Books

Best of 2009

What was the best book of the year?

Hornby, Blume, Lamott, Diaz, Kidder, Sittenfeld and others share their 2009 favorites
Jed Lipinski
Environment

"Copenhagen is about doing as little as possible"

An interview with Dennis Meadows, whose 1972 book "The Limits of Growth" was an early warning of global crisis
Christian Schwägerl
What to Read

Introducing: What to Read

We pick the best book of the week, every week
Laura Miller
Best of the Decade: 2000-2009

The books we couldn't put down

A tribute to the fact and fiction we wouldn't stop talking about in the 2000s
Laura Miller
Best of 2009

The best nonfiction books of 2009

True stories about science, art, crime and American history
Laura Miller

More in Books

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 12:11 EST

Radio discussion of 2009's best books

Laura Miller and others talk about the year's best books on NPR
By Laura Miller
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009 14:09 EST

The best fiction of 2009

Sex, ghosts and infant monkeys featured in the finest storytelling of the year
By Laura Miller
Friday, Dec 4, 2009 21:01 EST

Copy of Poe's 1st book sells for $662K

"Tamerlane and Other Poems" breaks records nearly 200 years after pub date
Associated Press
Friday, Dec 4, 2009 21:01 EST

Washington letter sells for record $3.2M

1787 letter to a nephew argues for ratification of the newly drafted Constitution
Associated Press
Thursday, Nov 26, 2009 15:01 EST

Have yourself a very merry black Friday

The author of "Scroogenomics" explains why holiday shopping is a drain on the wallet and the holiday spirit
By Mary Elizabeth Williams
Monday, Nov 23, 2009 14:24 EST

Creationism vs. atheism: It's on!

A "revised" edition of Darwin's "The Origin of Species" turns college campuses into three-ring circuses
By Laura Miller
Sunday, Nov 22, 2009 15:01 EST

Christmas insanity unwrapped

"Tinsel" investigates the allure -- and demented poignancy -- of America's holiday obsession
By Laura Miller
Thursday, Nov 19, 2009 12:20 EST

Democrat goes rogue, declares Palin's book "great"!

The surprising charms of the week's most talked-about political memoir
By Sandra Tsing-Loh
Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 13:18 EST

Vanity book awards

Want to win some props for your masterpiece? We can do that -- for a price
By Laura Miller
Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 04:18 EST

"Going Rogue" -- the shorter version

What you really need to know about Sarah Palin's new opus -- the slurs, the zingers, the big-time bloopers
By Thomas Rogers
Sunday, Nov 15, 2009 15:01 EST

How memoirs took over the literary world

A new book says: Fiction is dead, long live the age of autobiography
By Laura Miller
Saturday, Nov 14, 2009 06:01 EST

Palin's book goes rogue on the facts

By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press
Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 14:07 EST

Investigating his father's murder

A memoirist searches for the truth about a fatal shooting in 1960s Phoenix
By Laura Miller
Friday, Nov 6, 2009 14:07 EST

Jonathan Safran Foer's beef with factory farms

The polarizing author and vegetarian discusses his new book, "Eating Animals," and the hefty cost of cheap food
By Jessica Roy
Thursday, Nov 5, 2009 21:01 EST

Augusten Burroughs shares his holiday stories

By ALICIA RANCILIO, Associated Press
Thursday, Nov 5, 2009 14:06 EST

A 10-best books list without women?

Controversy about Publishers Weekly's year-end list has the Internet up in arms
By Laura Miller
Tuesday, Nov 3, 2009 21:00 EST

Obama's half brother recalls their abusive father

By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press
Sunday, Nov 1, 2009 14:31 EST

Archaeologists behaving badly

Mystery and conspiracy plague a dig at the site of ancient Sparta in "The Hidden"
By Laura Miller
Friday, Oct 30, 2009 17:30 EDT

Peter Straub on how to scare readers

The author of "Ghost Story" and "Koko" talks about the fine art of literary terror
By Laura Miller
Sunday, Oct 25, 2009 17:24 EDT

Memo to grammar cops: Back off!

A new book on the history of "proper" English says you're just stuck up
By Laura Miller
Friday, Oct 23, 2009 15:24 EDT

"Chronic" overachiever: Interview with Jonathan Lethem

The writer talks about his new novel's ambivalent take on New York, and how cultural obsession can lead to madness Video
By Kerry Lauerman
Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 17:23 EDT

Crowdsourcing "Coraline"

Can a hundred Neil Gaiman-imitating twitterers produce anything worth reading?
By Laura Miller
Monday, Oct 19, 2009 00:15 EDT

Elizabeth Taylor: How to Be a Movie Star

A new biography of the most beautiful woman in the world says her greatest talent lay in being famous
By Laura Miller
Friday, Oct 16, 2009 00:07 EDT

Richard Dawkins: God among atheists

The scientist talks about his guide to evolution, his own fame and why it's pointless to argue with creationists Video
By Thomas Rogers
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 00:07 EDT

Edmund White comes out swinging

The gay literary lion talks about his juicy memoir, same-sex marriage -- and his beef with Gore Vidal Video
By Thomas Rogers