

The Year in Books
Best Book Recommendations
- Explore the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2024 list for reading recommendations.
- Consider the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list for a broader selection.
Best Books of the 21st Century
- The New York Times polled various experts, including authors and celebrities, for their top books of the 21st century.
- This resulted in a diverse list of 100 books, offering a range of reading experiences.
Embracing the Unread
- Even seasoned book reviewers like Gilbert Cruz haven't read every book on the list.
- He encourages seeing it as a chance to discover new reading experiences, not a measure of reading status.

































































As 2024 comes to a close, critics, reporters and editors at The New York Times are reflecting on the year in arts and culture, including books.
The deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle, Melissa Kirsch, speaks with the editor of The New York Times Book Review, Gilbert Cruz, about the best books of 2024 — and of the century. Also, The Times’s book critics detail their favorite reads of the year.
Guest:
- Melissa Kirsch, the deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle for The New York Times.
- Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review.
- M.J. Franklin, an editor for The New York Times Book Review.
- Jennifer Szalai, the nonfiction book critic for The New York Times Book Review.
- A.O. Scott, a critic at large for The New York Times Book Review.
- Sarah Lyall, a writer at large for The Times and the thrillers columnist for The New York Times Book Review.
- Alexandra Jacobs, a critic for The New York Times Book Review.
- Dwight Garner, a critic for The New York Times Book Review.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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