The New York Times Names its Top 10 Books of 2024

2024 December

Source: By The New York Times Books Staff Published Dec. 3, 2024 Updated Dec. 5, 2024

At the Book Review, the team spends the entire year preparing for this moment. The process of selecting the annual best-of list begins in the spring, with heated debates over their favorite picks. By the fall, they were gearing up for intense discussions.

The goal is to highlight books that have left a lasting impact: stories that have resonated deeply and examinations of lives that have broadened their understanding of what they thought they already knew.

These books are explored in a special edition of the Book Review podcast, with three selections analysed in a concise video. For more recommendations, readers can explore the full list of 100 Notable Books of 2024 or browse through a collection of every book named the best since 2000.

Here they are — the 10 Best Books of 2024.

Fiction:

  1. All Fours by Miranda July: This novel follows a married mother and artist who starts an affair while on a solo road trip. It explores themes of personal transformation and the risks people take to change their lives, laced with humor and sexual frankness.
  2. Good Materialby Dolly Alderton: A witty story about a 35-year-old comedian in London navigating a breakup while watching her friends settle down. Alderton’s modern romantic comedy challenges traditional marriage plots and explores independence and self-discovery.
  3. James by Percival Everett: A radical reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck on his journey. The novel challenges American history while offering an original and thought-provoking perspective.
  4. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: This debut novel follows an Iranian American poet, struggling with addiction and grief, as he embarks on a road trip to uncover his family’s secrets, ultimately finding an affirmation of life amidst his emotional turmoil.
  5. You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue: Set in 16th-century Tenochtitlan, this novel humorously depicts the clash between Hernán Cortés and Moctezuma’s people, examining the power dynamics and hallucinogenic experiences in an empire on the brink of change.

Nonfiction:

  1. Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni: A grim account of Debreczeni’s experience as a Holocaust survivor, blending dark humor and powerful observations to capture the horrors of Auschwitz and the resilience of the human spirit.
  2. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer: Blitzer examines the U.S. southern border crisis, exploring the effects of post-Cold War policies on Central American refugees and the complexities of the immigration system, highlighting personal stories and systemic issues.
  3. I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante: A poignant memoir about Sante’s late-in-life transition into womanhood, reflecting on her upbringing, her career, and the internal transformation she experienced in coming out as transgender.
  4. Reaganby Max Boot: This biography traces Ronald Reagan’s political journey from New Deal origins to the optimistic elder statesman, examining how his influence set the stage for the rise of Donald Trump and reshaped American politics.
  5. The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides: A historical exploration of James Cook’s final voyage, blending scholarly research with firsthand accounts to reveal the complexities of Cook’s encounters with Indigenous cultures and the violent consequences of European imperialism.
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