Science fiction rarely predicts the future accurately, but it is excellent at exploring possibilities and their consequences. Some books also look ahead using real research. Classics of science fiction Modern science fiction Nonfiction about the future Why read about the future? Science fiction gives us words and images for debates about technology, surveillance, climate and … Read more
Literary movements are groups of writers who shared ideas about what literature should do and how it should be written. Knowing them helps you see why a book was revolutionary in its time and how writers responded to one another. Start with an overview Romanticism (late 18th to mid-19th century) Emotion, nature, imagination and the … Read more
Music affects our mood, memories and identity, yet it is hard to put into words. These books manage it: some explain the science, others tell the history, and the best memoirs show what music means to the people who make it. The science of music History Memoirs by musicians Fiction inspired by music Listening while … Read more
Why do we make irrational decisions, follow the crowd or deceive ourselves? Behavioral science offers answers, and several researchers have written accessible books for general readers. Here are some of the most influential. Decisions and biases Influence and social behavior Human nature Habits and change Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Power of Habit … Read more
Humor is personal: what makes one reader cry with laughter leaves another cold. This list mixes styles, from absurd science fiction to satire and personal essays, so you can find the kind of funny that suits you. Comic novels Satire Humorous essays and memoirs Tips for finding your kind of funny Read the first chapter … Read more
The best love stories are rarely simple. They put obstacles between two people: class, distance, timing, illness, pride. That is what makes us laugh, cry and keep turning pages. Classics Modern love stories Books about the complexity of relationships Some novels look less at romance than at how relationships actually work over time: Why heartbreak … Read more
A great suspense novel makes you stay up far too late. These books are known for their tension, twists and endings that readers still argue about, from golden-age mysteries to modern psychological thrillers. Classics of suspense Modern thrillers Literary suspense Where to start If you like puzzles, start with Christie. If you like unreliable narrators, … Read more
Reading is one of the most effective ways to build vocabulary, in your own language or a new one. Some books explain how to learn languages; others give you the material to practice. Books about learning languages Graded readers Graded readers are books written or adapted for learners at a specific level, with limited vocabulary … Read more
Reading fiction means spending hours inside someone else’s head. Psychologists have studied whether this makes readers more empathetic, with some studies finding a link between reading literary fiction and understanding others’ feelings, although results vary. Either way, many readers say certain books changed how they see people. Novels that put you in another’s place Learning … Read more
Some books are comfortable; others leave you uneasy, questioning things you took for granted. This list brings together novels and nonfiction that have changed public debates and still provoke discussion. Novels that question society Race, gender and class Rethinking the world Reading with an open mind For the psychology behind our beliefs, read the science … Read more
