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Five Books Where experts recommend the top five books in their field and explain why they're important. Happy reading!

Five Books is a comprehensive library of knowledge, curating book recommendations on any topic you might want to read about. We are the largest expert book recommendation site and ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview. Our archive has over one thousand interviews which cover a vast array of subjects, extending well beyond the best

-seller lists. In contrast to other online reviews, Five Books content is timeless and our contributors authoritative. We publish at least two new interviews per week on www.fivebooks.com

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Every year, the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award highlight the best of the latest batch of science fiction books. I...
28/07/2024

Every year, the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award highlight the best of the latest batch of science fiction books. In 2024, the six-strong shortlist includes an exploration of octopus intelligence, a q***r space opera, and a dystopian novel hailed as the new Hunger Games. Andrew M. Butler, academic and chair of the judges, talks us through the finalists for the title of sci fi novel of the year. See all our science fiction and best novels of 2024 recommendations:

The six novels that made the shortlist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for the science fiction book of the year, introduced by Andrew M. Butler

Writers approach historical fiction from many different angles, explains the novelist Paul Carlucci—whose new, evocative...
27/07/2024

Writers approach historical fiction from many different angles, explains the novelist Paul Carlucci—whose new, evocative novel is set in colonial-era Canada. Here, he recommends five of his favourite literary historical novels that manipulate form, character and setting in interesting ways while simultaneously summoning the atmosphere of the past.

Literary historical novels with atmospheric settings—and which explore the interlinking of genres, as recommended by novelist Paul Carlucci

The history, culture and geography of Asia is a perfect backdrop for gripping historical fiction. Here is our collection...
27/07/2024

The history, culture and geography of Asia is a perfect backdrop for gripping historical fiction. Here is our collection of expert recommended historical fiction set in Asian locations, including Jing-Jing Lee's How We Disappeared—a historical novel about the Japanese occupation of Singapore—and Amitav Ghosh's The Glass Palace, which follows the life of the last Burmese king and his family.

Expert recommended historical fiction set in Asia.

NEW Modern fantasy emerged out of the work of a group of Victorian writers, many of whom were medieval scholars and soci...
27/07/2024

NEW

Modern fantasy emerged out of the work of a group of Victorian writers, many of whom were medieval scholars and social justice activists. These three threads are intimately connected, explains literary scholar Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson. Here, she introduces us to the Victorian fantasy novels that shaped the work of 20th-century legends C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, and the beliefs that infuse those stories.

The best Victorian fantasy novels, as recommended by literary scholar and fantasy expert Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson

Science fiction has a rich tradition of examining not only space-age technology but political ideology. Arkady Martine, ...
27/07/2024

Science fiction has a rich tradition of examining not only space-age technology but political ideology. Arkady Martine, author of the Hugo-award winning A Memory Called Empire, introduces us to political science fiction books that explore systems of government, power hierarchies, and the geopolitics of other planets.

The best political science fiction, as recommended by Arkady Martine—author of the award-winning Teixcalaan sequence of scifi novels

The medieval era in Europe lasted a millennium and saw massive social change and technological innovation, as well as ca...
27/07/2024

The medieval era in Europe lasted a millennium and saw massive social change and technological innovation, as well as calamities like the Black Death. That makes it a great period for historical fiction, offering a glimpse of a past that was very different from our own lives, and yet can resonate with the present. Here Marion Turner, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University, recommends some of her favourite historical novels set in the Middle Ages and explains why she finds them so compelling.

The best medieval historical fiction, recommended by Marion Turner, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University.

The judges of the Walter Scott Prize aim to highlight the very best new historical novels, and in 2024 they have settled...
27/07/2024

The judges of the Walter Scott Prize aim to highlight the very best new historical novels, and in 2024 they have settled on a varied shortlist featuring a Trinidadian tragedy, a Vatican-based thriller, and a charming coming-of-age tale from 1960s Middle England. We spoke to Katharine Grant, chair of the judging panel, to find out more:

The best historical novels of 2024, as shortlisted by the judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

If you haven't read any historical fiction by Robert Graves (1895-1985) yet, you're in for a treat, says Five Books edit...
27/07/2024

If you haven't read any historical fiction by Robert Graves (1895-1985) yet, you're in for a treat, says Five Books editor Sophie Roell. She introduces the books by Robert Graves recommended on Five Books, from his novels set in ancient Rome and England during the civil wars to his memoir of World War I and retellings of the Greek myths.

Books by Robert Graves, the historical novelist and classicist who also served in World War I and wrote a moving memoir about his experiences

The Bible is not always an easy read—nor is it always obvious how or where to start reading it. Here, Nicholas King, a J...
26/07/2024

The Bible is not always an easy read—nor is it always obvious how or where to start reading it. Here, Nicholas King, a Jesuit priest and biblical scholar, chooses five books to help you start getting to grips with what is, arguably, the world's all-time bestselling book.

The best books on the Bible recommended by Fr Nicholas King SJ, New Testament scholar and assistant Chaplain at Oxford University.

Always wanted to read classics like Middlemarch, Shakespeare or Romantic poetry but had no idea where to start? Check ou...
26/07/2024

Always wanted to read classics like Middlemarch, Shakespeare or Romantic poetry but had no idea where to start? Check out our trove of interviews on English literature

Leading academics, critics and novelists discuss and dissect the most significant works from the literary canon.

Our list of the best novels of 2024 (so far. We'll be adding to this page as the year progresses):
26/07/2024

Our list of the best novels of 2024 (so far. We'll be adding to this page as the year progresses):

The best new novels of 2024, as selected by the editors of the literary recommendations site Five Books and judges of the biggest fiction prizes

The best cookbooks ever written? Over the years, we've asked many chefs to recommend their favourites. You can see the m...
26/07/2024

The best cookbooks ever written? Over the years, we've asked many chefs to recommend their favourites. You can see the most popular here:

We asked some of the world's greatest chefs to recommend the best cookbooks: the books they turn to most often when they need guidance and inspiration.

The concept of a serial killer is so terrifying, it has inspired dozens of novels but these books are about real serial ...
26/07/2024

The concept of a serial killer is so terrifying, it has inspired dozens of novels but these books are about real serial killers.

True crime books about real serial killers.

"Police get access to everywhere. And that makes the investigation much more interesting. There are all the databases, t...
26/07/2024

"Police get access to everywhere. And that makes the investigation much more interesting. There are all the databases, the intel. But also the lovely professions that interact with the case." Best Police Procedurals

Crime fiction told from the point of view of the police investigating a crime is hugely popular, with dozens of books published each year. Here British writer Louisa Scarr, author of a series set in Southampton and featuring DS Robin Butler and DC Freya West, talks us through some of her favourite p...

Read your way through Spain.
25/07/2024

Read your way through Spain.

The best literature and books on Spain, it's people, culture and history

"A lot of people, including me, came to history through fiction. I’ll finish a novel then go shooting off into the histo...
25/07/2024

"A lot of people, including me, came to history through fiction. I’ll finish a novel then go shooting off into the history books." The Best Tudor Historical Fiction
recommended by Alison Weir

Five of the best Tudor historical fiction books, as recommended by the historian and historical novelist Alison Weir

NEW Life on board a warship entails physical danger, close-knit community, and an unusual combination of cutting-edge te...
25/07/2024

NEW

Life on board a warship entails physical danger, close-knit community, and an unusual combination of cutting-edge technology and generations-old tradition. We asked Jim Carter, the author of Hearts of Steel, to recommend five of the best books on warships—from military history to naval biography.

The best books on warships—from military history to naval biography—as recommended by Jim Carter, author of Hearts of Steel

It was the Greek philosopher Socrates who warned of the dangers of the written word. He'd doubtless be pleased that, a f...
25/07/2024

It was the Greek philosopher Socrates who warned of the dangers of the written word. He'd doubtless be pleased that, a few millennia later, we're moving back to authors speaking directly to their audiences, albeit via a smartphone or other listening device.

Great audiobooks, narrated by their authors. Some of our most recommended books have been read by the people who wrote them.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge died in 1834. Professor Seamus Perry on 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner': "It’s not just a po...
25/07/2024

Samuel Taylor Coleridge died in 1834. Professor Seamus Perry on 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner': "It’s not just a poem about terrible things, it’s a poem about how you remember terrible things, narrativise them, and try to make sense of them."

The best books by Samuel Coleridge, as recommended by Balliol professor and Romantic scholar Seamus Perry.

With our recent interview on 'eco-thrillers' with Manda Scott, we now have a range of interviews dedicated to fiction ab...
25/07/2024

With our recent interview on 'eco-thrillers' with Manda Scott, we now have a range of interviews dedicated to fiction about climate (aka Cli-Fi):

The best climate change fiction or Cli-Fi, as recommended by Australian novelist James Bradley.

“I think it’s the most Clarkeian book on the shortlist, with adventures deep under the sea and ventures into outer space...
24/07/2024

“I think it’s the most Clarkeian book on the shortlist, with adventures deep under the sea and ventures into outer space. It’s also got a bit of a Gravity vibe at times, although one of the judges would like to see Denis Villeneuve adapt it for the big screen after Dune.”
Congratulations to Martin MacInnes for winning the 2024 The Arthur C. Clarke Award for the best sci-fi novel:

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

"The mobile phone has totally changed not only intelligence work, but also storytelling." The Best Post-Soviet Spy Thril...
24/07/2024

"The mobile phone has totally changed not only intelligence work, but also storytelling." The Best Post-Soviet Spy Thrillers

The best post-Soviet spy thrillers, recommended by bestselling British spy novelist Charles Cu***ng, author of more than ten spy books

H P Lovecraft, the science fiction and horror writer, features on our scariest books reading list.
24/07/2024

H P Lovecraft, the science fiction and horror writer, features on our scariest books reading list.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890 – 1937) was an American writer of science fiction and horror books. “I know that for some people Lovecraft might be scarier for his racism… I think Lovecraft was a master of suspense, among other things.” Xavier Aldana Reyes on the scariest books.

Environmental history is the study of the relationship between society and the natural world—both in terms of human impa...
24/07/2024

Environmental history is the study of the relationship between society and the natural world—both in terms of human impacts on the environment, and the constraints placed upon cultures by the landscapes they live in. Here, John R. McNeill, a pioneer of the field, recommends five of the best environmental history books with ambition, engaging prose, and heft.

The best environmental history books, as recommended by John R. McNeill—a leading academic in the field.

A coffee table book needs to be an object of beauty, but to be recommended by experts on Five Books it also needs to be ...
24/07/2024

A coffee table book needs to be an object of beauty, but to be recommended by experts on Five Books it also needs to be informative and enlightening. Here are all the coffee table books that have been recommended on our site:
…

Coffee table books recommended by experts in Five Books interviews. These are books that are not only look nice but will make you smarter

"Since World War II we’re no longer dealing with these charismatic, non-violent individual thieves, we’re dealing with o...
24/07/2024

"Since World War II we’re no longer dealing with these charismatic, non-violent individual thieves, we’re dealing with organised crime groups." Art historian Noah Charney takes us on a grand tour of art theft and looting.

The best books on art crime, as recommended by Noah Charney.

"All the best stories are true," goes the tagline of the , the UK's pre-eminent nonfiction book prize. Last year, the pr...
23/07/2024

"All the best stories are true," goes the tagline of the , the UK's pre-eminent nonfiction book prize. Last year, the prize celebrated its 25th anniversary with a winner of winners prize:

The best nonfiction books of the past quarter of a century, picked out by judges of the UK's preeminent nonfiction prize, the Baillie Gifford.

Bringing you expert recommended graphic novels.
23/07/2024

Bringing you expert recommended graphic novels.

The best comic books and graphic novels, as recommended by experts and practicing cartoonists and illustrators. From Tintin to manga and anime.

“The more I studied the origin of colonial Boston, the clearer it became that New England was modeled on, and very simil...
23/07/2024

“The more I studied the origin of colonial Boston, the clearer it became that New England was modeled on, and very similar to, city-states that developed in the Ancient Mediterranean region and early modern Europe”

The best books about New England and American Puritan history, recommended by Yale historian Mark A. Peterson.

“Having some basic critical thinking skills is a prerequisite of being a good citizen in a democracy. If you are too eas...
23/07/2024

“Having some basic critical thinking skills is a prerequisite of being a good citizen in a democracy. If you are too easily swayed by rhetoric, weak at analysing arguments and prone to all kinds of biases you're unaware of, how can you engage politically?”

The best critical thinking books, as recommended by British philosopher Nigel Warburton, author of Thinking from A to Z.

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Weekend Reading

A selection of our expert recommended books.

Every year the Wolfson History Prize seeks out books that combine careful research with good writing, aimed at the general reader. Here, Diarmaid MacCulloch, historian and chair of the judges, talks us through the outstanding history books that made the 2021 shortlist, and why, in his view, they're all must-reads. https://fivebooks.com/best-books/history-2021-wolfson-diarmaid-macculloch/

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