The New York Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
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Ranked list in the New York Times
In July 2024, The New York Times Book Review published a list of books compiled by their team of critics and editors from a survey the Book Review sent to novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other literary enthusiasts. The resulting list, called the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, was published by The New York Times from July 8–12, revealing 20 books on the list each day. It ranks the 100 best books published in the English language since January 1, 2000.
The list became a focal point of literary discourse. Intended to establish a representative canon for the first quarter of the century, the selection generated significant discussion within the literary community.
Several authors had multiple books represented, including Ferrante, Jesmyn Ward, and George Saunders. The list predominantly featured works published in the early decades of the 21st century, suggesting that literary significance is often established over time. While various genres were represented—including novels, memoirs, and historical narratives—specific categories, such as poetry and speculative fiction, were underrepresented.[2][3]
Selection criteria
The list was compiled by a team of critics and editors at The New York Times and, with the input of 503 writers and academics, assessed the books based on their impact, originality, and lasting influence. The selection includes novels, memoirs, history books, and other nonfiction works from various genres, representing well-known and emerging authors.[4]
The following are a few of the individuals who contributed to the list.
The list was met with both praise and criticism. While many celebrated the recognition of influential works, several concerns were raised regarding its biases and exclusions.
Several critics pointed to methodological limitations that may have influenced the list's composition. The New York Times' approach of asking contributors to name their top ten books without specific criteria created a selection process that potentially favored widely read, critically acclaimed works over more specialized or niche titles.[5] Additionally, the reliance on individual nominations without a structured evaluation framework meant that personal preferences and visibility biases could significantly impact the results.
One of the most prominent critiques was its American-centrism, as 61 of the featured authors were American.[6] Additionally, representation of African and Indigenous literature was notably limited, drawing criticism for failing to reflect the global literary landscape.
Another point of contention was the treatment of translated works. Only thirteen books were translations, with Ferrante accounting for three. The selection was also criticized for favoring established literary figures over younger or emerging authors, with a notable underrepresentation of millennial and Generation X writers.[6]
Genre distribution was another area of scrutiny. Fiction dominated the rankings, with limited inclusion of poetry, graphic novels, and genre fiction. Additionally, some critics noted inaccuracies in categorization, such as the misclassification of ''My Brilliant Friend'' as autofiction.[6]
A satire on race and the publishing industry, told through the story of a frustrated African-American author. The basis for the 2023 film American Fiction.
The list was criticized as biased towards English-language books, particularly those published by American authors.[7] Nigerian academic Ainehi Edoro criticized the lack of literature by African authors and the predominance of American literature on the list and called the list "an act of cultural erasure".[8] The list was also criticized for its lack of genres such as graphic fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and children's literature.[9] Indian publication Scroll.in wrote of the list "How much, and for how long, is America going to obsess over reading and dissecting itself? Why do reading lists emerging from the West claim authority on culture with such hyperbole?"[10]
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