If you're looking for a book to read yourself, or to give as a gift, Newsweek staff has you covered. We've gathered an eclectic list of classics and new favorite reads that will appeal, no matter how choosy the audience. On our list are fiction from the wisdom of a rabbit warren to the exploration of the darker side of social media or from the lives of female nurses in Vietnam to thrillers galore, as well as nonfiction favorites from the analysis of presidential politics to a Hollywood biography. Find the ideal pick—or choose a few—curated for you by our expert staff.
Fiction
Inspiration
The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho | HarperOne
The Alchemist is a classic for everyone because it speaks to the human spirit, reminding us of our potential for greatness and the power of our dreams. It is a book that can be read and reread, providing new insights and inspiration each time.
▸ Leiann Kaytmaz, SVP Human Resources
Coming-of-Age
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
By Robert Dugoni | Lake Union Publishing
This beautiful coming-of-age story is an emotional read. Its episodic nature really lets you grow with Sam, weaving in anecdotes that hit home the importance of family, friends, values and, for some, faith. The audiobook, narrated by the author, adds a personal touch, as his brother helped inspire Sam. This story really makes you think about life and people's resilience. It had me crying both happy and sad tears.
▸ Mandy Taheri, Weekend Reporter
Underdog Tale
Demon Copperhead
By Barbara Kingsolver | Harper Perennial
Demon Copperhead is one of those books I think about at least once a week. A modern take on a Charles Dickens classic, Kingsolver tells a gripping story of a boy from the mountains of Appalachia and the opioid epidemic that has devastated the rural South. She gets the voice right, the people right and the compassion right. This will pull at your heartstrings but never leave you without hope.
▸ Katherine Fung, Senior Politics Writer
Big-City Life
Evenings and Weekends
By Oisín McKenna | Mariner Books
An immensely readable tale linking the lives of several Londoners in the hot summer of 2019, this impressive debut tackles modern relationships, the mental drain of late-stage capitalism and the timeless attraction to the excitement of life in the big city. It sits somewhere between the works of Zadie Smith and Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series.
▸ Ben Kelly, Senior Audience Editor
Book Lovers
Libby Lost and Found
By Stephanie Booth | Sourcebooks Landmark
I was rooting for the protagonist at every turn. At 40, Libby Weeks is a famous author—though unrecognizable since she writes under a pseudonym. She's overdue to turn in her manuscript for the last book in her fantasy series, but she's been unable to write her beloved characters out of desperate situations. Why? She's got early-onset Alzheimer's and is slowly losing the thread...of her characters and of her life. So she sets out to meet a superfan who has offered to help finish the series. It's a sympathetic and poignant look at what it feels like to have dementia, woven in with a superb fantasy plot. I desperately want to read the Falling Children books Libby authors. Maybe Booth will take it upon herself to write that next!
▸ Meredith Wolf Schizer, Senior Editor
Ethics and Social Media
The List
By Yomi Adegoke | William Morrow Paperbacks
A timely exploration of social media's darker side and how it intersects with modern relationships, feminism and #MeToo culture, The List brilliantly captures the chaos and pressure of today's digital age. Adegoke weaves the story of Ola and Michael, an Insta-famous couple whose lives spiral out of control when Michael's name appears on a viral list of alleged sexual abusers. The List felt like a wake-up call for anyone who's ever hit "like" or "retweet" without a second thought.
▸ Carrie Bremner, Art Director
Family Dynamics
Long Island Compromise
By Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Random House
Akner's second novel is a bona fide masterpiece. An exploration of generational trauma and the depravity of the ultra-wealthy, it is layered, intimate and darkly funny, with a cast of characters you can't look away from.
▸ Marni Rose McFall, Live News Reporter
Mystery
The God of the Woods
By Liz Moore | Riverhead Books
Barbara Van Laar, the teenage daughter of the owners, goes missing at a summer camp in the Adirondacks in the 1970s. But this isn't the first mysterious family disappearance—Barbara's older brother also vanished without a trace 14 years earlier. It's a great thriller/mystery, with some truly unpredictable twists and turns and excellent writing. I just couldn't put it down.
▸ Zahreen Ghaznavi, General Counsel
Desert-Island Pick
Man in the Holocene
By Max Frisch | Dalkey Archive Press
This is my favorite book of all time. An oldie but a goodie. A man is stuck alone in his home during a storm in the Swiss Alps. What does he think about—and how does he pass the time? It's a short read, a little more than 100 pages—and every word leaves you on the edge of your seat. This is the one book I'd take with me on a desert island. An incredible look into history, human memory—and a meditation on life itself.
▸ Shazia Haq, Director, Newsletters
Satire
The Master and Margarita
By Mikhail Bulgakov | Abrams
This long-censored satirization of the Soviet Union not only stands out for being a cunning political critique, but Bulgakov's musical writing makes it an exciting read. That description doesn't do justice for a work of magical realism in which the Devil travels to Moscow with a talking cat named Behemoth, who loves chess and vodka. Bonus trivia: This book inspired Mick Jagger's lyrics for The Rolling Stones classic "Sympathy for the Devil."
▸ Jon Jackson, News Editor
Thriller
Middle of the Night
By Riley Sager | Dutton
Middle of the Night is about a man who returns to his childhood home and comes face to face with the mystery behind his childhood best friend's disappearance. The story is jaw dropping at times, silly at others and overall exciting. It is always hard to guess what comes next.
▸ Monica Sager, Live News Reporter
Murder Mystery
The Midnight Feast
By Lucy Foley | William Morrow
Published this year and set in 2025, this book's characters remember the pandemic, notice warm, climate-change summers and feel very contemporary. Set in rural England, it explores the clashing of ancient folklore and modern spirituality, as well as the invasion of rich townies to local culture. It's kind of a murder mystery, told from many different perspectives, with flashbacks to 2010, all building up to one event when everything comes to a head.
▸ Hatty Willmoth, Food & Nutrition Reporter
Fantasy
The Poppy War Trilogy
By R. F. Kuang | Harper Voyager
R. F. Kuang does a masterful job of world building, bringing to life a fantasy version of China inspired by the Sino-Japanese War. Through larger-than-life characters and vivid descriptions of brutal combat, you'll be drawn into a vibrant world filled with magic and dark forces. If you love Game of Thrones and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this is for you.
▸ Jason Lemon, Senior Politics Editor
Philosophy
The Prophet
By Kahlil Gibran | Penguin Classics
The Prophet is a collection of poetic essays by the legendary writer Gibran about a fictional prophet who is asked by townspeople to discuss matters of life before sailing home. Gibran's most famous work should be read by everyone as it touches on subjects that make us all human—love, marriage, spirituality, death and so much more. I find myself reading it at different points in my life and taking away something new with each read.
▸ Ramsen Shamon, Deputy Opinion Editor
Hollywood
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
By Taylor Jenkins Reid | Atria Books
My all-time favorite! This book is inspirational, heartbreaking and surprising until the last page. Jenkins Reid takes you right into the era of Hollywood glam and all that goes with it. And while most of us haven't had seven husbands, Evelyn's roller-coaster love life is oddly relatable to today's insane dating world.
▸ Alex Backus, Live Blog Editor
Thriller
Verity
By Colleen Hoover | Grand Central Publishing
This book had an absolute chokehold on me for three days (for a slow reader). I couldn't put it down. It was captivating, twisted and had me telling everyone about it or making excuses to talk about it. AMAZING!
▸ Daniella Glavan, Senior HR Manager
Fantasy
Watership Down
By Richard Adams | Scribner
Watership Down gives you all the life knowledge you need to know through the eyes of a group of rabbits that leave their warren to start a new life. Adams' depiction of the journey and the rabbits' varying personalities gives readers a chance to fall in love and become invested in each character. It might be marketed as a "children's" book because of the...well...rabbits, but the message these rabbits instill in readers is something every adult needs.
▸ Jenni Fink, Senior Editor, National News
Fantasy
Wicked
By Gregory Maguire | William Morrow Paperbacks
Wicked is trendy right now because of the movie, but that's not why I picked this book. I fell in love with Wicked at least a decade ago and haven't stopped loving it since. It's a story about learning to accept what makes us different, finding strength in yourself and not being afraid to journey out on your own. Maguire's books are all written from fairytale villains' perspectives (and there are a lot), so you'll have other journeys to go on, as well.
▸ Jenni Fink, Senior Editor, National News
Historical Fiction
The Women
By Kristin Hannah | St. Martin's Press
Hannah has done it again. I'm a sucker for war stories told from the female perspective, and yet this one blew all other reads out of the water. I love historical fiction because you're learning as you're reading, and this one about women nurses in Vietnam was no different. As a journalist, I especially admire how much research went into this book. I highly encourage you to read the author's note at the end to fully understand how much of this book is based on fact.
▸ Jenna deJong, SEO Specialist
Satire
Yellowface
By R.F. Kuang | William Morrow Paperbacks
Simply put, this book will bring out every emotion you can ever feel, particularly anger at an unlikable main character. Typically, it's tough to enjoy a book with a main character like this one, but the way it's written, the fact that it's about a writer trying to make it in the world in the worst way possible and death early on in the book make this worth the read in every way. I don't give five-star ratings easily, and Yellowface took one.
▸ Amanda M. Castro, Live Blog Editor
Nonfiction
Memoir
Educated: A Memoir
By Tara Westover | Random House Trade Paperbacks
This book is one-size-fits-all. Though a memoir, it's a story that seems so impossible, even fiction die-hards will fall in love. It's about beating the odds, making impossible decisions, fighting for what you want and navigating difficult family dynamics. I love how Westover acknowledges when there's a difference in opinion in the way things shake out, which helps build trust. Beautifully and courageously written.
▸ Jenna deJong, SEO Specialist
Immigration
Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis
By Jonathan Blitzer | Penguin Press
A story of cynicism and resilience, this heavily researched book aims to provide a clearer understanding of the immigration crisis at the southern border. Tracking multiple migrants' tales through decades—most from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala—and how their lives were affected by U.S. policy, it also offers invaluable insight into the reasons and political calculations for the American approach to immigration.
▸ Yannick Demoustier, Publishing Editor
Family
Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees...and Other Conversations We Forgot to Have
By Bill and Willie Geist | Grand Central Publishing
Father and son Bill and Willie Geist use dueling narration to share their perspectives on quintessential boyhood and fatherhood moments. Their recounting of family vacations, overbearing Little League parents and trying to hide things from mom has made it a favorite to return to through different stages of my life.
▸ Jack Haley, Social Media Associate
Biography
Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius
By Carrie Courogen | St. Martin's Press
Shining a light on this underappreciated comic talent, Courogen charts May's career from pioneering improv comedy to one of Hollywood's first female directors. This brilliantly researched book puts the elusive May's creative struggles firmly in the context of how women confronted numerous obstacles within the entertainment industry.
▸ Alfred Joyner, News Director
Military History
Nuclear War: A Scenario
By Annie Jacobsen | Dutton
The most terrifying book I have ever read. In frightening forensic detail, Jacobsen utilizes dozens of high-profile interviews with top defense staff to give a blow-by-blow account of how nuclear war could unfurl, how poorly prepared the U.S., Russia and other major nuclear powers are and the truly cataclysmic consequences for billions of people if atomic Armageddon is unleashed.
▸ Alfred Joyner, News Director
Politics
The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium
By Martin Gurri | Stripe Press
I read this book during the presidential campaign after it was recommended to me by a friend. Gurri is an ex-CIA analyst who first published Revolt of the Public in 2014—one year before Donald Trump entered the political scene—and then updated it in 2018. It is incredible how prescient the book was. Its basic thesis is that the proliferation of information through digital media has empowered the public to challenge and undermine the authority of elites, leading to widespread skepticism and a decline in institutional credibility. Gurri effectively predicts the state of both our politics and our media today.
▸ Carlo Versano, Politics Editor
Business
Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America
By Abraham Josephine Riesman | Atria Books
For anyone seeking a true warts-and-all portrait of businessman, former professional wrestling promoter and WWE CEO Vince McMahon's rise and fall, this book is essential, albeit grim, reading. Spanning four decades, it highlights how McMahon revolutionized wrestling and the way his special relationship with President Donald Trump would influence politics.
▸ Jack Beresford, Senior Life & Trends Reporter
History
The Siege: A Six-Day Hostage Crisis and the Daring Special-Forces Operation That Shocked the World
By Ben Macintyre | Crown
Macintyre immerses you in compelling and compassionate factual narratives, punctuated by mind-blowing details. The Siege tells of the 1980 Iranian Embassy standoff in London, building layers of character exploration and timeline events toward the explosive rescue of the 26 hostages by a special forces unit.
▸ Trevor Davies, Publishing Editor
Literary Criticism
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
By George Saunders | Random House Trade Paperbacks
This one is for aspiring writers—and anyone who wants to learn how to tell a good story. The book is a master class in writing by one of the great humor writers of our time. Saunders walks the reader through iconic short stories, breaks them apart and unleashes the reader's creativity and humanity along the way. It immediately made me want to put pen to paper. A great holiday read.
▸ Shazia Haq, Director, Newsletters
Political Science
War
By Bob Woodward | Simon & Schuster
Legendary journalist Woodward compares the Biden and first Trump administrations with behind-the-scenes revelations. A critical read to understand the context of the past four to eight years of American politics, War delves into the psychology of two presidents who held the same office but starkly different views on government and what America is and should be, both at home and abroad.
▸ Peter Aitken, Politics Weekend Editor
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
English (US) ·