New York Times releases list of top books of the 21st century

The New York Times has released a list ranking the 100 best books of the 21st century. NBC News' Ellison Barber sits down with New York Times Book Review Editor Gilbert Cruz to discuss how the list came to be. » Subscribe to NBC News: / nbcnews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.c...
Visit NBCNews.Com: www.nbcnews.com/
Find NBC News on Facebook: / nbcnews
Follow NBC News on Twitter: / nbcnews
Get more of NBC News delivered to your inbox: nbcnews.com/newsletters
#nytimes #bestbooks #nbcnewsnow

[@berghorst]

Pachinko is absolutely spectacular

[@drowner]

Already bought it but haven't read yet

[@geckojinn1604]

"surprisingly philosophical" sounds like a backhanded compliment.

[@ziab07]

not really, the person just wasnt expecting a fictional story to be as philosophical as it was.

[@nl3064]

I just took a look at the list. While I am thrilled Savage Detectives is at 38, I hate how they go off the publication date for the English translations, rather than the publication date of the actual novel - Savage Detectives was published in Spanish in 1998. But they include it because the English version was 2007. Small complaint. As brilliant as Savage Detectives is, it shouldn't be there purely because it wasn't actually published this century.

[@zarosderer4447]

Americans always think that they are the center of the world

[@sacosec]

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (#15) is incredible!

[@abesapien9930]

Reading Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" right now. It's spectacular.

[@sharvo6]

Mom and dad read pulp magazines in the 50s but dad would take us every week to the library. Thanks dad, I'm sure you would have rather been doing something else.

[@dyanstoutenburg9974]

I do not think so. I think your Dad was doing exactly what he wanted to be doing.

[@sharvo6]

@@dyanstoutenburg9974 🙂

[@BlueDusk95]

Same for me. Also my dad taught me to read with the crossword puzzles in the newspaper. I would check the word definitions in the dictionary. I was 5.

[@sharvo6]

@@BlueDusk95 That sounds fun, finding a mistake of his would be like a prize.

[@reyofsunshine_]

Stephen King submitted his own work and he's so real for that lol

[@murpesc43]

Wolf Hall will always be my #1.

[@xijinbling2373]

Just picked up Lenin :What is to be Done.

[@grantlovesbooks]

It's a bit suspect when they spend their time talking about the HBO series, and how many sequels the #1 book has.

[@Lulu-ch5fw]

It’s not that type of series. Ferrante has said she views it as one book that was split into 4 smaller books so that it could be published easier due to its length and content. It is a very good series, and each book was planned and had its place.

[@grantlovesbooks]

@@Lulu-ch5fw Thanks for explaining that to me, I really don't know much when it comes to the 21st Cent.

[@OtakBolong]

and we're only ALMOST into the quarter of the century like??? why don't just title it the best books of the last 25 years. An advertorial fr

[@grantlovesbooks]

@@Lulu-ch5fw Thanks Lulu, I am quite stuck in the 20th and 19th Century when it comes to my favourite literature, but if I ever make my way to the 21st, I will keep this series in mind. I really like long series of novels.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Most of the books on the list have film adaptation or show. They mentioned Never let me go, American fiction. That just tells me there hasn't actually been that many good books written in a good long while.

[@JaylenPotts-zs2qw]

I just love books reading is fundamental and special. This is why literacy is so important especially in cities like Albany Ga and New Orleans Louisiana. For kids it starts with Ivf before a child is born.

[@MemphisJones]

I've got the Warmth of Other Suns recently from a book sale. Pretty excited to review the whole list.

[@ImJustAnOnion]

The Road by Cormac McCarthy!

[@TomHendricksMusea]

The real banned books are zines. Most publishing in the 1990’s was zines, The best literature was zines, A new type of literature was zines that combined book making, art, and lit. The last golden age of literature before the internet. But you won’t see zines in any book show - Zines were not major corporations, they were not mass produced (they were produced in limited copies) and they were as often traded for other zines, as sold. They were marginalized by the mainstream - even though they were most of the publishing, and the most innovative of publishing. Wherever you see, hear, or read a review of the latest novel now, you should have seen, heard or read about reviews of a zines. Zines were exploding in the early nineties. Desk top publishing and copy stores allowed anyone to make and publish their writings on anything. Zinesters popped out of every city and began to share their work with others. This was the literature of an entire generation. But where was the media? They still haven’t covered this golden age of writing - and, as we see now, it was the last golden age of literature before the internet - that’s a big deal. Imagine a generation's total literary output treated like the Thought Police treated facts in the novel 1984. That's what happened to zines. This was not a case of banning one person's writings - this was banning an entire generation of writers - that even now have not been recognized. *** The media has done everything it can to alter publishing history and not tell about the zine explosion that came with desktop publishing. It's as if someone wrote the history of music but didn't talk about rock and roll from 1955-1970. The best and most innovative writing in the world was in zines during the years from 1990 - 2000+. There is a Zine Hall of Fame. So where has the media been? How many thousands and thousands of zines have not been reviewed since 1990 why generic publishing has gotten endless reviews? This article barely touches the tip of an iceberg that really came into its own in the 90's in a golden decade of writing, illustrating and bookmaking, still unknown to the majority of the world. The last great Golden age of literature before the internet began.

[@elainefell7943]

people are still doing zines - it's not over :-)

[@avelinaferreira6387]

I love it that My Brilliant Friend is number one on the list!

[@susanroutt6690]

Wolf Hall. I’ve loved the Tudors since childhood, but I did not love you and no one that I gave the book to, enjoyed or even finished it. Still on my bookshelf, I’ll try again.

[@stacyarmstrong8275]

Same. I couldn't finish it.

[@ylimeasil]

I loved it and the whole trilogy, in fact, I read it twice

[@ba-gg6jo]

I love the trilogy, but Wolf Hall has a slow start with the first 100 pages a bit hard going. But after that it gathers pace and interest. I hope you have another crack at it. Enjoy your reading.

[@Windupchronic]

I loved Wolf Hall. It was a bit challenging at moments, but rewarding for the challenge. I still haven’t read the third book in the series, but the first two are among my favorite books that I’ve read since 2000.

[@alvindimes649]

​@@stacyarmstrong8275Same with me, have tried to read it 3 times, can't seem to get away with it. Still on my bookshelf, will probably try it again at some point. 😮

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

Wolf Hall series for me is the best.

[@johnmason3261]

For me personally, and although I've read many of these books, it was Against the Day, by Thomas Pynchon, that most impressed me with its storytelling, its characters, and its grand satisfying themes. I have to wonder whether it's missing from this list because it's over 1,000 pages long and thus much less commercial for a general readership.

[@stantonsullivan-readdelillo]

Good pick

[@nl3064]

It's a list of 100. They can't include everything. At least Against the Day was included among the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. And honestly, much as I love Pynchon, Against the Day was kinda hard to get into (didn't get very far with it). Of his 21st century novels, I personally liked Inherent Vice and Bleeding Edge more (even if they are of far less significance).

[@mantisamygdala]

It's one of my favorites, too (besides Shakespeare and War and Peace). Maybe Antkind by Charlie Kaufman is something for you, too. I loved it! These too, and The Road, would be my first three of this century so far.

[@Geemeel1]

GREAT item, @nbc !! Beautiful questions too, I may add. Very well presented. Love and light from Amsterdam 💖

[@jessdelores]

Where can we see the list? I don't have a subscription to NYT.

[@Shawanakhatun007]

Its available on google

[@Windupchronic]

I was able to view the entire list on the NYT website without a sub.

[@A_O_Leary]

It's not behind a paywall.

[@cdal1621]

Where’s the list?!

[@A_O_Leary]

Where's The New York Times list of best books this century? The New York Times has it.

[@kennyj43]

Is there a link to the list?

[@greglbennett]

www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/books/features/the-100-best-books-of-the-21st-century-according-to-new-york-times-article-111858335

[@MissTasseled]

I see some books on this list that are praised for what they stand for rather than their craftsmanship. I've read Underground Railroad, Exit West, and Lincoln in the Bardo, and they were all okay but very forgettable. Maybe a little pretentious. Pachinko fell apart for me after the first half. I might have to give Mantel one more shot, because I had a hard time getting into Wolf Hall and never got past the first 50 pages. I feel like a book must leave an everlasting imprint on you to be considered great. Also, the list is overwhelmingly US-centric, so I don't give it a lot of merit. The fact that some of the "experts" shamelessly plugged their own work into the ballots is pretty telling about how the whole thing was assembled: connections and performative intellectualism.

[@kyris66]

Best books list are always subjective and book readers will never agree to one list ever. What's forgettable to you may mean the world to another person and vice versa. I would take this as just a suggestion of books to look at, but may not necessarily be for me. Always take a 'books you must read' list with a grain of salt, everyone will be happier.

[@greglbennett]

The books that will stand the test of time will mostly not come from this list. "The Road" is McCarthy's least effective novel and he is my favorite "modern" author. As you pointed out, a lot of them are really just highly regarded for their social awareness rather than the writing.

[@soyancushperu1971]

I'm reaching out for your prayers and support. Please keep me in your thoughts for a speedy recovery.

[@remlya]

Prayer is superstitious. It accomplishes nothing. Your recovery will happen because of what you do, not what others think.

[@M-bb8zm]

If you are not a reader, please check out your favorite genre (can be movie/TV) and look up booktubers who highlight that genre. Also, ask your friends, family, or librarian for recommendations.

[@MagusX1]

That is a horrible idea, Many Booktubers are just in it for the views and actually do not care about what they are talking about. New readers should do their own research and to take the risk of actually reading the book as opposed to relying on internet glory hounds.

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

Why would they do that?

[@M-bb8zm]

@@MagusX1 I recommended Booktube as it gave me more ideas of books in the genres I like. If you don't want to use them, I still feel librarians are a great way to go.

[@agirlfrommars3441]

@@MagusX1there are booktubers that have videos titled books that changed their lives ect a lot of them also say they wouldn’t recommend certain books but see it has an audience. There’s a book for every reader.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

There are only a handful of youtubers that would be worth a follow, most of the popular channels have very little knowledge on literary analysis, and give/have very bad takes on certain books. It's usually important to have a strong foundation in the classics and go from there.

[@JaylenPotts-zs2qw]

Those Books sound special and relatable

[@thewilliams714]

Jenna Bush what a luminary

[@juliedearborn6646]

LOL

[@MagusX1]

That’s what I thought as well. I guess being the spoiled child of an ex president entitles you to be a “literary” expert. What a joke.

[@Adarsh40]

Exactly my thought

[@brianchappell4054]

Your jealous because they didn't ask you?

[@realcarywood]

@@MagusX1 It's because she has a book club on the Today show that has brought attention to many very good books and their authors, and encouraged a lot of people to read. Her selections have a big impact on sales and what people read. I've been happily surprised by some of her choices.

[@bdfwhhsb]

Why haven’t I heard of any of these books 🤨

[@ilovemylife1385]

Pachinko❤

[@Jona_8013]

I was expecting The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood but it was not on the list.

[@jennifermorgan8348]

Pillars of the Earth. 😊😊

[@MrSwinefuzz]

...was published in the 20th century...

[@heyheytaytay]

Gone Girl? I mean, really. It's housewife crime fiction at best. To have it ranked there with Cormac McCarthy and Margaret Atwood is just ridiculous.

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

@@heyheytaytay I haven’t read that I’ve, I’ve read a couple of her other novels, and they’re entertaining “beach reads”, but nothing more. I don’t even remember them, tbh, but I definitely remember The Crossing, and it’s been ten years since I’ve read it.

[@jensraab2902]

Gone Girl is not on the list.

[@snizhannapetrova1844]

It has made an impact though so it cannot be overlooked

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

@@snizhannapetrova1844 so did 50 shades of grey, doesn’t mean it belongs on the greatest novels of a century list.

[@A_O_Leary]

Its not on the list.

[@dtovar2]

Where is the list?

[@A_O_Leary]

The New York Times list is on the New York Times website.

[@dtovar2]

@@A_O_Leary Thank you. I don't have a subscription. However, I found the list elsewhere.

[@RoxanneM-]

@@A_O_Learyyeah, subscriptions have destroyed accessibility of information in this century. Less information, less democracy.

[@loloina]

where is Haruki Murakami....

[@hamplus163]

The puppy killer’s book didn’t make the list?

[@susanroutt6690]

Nor even, “The Art of the Deal”? The worst books of the century would be a fun list. 😵‍💫

[@TheHehe1223]

@@susanroutt6690 Art of the Deal was released in the 20th century not 21st

[@ohseb.]

More like "Top 100 Books in English - with a few token bestsellers from abroad thrown in, the ones made into a prestige series I saw on HBO" So much for "experts" ... 😅

[@gilbertoflores7397]

They asked authors. So you know they just picked their friends/other authors they knew.

[@A_O_Leary]

The NYT is an English language paper and no.6 and no.8 are translations of books. Why question people's expertise because their recommendations are in the language of the publication compiling the list?

[@ohseb.]

@@A_O_Leary Let's play a thought experiment: Der Spiegel or Le Monde publish a list of Top 100 Books of the 21st Century. Do you expect such a list to be 80-85% German/French books? I certainly do not. Long live American exceptionalism.

[@FlosBlog]

Agree!

[@davefrajele4093]

21st century starts on January 1, 2001. Why Michael Chabon's 2000-released book Kavalier and Clay is there?

[@lobstermash]

The century is still young ... there's time to do better. I agree about the Wolf Hall trilogy and 'Say Nothing'.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Every circle begins with its end. Reflection is key. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@rockyscarlet]

Cartarescu might be the greatest writer alive and is not on the list. Solenoid is the best book of this century.

[@phillol379]

Another masterpiece!

[@SkullKnight1]

How did Solenoid not make it to this list?

[@rockyscarlet]

Solenoid is superior to anything on that list.

[@jdfromparis6230]

@@rockyscarlet I was wondering if it was on it. I haven't seen the list. I love Solenoid.

[@deirdre108]

Exactly what I was wondering too.

[@om6418]

Great list, although a little anglo/european centric ?

[@buonarotti475]

Wonderful

[@guti6832]

This should only be done at the actually end of the century not when we’re 1/4ths in it

[@greglbennett]

I've read nine of them and they were all fairly good, but not great. "The Goldfinch" is probably the best of all of the ones I read, but it was just "pretty good" if you ask me. "The Road" is quite possibly Cormac McCarthy's worst novel. It's really good, but the ending is a total "Deus Ex Machina" bailout. "Station Eleven" was a middling entry in the never ending "dystopian future" genre. Honestly, nothing I read on the list would even touch my own personal 100 favorite books ever.

[@munch314]

No Bret Easton Ellis?

[@breal7277]

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is the best book ever written. If it's not on the list, I'm not taking this list seriously.

[@saurabbbhardwaj1930]

It's books written this century, I think.

[@amarin8600]

100 Years of Solitude is 20th Century. This list is 21st century

[@KikeNavarrete68]

One hundred came out in the 20 century, this list is from the 21sr century

[@gilbertoflores7397]

These are the best books written in the last 24 years. Did you learn that in English in high school? That is not the best book ever written, James Joyce is the greatest writer, Shakespeare is also one of the most important and talented writer too.

[@A_O_Leary]

It wasn't written this century so it's not on a list of books from this century.

[@havefunbesafe]

Ooh, 2666….thats a fun one

[@deirdre108]

Some crap books rated too highly and some great ones not on the list. For example “The Road” isn’t even serious literature, more like a Hollywood screenplay, airport bookstore drivel. “The Blind Assassin” was completely ignored and should be in the top 10. Why no love for Ms Atwood, guys? She’ll still be read in 2050 when presumably the next quarter century list will be released-not true for many of these.

[@claudiameier666]

atwood is overrated and the road shouldnt be there either. blood meridian should be.

[@deirdre108]

@@claudiameier666The lack of “Solenoid” on this list totally discredits it (the list). It’s in the top 5 of the last quarter century. McCarthy is about the most overrated writer since Hemingway regardless of what his fan boy Harold Bloom thinks.

[@lesliekim7948]

Why now this list? There are 77 years remained to complete the 21st century. The end of the world is just around the corner?

[@Astroskylark]

About 76 years too early, don't you think, folxs?

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

If you’re going to add the S, you might as well just spell “folks” like it’s meant to be spelled. Folks.

[@dyanstoutenburg9974]

@@Pluralofvinylisvinyls Thank you. I did not know what folxs meant.

[@titaongalpay3779]

I guess ..those 500 plus people New York Times asked ..what 's the best 21st century BEST BOOKS ..❤ ..EACH PERSON HAS THEIR OWN VIEWS AND INSIGHTS ... THERE ARE MORE BILLIONS READERS OUT THERE .. WE CAN'T JUST SET THEM ASIDE .. THANKS !

[@reyofsunshine_]

you're welcomed

[@gilbertoflores7397]

They asked respected and important writers/authors. Their opinions is going to mean more than some wife reading 50 shades of Grey, gone girl, or Colleen Hoover novels.

[@xanthippikipou2531]

Elena Ferrante 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@rany6542]

Wolf Hall is my personal favorite. I am so honored to be born in a time Hilary wrote the masterpiece, and hope she is enjoying time chatting with Thomas Cromwell in heaven now.

[@seanwebb605]

You seem to be conflating the last hundred years and the top books of the 21st century so far. We're only in the first 25 years of the century. If Jenna Bush is one of your judges on literature then how prestigious is the judging panel? This is a literary scholar?

[@lindasmoore9622]

WOW

[@WatermelonSugar1209]

Almost All Anglo Saxon 🙄

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Number 6 is South America written in Spanish, and a lot of the other top books are about African Americans and the top 3 are written by women? What exactly do you want?

[@A_O_Leary]

It's an english language publication.

[@user-bodyfulness]

PACHINKO IS BEST

[@DanLyndon]

Many of these books are flat-out bad, or at best mediocre. It just shows how artistically stunted these hacks are, especially those who win literary prizes.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

That's why we study the classics, most writers today are pretty bad. It's more of a business, and producing cookie-cutter garbage that the teens/deprived wives/college girls or basement-dweller geek who likes fantasy/sci-fi novels is what sells. Cormac Mccarthy was like the last great American writer.

[@QED_]

*Pretty pitiful* . . . if you compare it to the top 100 books for the equivalent 25 years of the 20th century: Maugham, Kipling, Conrad, Lewis, Hardy, James, Forster, etc

[@justinleemiller]

I loved 3 out of 100. The rest I never encountered or found difficult to get into. Still haven’t read the Goldfinch. Call Me By Your Name was left off. Pity.

[@carokat1111]

The Goldfinch has a stunning opening and I was hooked. It kept me engaged for a good few hundred pages, and then it just bogged down into tedium and I put it aside.I simply got bored mid way through. A heavy editing would have worked wonders. I will pick it up again one day.

[@Haru_o.o]

List whereeeee

[@A_O_Leary]

The New York TImes List is on The New York Times website.

[@kamaboko.gonpachiro]

What an American centric garbage list that misses some of the most important works of the 21st century!

[@flygrace]

I gave up because that woman's horrible grating voice is unlistenable.

[@oliverjamesdulay439]

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is not on list

[@taraloveslife798]

Picking there own books. The list might be trash

[@boredgrass]

An American newspaper, a newspaper from a country which bans books, feels itself entitled to tell the world which, not (yet) banned, one has to assume..., it should read...? A r e y o u s e r i o u s ??

[@gilbertoflores7397]

We don't ban books, school try to ban them from being part of the curriculum. You can still buy and read them on your own. You don't know anything about us if that's what you're interpretation us. Other counties actually ban books too, what are you talking about? They asked the most respected authors they have contact with, to name their favorite books. And this is the list, a lot of them are written by women. They're are plenty of international representation and books about different cultures. You obviously seem very uneducated and don't read to begin with.

[@gledba]

Do you know of a country that doesn't have a banned book? All civilized countries and newspapers, tv stations, etc., have a list of best books. You probably have a list. Why should you be entitled to tell us who is entitled, Are' you not entitled because you wrote this statement.?

[@gilberttello08]

✋✋ Philippines

[@Drwilliam1]

The road high up at 13? Wow. Anyone who’s read that book knows how happy or joy creating it is.

[@pandittroublejr]

👍🏾 😍😍

[@guharup]

From nyt by nbc-skip

[@VDRP]

No, people dont want to read cause they don't wanna read.

[@Everett.Glenn.poetry]

Anyone interested in reading a book i wrote

[@nickbarcheck1019]

The average American wouldn't read a book with a gun to their head.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

As an award-winning author, I couldn't agree with you more. And sadly, unless an author has coin, connections, crews, clout, computer code, control, corporate communities, and opulent opportunities... their work will NEVER be recognized. Never. That's humanity in a nutshell though: wealth is health, influence is affluence, and Reflection is key. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)

[@pmclaughlin4111]

Depends on lots of things 88% of college graduates read books (12% don't) 64% of high school graduates read books (36% don't) It also depends where you live Of the top 10 states that have low literacy percentages, except for CA they are all in the South and Republican. Along with that, how much a state spends on literacy. High literacy states (all Democratic or Swing states) spend more on education. More specifically they spend more despite getting less funding from the federal government. (They spend state funds) The other states get more federal dollars but spend less overall.

[@NeerajManavalan]

seriously, I'm glad people like us still read. Do you have any book recs? I'm looking for some new books to read!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

@@NeerajManavalan Without knowing what you like to read, I have a suggestion: Check with your local library. Library users tend to be book buyers (about 2/3rd of library users have said they have purchased a book by an author they discovered at the library) You can borrow, you can attend an author talk, you can avail yourself of a librarians expertise, you can find books by authors no longer writing and publishing, back catalogs of current authors

[@BigboyErnie]

@@Novastar.SaberCombatA fiction book recently published by New Directions: The English Understand Wool spotlights the brazen manipulation by the publishing industry.

[@claudiameier666]

most of those books sound boring but to each his own.

[@ntaylo6299]

NYT got themselves on the naughty and haughty list. LOL good to share the list with the reading population but frankly Scarlet I don't give flying burrito.

[@Brooks0990]

Top 100 books for liberals

[@FlosBlog]

So shallow!

[@gaiamorgosi7181]

How can they possibly pick if the century hasn’t ended?😂 couldn’t they just say the “future classics from this time”?

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Don't worry, none of them will be future classics. A lot of the list is a popularity contest with most of them being known because of the Hollywood adaptations they got.

[@gaiamorgosi7181]

@@gilbertoflores7397 oh, I see, so it’s the marketing strategy rather than the actual value of the book?

[@gilbertoflores7397]

@@gaiamorgosi7181 there are a few that do seem to have actual literary value. Cormac McCarthy was the last great American writer of our time, so if you what decent read, check him out, there are a few other gems in there.

[@donna25871]

Alice Munro’s books are problematic after recent revelations from her daughter. Mine have gone in the bin.

[@BooksForever]

When your books hit the bin… she didn’t feel that.

[@blabbinglobster]

It's very challenging, for sure. I am going to try separating the artist from the art, but I don't know if I'll succeed. Brilliant writer, failure as a mother. Are you Canadian?

[@A_O_Leary]

@@BooksForever Did she feel anything if she's capable of that level of cognitive dissonance?

[@calebwarren5841]

How is Murakami not on the list?

[@nl3064]

Every single time... IT'S A NARROW LIST OF ONLY 100 BOOKS - THEY CANNOT INCLUDE EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF POPULAR CONTENT! Empirically, yes, you can make an argument for Kafka on the Shore (which I personally found a major dissapoinment) and 1Q84 (at least those are included among the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die). But they can't squeeze in every last thing every last rando is enamored by! It's a weighed list compiled by 500 people probably more well read than you or I who probably had better reasons for their picks.

[@calebwarren5841]

@@nl3064 100 slots is plenty of space for an author as universally well regarded as Murakami

[@MYMOTHERISAFISH-ci2ts]

Same. Also Olga Tokarczuk and Thomas Pynchon.

[@nl3064]

@@calebwarren5841 This isn't the 100 BEST AUTHORS OF THE CENTURY, it's the 100 Best BOOKS of the century. See how that goes?

[@miurtouissi1093]

​@@ohseb. Being successful commercially doesn't necessarily mean being the best in the arts. Think of pop or marvel films, a lot of it can be for consumption but with no real impact. Murakami makes books that sell but it doesn't necessarily mean they're meaningful. I personally understand why he wouldn't be on the list

[@pgarciaAP]

🥱

[@driven789]

Solzhenitsyn

[@Markph7]

4:57 “ It’s also very sad, as many of these books are”. Well, there you go, it wouldn’t be intellectual and “serious” literature if it wasn’t filled with black despair. The reason Tolkien, Dickens, and Dostoyevsky are perennial is because they managed to combine the darkness of the human condition with Hope and even a sense of humor. With our suicide rate, our Alcoholism rate, the angry polarization of the country, the opioid epidemic, and life being plain hard, wouldn’t it be better to have Hope as an element that is essential in a list of the best books? It is difficult to write a serious book that includes Hope as a theme or even a haunting minor key than to write one that is a tragedy with a dark theme and secrets that destroy everyone

[@ameliadowd]

unfollow for using incel terms honestly

[@lourenco.1665]

This list is simply laughable

[@ljdobles8104]

¡A leer!

[@crito4123]

Women get the top list

[@marcelhidalgo1076]

Septology sighting

[@spexi513]

📖 🪱 💚

[@joepopplewell680]

Top 3 picks are all women authors. I wonder If women are writing more or better, or if there's a certain type of gender bias.

[@gilbertoflores7397]

Men aren't writing anymore, that's a whole other issue. Men aren't becoming writers anymore because there really isn't any money into being a writer, most of the market is teens and women reading romance. The industry is now YA and tiktok romance/fantasy for women, with the occasional non-fiction academic books and autobiographies of political figures. The only category for a male author is fantasy, and a few people have that genre on lock. Also the few legacy authors dropping gems here and there. This list is primarily a popularity contest, as they asked authors and they're likely just saying their friends. As most of the books have Hollywood adaptations.

[@tuckerbugeater]

As usual normies hate non-fiction educational books.

[@claudiameier666]

we like interesting books. not pretentious look how precious i am stuff

[@MeganWelch-eb6pf]

The Bible is #1… btw

[@georgewashington3012]

These are DEI awards, nothing less. Pathetic.

[@AnthroHistorian]

Thank for reminding, Stephen King is a Narcissist.

[@GamerplayerWT]

Dune?! Come on! The greatest Science Fiction book of all time isn’t on the list?! Shame! Shame!

[@DWS205]

Dune wasn’t written in the 21st century lol

[@david1116]

These are the top 100 of the 21st century, right? Dune would have to be on the 20th century list

[@BooksForever]

You bring shame upon Science Fiction readers with your poor attention to detail, particularly with respect to time (centuries).

[@deirdre108]

Read the title

[@Shelleysnail]

Dune is not the greatest sci fi book of all time, I beg to disagree Mr GamerplayerWT. Have you read any Iain M Banks? Ursula K Le Guin? Plus many, many more.

[@richardleirer]

Top book is The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health”

[@RMT192]

Do you really believe that? Come on. That's just garbage boiled up by the right-wing lie-generating machine so the rich can gain power. Lies is what they traffic in to undermine Democracy as we saw with on October 7. They prey on the fascist heart everyone. Be smarter.

[@danieltran9634]

The list is so… white to say the least. 🤔

[@flygrace]

The colour or race of an author is completely irrelevant to me.

[@danieltran9634]

@@flygrace I don’t mean race of the authors, because there are also some Asian authors here. I mean the topics/contents of those books. There are hardly any books representing Asian culture or view from an Asian perspective. As an Asian myself, I haven’t heard of most titles here.

[@tinydancer2607]

Probably majority are Lib authors 🤫