It’s that time of year when we sit back and reflect on the past 360-something days: The news stories that shaped the future (and consumed our attention), the movies and TV shows we binged, the books we couldn’t put down. If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we pride ourselves on being a team of avid bookworms, and we’re excited to share what we couldn’t put down this past year. From gripping novels to enlightening non-fiction, check out the best books we’ve read this year — starting with recommendations from bibliophiles Katie and John.
Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild
Arlie Hochschild is a sociologist whose research dives deep into what’s happening in the rust belt and why those voters are drawn to Donald Trump. Her book examines how it could all boil down to pride and shame, particularly for blue-collar men among whom we’ve seen such a shift to the right. The book is fascinating and all-too-important right now. – Katie Couric
The Joy You Make by Steven Petrow
My friend Steven Petrow is a talented journalist and writer, and his new book is a must-read. Combining the intimacy of a memoir and the insight of scholars and scientists, he gives us all a blueprint for ways to not only cultivate but spread joy…and who couldn’t use more of that in their lives? – Katie Couric
Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness by Renée Fleming
World-renowned soprano and arts/health advocate Renée Fleming explores the growing body of research on the healing power of music by recounting her own experience and getting input from leading experts. So grab the headphones and give this book a listen (or read it with some tunes playing in the background!). – Katie Couric
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt’s new book has spurred (and continues to spur!) a ton of online conversation about how kids are using social media — and what it’s doing to their brains. It’s a topic I think about a lot. And if you want more where that came from, check out my interview with Jonathan about his book. – Katie Couric
Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton
The one and only Hillary Rodham Clinton looks back on her life, including her nearly 50-year marriage, her long career in politics, and her new activism. By the way, that title is a riff on a lyric in Joni Mitchell’s song, “Both Sides Now,” which Clinton told me in an interview earlier this year is the “soundtrack” to her life. – Katie Couric
Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win by Jessica Valenti
Jessica Valenti’s newest book sheds light on the current assaults on reproductive rights, including ones you may not know about. It’s a must-read, especially now. – Katie Couric
Dead Weight by Emmeline Clein
This impactful book of essays explores the origins of dieting and its harmful impacts, which countless women still feel today. I interviewed Emmeline with my daughter Carrie earlier this year, and we had a fascinating and deeply personal discussion about what drives so many women to chase thinness. – Katie Couric
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner knows how to write a summer beach read. This latest one’s about two very different women whose lives intertwine via mixed-up email addresses. Even if you’re somewhere cold, this breezy read will transport you right to the beach! – Katie Couric
Just the Good Stuff by Jim Vandehei
Jim calls Just the Good Stuff his “no BS secrets to success” — and as co-creator of Axios and Politico, he knows a thing or two about success. His savvy way of offering insights in his signature “smart-brevity” style will be relevant to anyone interested in achieving success, either career or personal. I’ve sent this book to family and friends — I consider it one of the best business/leadership/advice books I’ve read in the last 10 years. – John Molner
We Should Not Be Friends by Will Schwalbe
I absolutely loved this book, as I also enjoyed Will’s earlier books, particularly End of Your Life Book Club — and not just because Will has been a close friend for 40 years. In his most recent book, Will explores an unexpected friendship he had with a Yale classmate. What did Will, a gay intellectual bookworm (seriously, he reads everything), have in common with a Yale wrestler (and future Navy seal)? Will takes us on the journey of an unexpected friendship that’s 40 years strong and still going. – John Molner
The Age of Grievance by Frank Bruni
A few years ago, I had a conversation with Frank Bruni (who’s a brilliant journalist) about the experience of partially losing his vision, how he remained grateful even while dealing with that challenge, and the book he wrote about it. His latest takes on our current culture of outrage and the troubling trend of grievance infecting politics and spreading into all facets of life — from the capitol to college campuses. Bruni examines how we got here and how we can begin to move forward. – John Molner
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD
We think a lot about longevity at KCM, and Dr. Peter Attia is an expert when it comes to the secrets of living longer. Outlive is a science-backed guide to extending your lifespan — it’s not “bio-hacking.” Dr. Attia helps lay out the roadmap by looking at proactive ways to improve your health right now. – John Molner
Think Twice by Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben is the prolific author of so many page-turning thrillers, and his newest one is no exception. It’s about sports agent Myron Bolitar and his rival-turned-business-associate, Greg Downing. Myron gives a speech at Greg’s funeral — only to be told by federal agents that not only is Greg not dead, he’s wanted in a double homicide. Myron has to find out what really happened to Greg, and in doing so, ends up putting himself in grave danger. – John Molner
Aurora by David Koepp
David Koepp is a brilliant writer who’s best known for his screenplays, including Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, and Spider-Man. While his movies are often blockbusters, I really love his books. Aurora, set in a small city outside of Chicago, shows us the chaos that comes as people scramble to prepare for a global power outage expected from a major, once-in-a-century solar event. But rather than show us the disaster and the total dislocation brought to a large city, Koepp zeroes in on his main characters — a tech titan and his estranged sister in a small community. It’s ultimately a story about their relationship set against the backdrop of this unimaginable global power catastrophe. Koepp is a master storyteller — and this is really a fun ride. – John Molner
Good Energy by Casey Means, MD
Dr. Means is a graduate of Stanford Medical School and has held research positions at the NIH, Stanford School of Medicine, and NYU. Her book explores whether metabolic function — how our cells create and use energy — could be at the root of disease and how to optimize your wellness with a four-week plan. – John Molner
All Fours by Miranda July
You’ll either love or hate this incredibly vulnerable novel about a 45-year-old woman who embarks on a cross-country road trip only to stumble into a life-altering sexual awakening. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say that if you’re a woman, an artist, a parent, perimenopausal, a spouse, or just someone who’s at a crossroads in life, you’ll fall hard for July’s searingly honest prose. – Diana Valenzuela, Assistant Editor
Solito by Javier Zamora
This summer, I became obsessed with this heart-wrenching memoir about a nine-year-old Javier Zamora, who leaves his native El Salvador to cross into the States. Alone. And illegally. Since conversations about immigration all too often dominate our news cycle, I think it’s incredibly important to hear first-hand accounts of what this crossing actually feels like and means to the children who arrive here every day. Zamora’s also a poet, so his lilting language will surely capture your heart. – Diana Valenzuela
North Woods by Daniel Mason
This was hands down the best book I read all year (and maybe ever?). I had been in a reading rut and was looking for a story that was original, compelling, and well-written. I got that tenfold with North Woods by Daniel Mason. The main character of this book is a house and plot of land somewhere in Massachusetts and it follows the different stories of the inhabitants that have lived there over the years. The writing is beautiful, and the stories and characters overlap in really unique and touching ways. – Julia Lewis, Producer
The Will of the Many by James Islington
I haven’t really dipped back into fantasy since Harry Potter (LOL), but I kept seeing this book come up on my social media feeds or hearing about it in conversations with other book lovers — so I decided to check it out, and I’m so glad I did. If you’re looking for a book to get completely lost in and forget about the scary things happening in the world around you, this is the story for you. – Julia Lewis
The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu
The subject matter and heart of Abbott Elementary meets the format of Love Actually in this charming novel. It begins with a beloved substitute passing away in the faculty lounge and follows the other teachers who knew him as they try their best to get through the chaotic year that follows. It touches on current issues like book bans, overzealous parents, and more. –Sara Levine, Managing Editor of Newsletters
Ways and Means by Daniel Lefferts
This sharply observed novel is about so much, but it’s ultimately about money — what people will do to get it, how it corrupts those who have it, and the way it defines us all, no matter how much we make. At the center is Alistair, an ambitious finance student who finds his way into a throuple with two older men and takes a job with a shadowy operation that pays extremely well for mysteriously simple work. I loved the book’s rich characterization, musings on queer identity, and thought-provoking social commentary. – Ryan Buxton, Features Director
Rejection: Fiction by Tony Tulathimutte
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s a series of short stories about a group of late 20-somethings navigating life and love on the internet. I made more noise reading this book than any other book I can think of — I howled with schadenfreude-tinged laughter at the cringey behavior of men who mirror so many guys I see on dating apps today. I groaned with horrified self-recognition at the humiliating desperation of women in the throes of unrequited love. And I screamed aloud at the twisted ending the author awards one of his most pathetic narcissists. This book is chock full of characters you will love to hate, and it’s an eerily accurate representation of the icky way people behave online every day. – Emily Pinto, Senior Producer
Wavewalker: A Memoir by Suzanne Heywood
Suzanne Heywood’s childhood will make you think twice before complaining about how you were bullied once in middle school. This memoir about a seven-year-old girl whose parents decide on a whim to take her and her younger brother on a decade-long sailing voyage around the world will make you wonder why these parents decided to have kids in the first place. What sounds like a cool experience — a life of freedom at sea! — is in reality a miserable prison for an adolescent who has to grow up weathering constant storms (both literal and figurative) with no access to friends or formal education, and who is essentially treated as unpaid labor to help fulfill her father’s hair-brained dreams of scamming people out of their money while avoiding government oversight. The fact that this actually happened is unbelievable, and that Heywood came out of it with the resilience and personal insight to write this book is a miracle.
– Emily Pinto
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This is the first in a series of books composed of several vignettes featuring visitors to a magical cafe where one seat will allow them to travel back in time. The caveat is that they must finish their coffee before it gets cold, or they risk being trapped there. – Sherrie Gonzalez, Senior Web Developer
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This book was a total page-turner. It tells the story of twin sisters growing up in a small southern Black community and running away at age 16. Their lives take very different turns afterwards. One sister ends up back in the town she once escaped with her Black daughter, while the other passes for white and hides her past from her white, affluent husband. Their daughters later connect without even knowing they’re related, which brings to light their mother’s lies about their family. – Sherrie Gonzalez
Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
When my cousin passed away, I inherited her Tom Robbins books. I missed her so much that it took me nearly five years to be brave enough to read them. But going through his works has been life-changing, and Still Life with Woodpecker takes the cake. It’s a post-modern fairytale about a princess and an outlaw, exploring everything from aliens and consumerism to romance, royalty, the Moon, and the power of choice. I could say more, but just grab a copy. – McKinley Hart, Director of Social Media
Big Swiss: A Novel by Jen Beagin
As the transcriptionist of a sex therapist, Greta gets an inside look into the intimate worlds of those around her, but none of them know how much she knows. When she becomes infatuated with one of the sex therapist’s clients, a tall Swiss woman (hence the name Big Swiss) and meets her in the outside world, she quickly falls for her and chaos ensues. The book explores infidelity, guilt, sexual stereotypes, and mental health in a way that’s dark, but humorous, and kept me champing at the bit to find out what happened next. – Katie Pittman, Commerce Editor
Broken Harbor by Tana French
I’m a sucker for mysteries and detective novels, and this one is excellent. The plot’s many twists and turns, along with the well-written characters, will pull you in on the first page and keep you rethinking your theories about the murder in question all the way until the end. Not only is it a well-constructed mystery, it’s also a fascinating look at the psychological toll crises like the 2008 financial collapse can take on individual people, beyond “society” as a whole. – Ciara Hopkinson, Senior Associate, Account Management
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
A book from the notoriously odd super-producer behind some of the best hip-hop and rock songs of the last few decades (including “Baby Got Back”) isn’t the first place you’d expect to find transcendent philosophical gems. But Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act is as full of wisdom as his music is full of irresistible choruses. In it, he explores the idea of creativity from seemingly every angle, analyzing how to better harness yours, the tricks to generating out-of-the-box artistic work, and the roadblocks that stop creativity in its tracks. You don’t have to read this all in one go: It’s kind of better digested in pieces, taking time between each to let the message sink in. (To me, it’s like the modern-day Be Here Now: Just open to any chapter when you’re inspired.) It may not have a beat, but this book has hooks galore.
– Molly Simms, Vice President, Editorial Director
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
This modern drama focused on a middle-class family in small-town Ireland casually and methodically weaves undertones of classism, wealth, identity, gender, and politics through a story comprising different chapters in the voices of each family member. The novel is a slow burn, with longer chapters laying character backstories near the front of the 600+ page behemoth. And the characters are anything but a slog: They’re compelling and relatable, in ways archetypal without being cliche. Murray deftly uses their different voices and storytelling modalities to lend an omniscient narrator quality to the patchwork story. The end result is a colorful, beautiful narrative that drives readers to discussions of meanings and themes. You won’t regret a single moment reading or discussing this book. – Matthew Sobocinski, Video Producer
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
This contemporary dystopian novel straddles the line between thriller and drama. It tracks a family caught in the rise of a far-right fascist government in Ireland. The main character of the novel is the mother of four children whose labor-organizing husband is quickly arrested and disappeared by the new government. She navigates feeble attempts at keeping her children safe while her family is targeted for not joining the flag-waving masses and backing the new regime. The novel is bleak and dire, following in the tradition of novels chronicling war-torn human-rights-revoked refugee families. Lynch toys with the reader by periodically offering a glimpse of a merciful ending. Ultimately, the novel serves as a call to humanity and empathy. – Matthew Sobocinski
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is one of my all-time favorite writers. If you’re a longtime NPR listener, you might recognize the first essay in this book, “Santaland Diaries,” where he recounts becoming a Christmas Elf at Macy’s. It’s one of those rare books that will make you laugh out loud, so only read it in public if you want people to stare at you. I even shared it with my family when I was home over the holidays. My only qualm with it is it wasn’t long enough. – Tess Bonn, Senior Writer
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
It’s rare that I don’t predict a thriller’s big twist (since I read so many of them), but this one caught me by surprise a few times! It’s told from alternating perspectives: Cleo, an NYU student, and her mom, Kat. Cleo and Kat are constantly butting heads until Cleo comes home one day to discover her mom is missing — and nobody seems willing to dig into where she is, leaving Cleo to spearhead her own investigation. Along the way, she’ll uncover big secrets her mom has long tried to keep hidden, which lie at the root of their problems. – Sara Levine
Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan
Confession time: I rarely read nonfiction, but when my coworker Beth talked about this book, I knew I had to pick up a copy. By focusing on the women in the Kennedys’ orbit, Callahan’s book tells a story of the iconic American family you probably haven’t heard before (and which the family tried for years to keep secret). Callahan’s writing reads like fiction, and her narrative shatters the Kennedy myth. – Sara Levine
