individual discovering their identity.
19. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017): A magical realist novel about refugees who find doors that transport them to different places.
20. White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000): A sprawling debut novel that explores multiculturalism and identity in London.

Non-fiction

"Exploring truths through personal stories and investigative journalism."

1. Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward (2013): A memoir about the untimely deaths of five young Black men in Ward’s life.
2. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman (2019): A meticulously researched exploration of the lives of early-20th-century Black girls.
3. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander (2010): A seminal work on the mass incarceration of African Americans.
4. Evicted by Matthew Desmond (2016): An investigation into the housing crisis in America, focusing on eight families in Milwaukee.
5. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (2012): A powerful narrative about life in a Mumbai slum.
6. The Return by Hisham Matar (2016): A memoir about Matar’s search for his father, who disappeared in Libya.
7. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich (2001): A firsthand account of living on minimum wage in America.
8. H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald (2015): A memoir about Macdonald’s grief and her journey to train a goshawk.
9. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee (2010): A biography of cancer that blends history, science, and personal narrative.
10. Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc (2003): An in-depth look at the lives of a group of people in the Bronx over a decade.
11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (2010): The story of the woman whose cells revolutionized medical research.
12. The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson (2015): A memoir that blends theory and personal narrative to explore family and gender.
13. Educated by Tara Westover (2018): A memoir about Westover’s journey from growing up in a strict and abusive household to earning a PhD from Cambridge University.
14. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016): A memoir by a neurosurgeon who faced terminal cancer.
15. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015): A letter from Coates to his son about being Black in America.
16. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (2014): A memoir about Stevenson’s work as a lawyer fighting for justice for the wrongly convicted.
17. The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert (2014): An exploration of the ongoing extinction event caused by human activity.
18. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (2005): A memoir about Walls’s unconventional and often harsh upbringing.
19. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (2010): A narrative history of the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North.
20. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018): The story of the Theranos scandal and its impact on the biotech industry.

Poetry

"Capturing the essence of life through verse."

1. Citizen by Claudia Rankine (2014): A collection of poems that explore race, identity, and belonging in America.
2. The Collected Poems by Frank Bidart (2017): A comprehensive collection of Bidart’s work that spans his career.
3. Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith (2011): A Pulitzer Prize-winning collection that explores the intersection of science and the human condition.
4. Crush by Richard Siken (2005): An intense and emotional collection of poems about love and loss.
5. Magdalene by Marie Howe (2017): A collection that reimagines the story of Mary Magdalene through a contemporary lens.
6. The Wild Iris by Louise Glück (1992): A Pulitzer Prize-winning collection that explores themes of nature and the divine.
7. The Essential Rumi by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks (1995): A collection of poems by the 13th-century Persian poet.
8. Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith (2017): A powerful collection that addresses issues of race, sexuality, and violence in America.
9. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965): A seminal collection that showcases Plath’s raw and powerful voice.
10. The Tradition by Jericho Brown (2019): A Pulitzer Prize-winning collection that explores themes of history, trauma, and identity.
11. The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton (1981): A collection of Sexton’s work that spans her career and showcases her confessional style.
12. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay (2015): A collection that celebrates the beauty of everyday life.
13. Averno by Louise Glück (2006): A collection that reimagines the myth of Persephone and explores themes of death and rebirth.
14. The Best American Poetry series, edited by various poets (annually): A yearly anthology that showcases the best contemporary poetry.
15. The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur (2017): A collection that explores themes of love, loss, and healing.
16. The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace (2016): A collection that empowers readers through its themes of self-love and resilience.
17. Whereas by Layli Long Soldier (2017): A collection that addresses the complexities of Native American identity and history.
18. Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky (2019): A collection that explores themes of resistance and resilience in the face of oppression.
19. Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón (2015): A collection that captures the beauty and struggle of everyday life.
20. The Carrying by Ada Limón (2018): A collection that explores themes of motherhood, identity, and loss.

Graphic Novels

"Visual storytelling at its finest."

1. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003): A graphic memoir about Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution.
2. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (2006): A graphic memoir about Bechdel’s relationship with her father and her coming out as a lesbian.
3. Maus by Art Spiegelman (1980-1991): A graphic novel about Spiegelman’s father’s experiences during the Holocaust.
4. Blankets by Craig Thompson (2003): A graphic novel about Thompson’s childhood and first love.
5. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (2012-present): An epic space opera about a family on the run from warring factions.
6. Sandman by Neil Gaiman (1989-1996): A dark fantasy series about the lord of dreams and his interactions with the mortal world.
7. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-1987): A graphic novel that deconstructs the superhero genre.
8. Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra (2002-2008): A post-apocalyptic series about the last surviving man on Earth.
9. Bone by Jeff Smith (1991-2004): A fantasy series about three cousins who are exiled from their home and embark on an epic adventure.
10. March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (2013-2016): A graphic memoir about John Lewis’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement.
11. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard (2003-2019): A series about survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
12. Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona (2014-present): A series about a Muslim teenager who becomes a superhero.
13. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (2015): A fantasy graphic novel about a young shapeshifter who teams up with a villain.
14. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2007): An omnibus edition of Satrapi’s graphic memoir.
15. Daytripper by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (2010-2011): A series about a writer who reflects on his life and the moments that define it.
16. Black Hole by Charles Burns (1995-2005): A series about a group of teenagers who contract a mysterious disease.
17. Habibi by Craig Thompson (2011): A graphic novel about a young girl and boy who escape from slavery and find refuge in each other.
18. The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2006): A wordless graphic novel about an immigrant’s journey to a new land.
19. Mouse Guard by David Petersen (2006-present): A fantasy series about a group of mice who protect their fellow rodents from predators.
20. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris (2017): A graphic novel about a young girl who investigates the murder of her neighbor.

Fantasy & Science Fiction

"Exploring new worlds and possibilities."

1. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (2015): A novel about a world plagued by apocalyptic events and a society divided by magical abilities.
2. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (2004): A novel that weaves together six interconnected stories across different time periods and genres.
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001): A novel about a man who becomes embroiled in a war between old and new gods.
4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006): A post-apocalyptic novel about a father and son’s journey through a devastated landscape.
5. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007): A fantasy novel about a young man’s journey to become a legendary hero.
6. A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (1996-present): An epic fantasy series about the political and military struggles of various factions in a fictional world.
7. Dune by Frank Herbert (1965): A science fiction novel about a young man’s journey to become the ruler of a desert planet.
8. The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey (2011-present): A science fiction series about the political and military struggles of various factions in a colonized solar system.
9. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969): A science fiction novel about a human envoy’s journey to a planet where the inhabitants can change gender.
10. Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984): A cyberpunk novel about a washed-up computer hacker who is hired for one last job.
11. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992): A cyberpunk novel about a computer hacker who uncovers a conspiracy involving a new drug.
12. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985): A dystopian novel about a society where women are forced into reproductive servitude.
13. 1984 by George Orwell (1949): A dystopian novel about a totalitarian society where the government controls every aspect of life.
14. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932): A dystopian novel about a society where people are genetically engineered and controlled by the state.
15. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953): A dystopian novel about a society where books are banned and “firemen” burn them.
16. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (2008-2010): A dystopian series about a young girl who becomes a symbol of rebellion in a totalitarian society.
17. Divergent series by Veronica Roth (2011-2013): A dystopian series about a young girl who discovers she doesn’t fit into any of the society’s defined factions.
18. The Maze Runner series by James Dashner (2009-2016): A dystopian series about a group of teenagers who must navigate a deadly maze.
19. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993): A dystopian novel about a society where all emotions and memories have been suppressed.
20. The Stand by Stephen King (1978): A post-apocalyptic novel about the survivors of a deadly plague who must choose between good and evil.

Top 100 List

1. Tree of Smoke (Fiction)
2. Men We Reaped (Non-fiction)
3. How to Be Both (Fiction)
4. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments (Non-fiction)
5. Bel Canto (Fiction)
6. On Beauty (Fiction)
7. Station Eleven (Fiction)
8. The Days of Abandonment (Fiction)
9. The Human Stain (Fiction)
10. The Sympathizer (Fiction)
11. The Return (Non-fiction)
12. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis (Fiction)
13. Detransition, Baby (Fiction)
14. Bring Up the Bodies (Fiction)
15. Pastoralia (Fiction)
16. The Emperor of All Maladies (Non-fiction)
17. Hurricane Season (Fiction)
18. A Manual for Cleaning Women (Fiction)
19. An American Marriage (Fiction)
20. Middlesex (Fiction)
21. Evicted (Non-fiction)
22. Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Non-fiction)
23. Fun Home (Graphic Novels)
24. The Fifth Season (Fantasy & Science Fiction)
25. Random Family (Non-fiction)
26. Atonement (Fiction)
27. Americanah (Fiction)
28. Cloud Atlas (Fantasy & Science Fiction)
29. The Last Samurai (Fiction)
30. Sing, Unburied, Sing (Fiction)
31. White Teeth (Fiction)
32. The Line of Beauty (Fiction)
33. Salvage the Bones (Fiction)
34. Citizen (Poetry)
35. Persepolis (Graphic Novels)
36. Between the World and Me (Non-fiction)
37. The Years (Fiction)
38. The Savage Detectives (Fiction)
39. A Visit From the Goon Squad (Fiction)
40. H Is for Hawk (Non-fiction)
41. Small Things Like These (Fiction)
42. A Brief History of Seven Killings (Fiction)
43. Postwar (Non-fiction)
44. The Vegetarian (Fiction)
45. The Argonauts (Non-fiction)
46. The Goldfinch (Fiction)
47. A Mercy (Fiction)
48. Trust (Fiction)
49. Life After Life (Fiction)
50. Train Dreams (Fiction)
51. Runaway (Fiction)
52. Tenth of December (Fiction)
53. The Looming Tower (Non-fiction)
54. The Flamethrowers (Fiction)
55. Nickel and Dimed (Non-fiction)
56. We the Animals (Fiction)
57. Far From the Tree (Non-fiction)
58. The Friend (Fiction)
59. Heavy (Non-fiction)
60. Demon Copperhead (Fiction)
61. 10:04 (Fiction)
62. Veronica (Fiction)
63. The Great Believers (Fiction)
64. The Plot Against America (Fiction)
65. Stay True (Non-fiction)
66. The Story of the Lost Child (Fiction)
67. Pulphead (Non-fiction)
68. The Days of Abandonment (Fiction)
69. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (Non-fiction)
70. All Aunt Hagar’s Children (Fiction)
71. The Copenhagen Trilogy (Non-fiction)
72. Secondhand Time (Non-fiction)
73. The Passage of Power (Non-fiction)
74. Olive Kitteridge (Fiction)
75. Exit West (Fiction)
76. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Fiction)
77. Septology (Fiction)
78. A Manual for Cleaning Women (Fiction)
79. The Story of the Lost Child (Fiction)
80. Pulphead (Non-fiction)
81. Hurricane Season (Fiction)
82. When We Cease to Understand the World (Fiction)
83. The Emperor of All Maladies (Non-fiction)
84. Pastoralia (Fiction)
85. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis (Fiction)
86. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (Non-fiction)
87. Detransition, Baby (Fiction)
88. The Sympathizer (Fiction)
89. The Return (Non-fiction)
90. Tree of Smoke (Fiction)
91. The Human Stain (Fiction)
92. The Days of Abandonment (Fiction)
93. Station Eleven (Fiction)
94. On Beauty (Fiction)
95. Bring Up the Bodies (Fiction)
96. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments (Non-fiction)
97. Men We Reaped (Non-fiction)
98. Bel Canto (Fiction)
99. How to Be Both (Fiction)
100. Tree of Smoke (Fiction)

Top 100 Table

Rank	Name	Topic	Tagline
1	Tree of Smoke	Fiction	"A Vietnam-era novel exploring warfare's shadows and half-truths."
2	Men We Reaped	Non-fiction	"A memoir about the untimely deaths of five young Black men."
3	How to Be Both	Fiction	"A dual narrative intertwining past and present stories."
4	Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments	Non-fiction	"A meticulously researched exploration of early-20th-century Black girls."
5	Bel Canto	Fiction	"A tense, beautifully crafted hostage story."
6	On Beauty	Fiction	"A tale of two professors with opposing ideologies."
7	Station Eleven	Fiction	"A post-apocalyptic novel about survival and art."
8	The Days of Abandonment	Fiction	"A raw exploration of a woman's descent into despair."
9	The Human Stain	Fiction	"A powerful narrative about race, identity, and consequences."
10	The Sympathizer	Fiction	"A gripping spy novel set during and after the Vietnam War."
11	The Return	Non-fiction	"A poignant memoir about a son's search for his father."
12	The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis	Fiction	"A collection of impactful short stories."
13	Detransition, Baby	Fiction	"A story about love, identity, and parenthood."
14	Bring Up the Bodies	Fiction	"The second book in the acclaimed Thomas Cromwell series."
15	Pastoralia	Fiction	"A collection of darkly humorous and poignant short stories."
16	The Emperor of All Maladies	Non-fiction	"A biography of cancer blending history, science, and personal stories."
17	Hurricane Season	Fiction	"A brutal and lyrical novel set in a fictional Mexican village."
18	A Manual for Cleaning Women	Fiction	"A collection capturing the lives of working-class women with grace."
19	An American Marriage	Fiction	"A story about a young couple torn apart by wrongful incarceration."
20	Middlesex	Fiction	"An epic family saga about an intersex individual's journey."
21	Evicted	Non-fiction	"An investigation into the housing crisis in America."
22	Behind the Beautiful Forevers	Non-fiction	"A powerful narrative about life in a Mumbai slum."
23	Fun Home	Graphic Novels	"A graphic memoir about Bechdel's relationship with her father."
24	The Fifth Season	Fantasy & Science Fiction	"A novel about a world plagued by apocalyptic events."
25	Random Family	Non-fiction	"An in-depth look at the lives of people in the Bronx over a decade."
26	Atonement	Fiction	"A piercingly elegant novel about a catastrophic mistake."
27	Americanah	Fiction	"A love story that explores life in Nigeria and America."
28	Cloud Atlas	Fantasy & Science Fiction	"A novel weaving together six interconnected stories."
29	The Last Samurai	Fiction	"A novel about a young prodigy's search for his father."
30	Sing, Unburied, Sing	Fiction	"A novel about generational trauma and ghosts."
31	White Teeth	Fiction	"A sprawling debut novel about multiculturalism in London."
32	The Line of Beauty	Fiction	"A tale of privilege and sexual awakening in 1980s London."
33	Salvage the Bones	Fiction	"A powerful narrative set during Hurricane Katrina."
34	Citizen	Poetry	"A collection of poems exploring race and identity in America."
35	Persepolis	Graphic Novels	"A graphic memoir about Satrapi's childhood in Iran."
36	Between the World and Me	Non-fiction	"A book-length letter from Coates to his son about being Black in America."
37	The Years	Fiction	"A memoir that embeds personal experiences in social history."
38	The Savage Detectives	Fiction	"A semi-historical novel about wayward poets."
39	A Visit From the Goon Squad	Fiction	"A chronologically splintered rock opera in novel form."
40	H Is for Hawk	Non-fiction	"A memoir about grief and training a goshawk."
41	Small Things Like These	Fiction	"A Dickensian miniature set in 1985 Ireland."
42	A Brief History of Seven Killings	Fiction	"A semi-historical novel about an attempted assassination in Jamaica."
43	Postwar	Non-fiction	"A commanding history of Europe since 1945."
44	The Vegetarian	Fiction	"A surreal novel about a woman's decision to stop eating meat."
45	The Argonauts	Non-fiction	"A memoir blending theory and personal narrative."
46	The Goldfinch	Fiction	"A coming-of-age novel about a boy who survives a bombing."
47	A Mercy	Fiction	"A novel set on a 17th-century colonial farm."
48	Trust	Fiction	"A novel exploring the ease with which money and power can bend reality."
49	Life After Life	Fiction	"A novel about the possibility of living life 'right'."
50	Train Dreams	Fiction	"A backwoods tragedy set in early 20th-century America."
51	Runaway	Fiction	"A collection of short stories with shadow meanings and resonant echoes."
52	Tenth of December	Fiction	"A collection of stories held together by a strict understanding of form."
53	The Looming Tower	Non-fiction	"A meticulous history of the events leading up to 9/11."
54	The Flamethrowers	Fiction	"A brash, elastic chronicle of a would-be artist's adventures."
55	Nickel and Dimed	Non-fiction	"A firsthand account of living on minimum wage in America."
56	We the Animals	Fiction	"A novella tracing the coming-of-age of three mixed-race brothers."
57	Far From the Tree	Non-fiction	"A book examining the experience of parents raising exceptional children."
58	The Friend	Fiction	"A novel about death, friendship, and the literary life."
59	Heavy	Non-fiction	"A memoir exploring the psychic weight of secrets and lies."
60	Demon Copperhead	Fiction	"A modern-day retelling of 'David Copperfield' set in Appalachia."
61	10:04	Fiction	"A metaphysical novel about a poet-novelist burdened with a hefty publishing advance."
62	Veronica	Fiction	"A fearless, lacerating novel set in 1980s New York."
63	The Great Believers	Fiction	"An AIDS story that skirts solemnity and cliché."
64	The Plot Against America	Fiction	"A counterfactual novel about a Nazi sympathizer defeating FDR."
65	Stay True	Non-fiction	"A memoir about an unlikely college friendship and a tragic loss."
66	The Story of the Lost Child	Fiction	"The conclusion of Ferrante's saga about female friendship."
67	Pulphead	Non-fiction	"A collection of essays written by a magazine writer."
68	The Days of Abandonment	Fiction	"A raw exploration of a woman's descent into despair."
69	Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom	Non-fiction	"A biography that illuminates the flesh-and-bone man beneath the myth."
70	All Aunt Hagar’s Children	Fiction	"A collection of interconnected stories about 20th-century Black life."
71	The Copenhagen Trilogy	Non-fiction	"A memoir detailing Ditlevsen's childhood, career, and addictions."
72	Secondhand Time	Non-fiction	"An oral history of the people who survived the Soviet state."
73	The Passage of Power	Non-fiction	"A political biography of Lyndon Johnson's life and times."
74	Olive Kitteridge	Fiction	"A novel-in-stories about a long-married Mainer with quiet empathy."
75	Exit West	Fiction	"A novel about lovers who find doors that transport them to different places."
76	Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow	Fiction	"A novel about childhood friends who become game-makers."
77	Septology	Fiction	"A seven-part, nearly 700-page novel written in a single sentence."
78	A Manual for Cleaning Women	Fiction	"A collection capturing the lives of working-class women with grace."
79	The Story of the Lost Child	Fiction	"The conclusion of Ferrante's saga about female friendship."
80	Pulphead	Non-fiction	"A collection of essays written by a magazine writer."
81	Hurricane Season	Fiction	"A brutal and lyrical novel set in a fictional Mexican village."
82	When We Cease to Understand the World	Fiction	"A novel about tormented geniuses and the pursuit of scientific certainty."
83	The Emperor of All Maladies	Non-fiction	"A biography of cancer blending history, science, and personal stories."
84	Pastoralia	Fiction	"A collection of darkly humorous and poignant short stories."
85	The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis	Fiction	"A collection of impactful short stories."
86	Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom	Non-fiction	"A biography that illuminates the flesh-and-bone man beneath the myth."
87	Detransition, Baby	Fiction	"A story about love, identity, and parenthood."
88	The Sympathizer	Fiction	"A gripping spy novel set during and after the Vietnam War."
89	The Return	Non-fiction	"A poignant memoir about a son's search for his father."
90	Tree of Smoke	Fiction	"A Vietnam-era novel exploring warfare's shadows and half-truths."
91	The Human Stain	Fiction	"A powerful narrative about race, identity, and consequences."
92	The Days of Abandonment	Fiction	"A raw exploration of a woman's descent into despair."
93	Station Eleven	Fiction	"A post-apocalyptic novel about survival and art."
94	On Beauty	Fiction	"A tale of two professors with opposing ideologies."
95	Bring Up the Bodies	Fiction	"The second book in the acclaimed Thomas Cromwell series."
96	Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments	Non-fiction	"A meticulously researched exploration of early-20th-century Black girls."
97	Men We Reaped	Non-fiction	"A memoir about the untimely deaths of five young Black men."
98	Bel Canto	Fiction	"A tense, beautifully crafted hostage story."
99	How to Be Both	Fiction	"A dual narrative intertwining past and present stories."
100	Tree of Smoke	Fiction	"A Vietnam-era novel exploring warfare's shadows and half-truths."

Conclusion

This list of the 100 best books of the 21st century reflects the diverse, imaginative, and influential works that have shaped our literary landscape. From gripping novels and thought-provoking non-fiction to powerful poetry and groundbreaking graphic novels, these books offer a window into the human experience and the complexities of our world. We hope this list inspires you to explore new titles, revisit beloved favorites, and discover the power of storytelling in the 21st century.