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Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2009

Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2009 names 131 books across 14 categories. 28 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Architecture & Design

  1. Athanasius Kircher’s Theatre of the World by Joscelyn Godwinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lost London 1870-1945 by Philip Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. On Architecture by Vitruviussource (opens in a new tab)
  4. On the Town: One Hundred Years of Spectacle in Times Square by Marshall Bermansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tatlin’s Tower: Monument to Revolution by Norbert Lyntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Freedoms of Suburbia by Paul Barkersource (opens in a new tab)

Art & Photography

  1. A Face to the World: On Self-Portraits by Laura Cummingsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Caravaggio: The Complete Works by Sebastian Schützesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Frank Auerbach by William Feaversource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Irving Penn: Small Trades by Virginia A Heckert and Anne Lacostesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lucky Kunst: The Rise and Fall of Young British Art by Gregor Muirsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Raphael to Renoir: Drawings from the Collection of Jean Bonna by Nathalie Strassersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Drawings of Rembrandt by Seymour Slivesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Ultimate Trophy: How the Impressionist Painting Conquered the World by Philip Hooksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Vincent Van Gogh – The Letters: The Complete Illustrated and Annotated Edition by Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakkersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Watteau, Music and Theater by Katharine Baetjersource (opens in a new tab)

Business & Economics

  1. Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why it Matters for Global Capitalism by George Akerlof and Robert Shillersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chasing Alpha: How Reckless Growth and Unchecked Ambition Ruined the City’s Golden Decade by Philip Augarsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World by Alan Beattiesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fool’s Gold: How Unrestrained Greed Corrupted a Dream, Shattered Global Markets and Unleashed a Catastrophe by Gillian Tettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Good Value: Reflections on Money, Morality and an Uncertain World by Stephen Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities by John Cassidysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In by Jim Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Imagining India: Ideas for the New Century by Nandan Nilekanisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke’s War on the Great Panic by David Wesselsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Keynes: The Return of the Master by Robert Skidelskysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamedsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Prosperity Without Growth: Economics For a Finite Planet by Tim Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Match King: Ivar Kreuger and the Financial Scandal of the Century by Frank Partnoysource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickettsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System – and Themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkinsource (opens in a new tab)

Children

  1. Crocodiles are the Best Animals of All! by Sean Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mr Stink by David Walliamssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman and David Robertssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Uncle by JP Martinsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brooklyn by Colm Tóibínsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsiesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lark & Termite by Jayne Anne Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Last Night in Twisted River by John Irvingsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCannsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Love and Summer by William Trevorsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. My Father’s Tears and Other Stories by John Updikesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Occupied City by David Peacesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. One More Year by Sana Krasikovsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Summertime by JM Coetzeesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Anthologist by Nicholson Bakersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Bradshaw Variations by Rachel Cusksource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Children’s Book by AS Byattsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cavesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest by Stieg Larssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Glass Room by Simon Mawersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littellsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Quickening Maze by Adam Fouldssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichiesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Winter Vault by Anne Michaelssource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Women by TC Boylesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. This is How by MJ Hylandsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Too Much Happiness by Alice Munrosource (opens in a new tab)
  26. What Becomes by AL Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantelsource (opens in a new tab)

Film

  1. A Century of Model Animation from Méliès to Aardman by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Daltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Short History of Cahiers du Cinéma by Emilie Bickertonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Joseph P Kennedy’s Hollywood Years by Cari Beauchampsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Night of the Hunter: The Biography of a Film by Jeffrey Couchmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The World and Its Double: The Life and Works of Otto Preminger by Chris Fujiwarasource (opens in a new tab)

Food

  1. Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States by Andrew Coesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Tender: Volume One by Nigel Slatersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Gourmet by Muriel Barberysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Settler’s Cookbook: A Memoir of Love, Migration and Food by Yasmin Alibhai-Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vefa’s Kitchen by Vefa Alexiadousource (opens in a new tab)

History

  1. 1989: The Struggle to Create Postwar Europe by Mary Elise Sarottesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. After Mandela: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa by Alec Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. America, Empire of Liberty: A New History by David Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevorsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Family Britain: 1951-1957 by David Kynastonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Hitler’s Private Library: The Books That Shaped His Life by Timothy Rybacksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Inside Central Asia by Dilip Hirosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Mary Tudor: England’s First Queen by Anna Whitelocksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary by Miri Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times – An Autobiography by Harold Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Arabs: A History by Eugene Rogansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5 by Christopher Andrewsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by TJ Stilessource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-Shek and the Struggle for Modern China by Jay Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Rise and Fall of Communism by Archie Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Three Emperors: Three Cousins, Three Empires and the Road to World War One by Miranda Cartersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Who Will Write Our History? Rediscovering a Hidden Archive from the Warsaw Ghetto by Samuel Kassowsource (opens in a new tab)

Music

  1. Memoirs of a Geezer: The Autobiography of Jah Wobble by Jah Wobblesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Opera for Everybody: The Story of English National Opera by Susie Gilbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Othmar Schoeck: Life and Works by Chris Waltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Gilded Stage: A Social History of Opera by Daniel Snowmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. You Never Give Me Your Money: The Battle for the Soul of The Beatles by Peter Doggettsource (opens in a new tab)

Politics & Religion

  1. A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age by Richard Layard and Judy Dunnsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCullochsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Death by Todd Maysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H Papadimitriousource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Case for God: What Religion Really Means by Karen Armstrongsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Challenge for Africa: New Vision for a Forgotten Continent by Wangari Maathaisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal by Tristram Stuartsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century by PW Singersource (opens in a new tab)

Science

  1. Darwin’s Island: The Galapagos in the Garden of England by Steve Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Plastic Fantastic: How the Biggest Fraud in Physics Shook the Scientific World by Eugenie Samuel Reichsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species by Sean Carrollsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon by Craig Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Science: The Definitive Visual Guide by Adam Hart-Davissource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Seasons of Life: The Biological Rhythms That Living Things Need to Thrive and Survive by Russell Foster and Leon Kreitzmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Super-Organism: The Beauty, Elegance and Strangeness of Insect Societies by Bert Hölldobler and EO Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air by David JC MacKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkinssource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Cantona: The Rebel Who Would Be King by Philippe Auclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi by William Fotheringhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Half Time: The Autobiography by Nigel Owenssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box by John Motsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Ultimate Test: The Story of the 2009 Ashes Series by Gideon Haighsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Why England Lose: And Other Curious Football Phenomena Explained by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanskisource (opens in a new tab)

Teenagers

  1. Ausländer by Paul Dowswellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Genesis by Bernard Beckettsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Guantanamo Boy by Anna Pererasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Scat by Carl Hiaasensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sprout by Dale Pecksource (opens in a new tab)

Travel

  1. Blue Skies & Black Olives: A Survivor’s Tale of Housebuilding and Peacock Chasing in Greece by John Humphrys and Christopher Humphryssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Eleven Minutes Late: A Train Journey to the Soul of Britain by Matthew Engelsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Islands: A Trip Through Time and Space by Peter Conradsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymplesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. On Roads: A Hidden History by Joe Moransource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Dead Yard: Tales of Modern Jamaica by Ian Thomsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle by Sara Wheelersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Venice: Pure City by Peter Ackroydsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Financial Times Best Books of the Year

FT critics' and editors' year-end picks, one list per category (fiction, politics, history, economics, business, science, crime, poetry, children's, art, food, sport and others). 2007-2015 ran as one or two long Books of the Year articles split by category; from 2016 each category is its own article in the series. Left out: FT readers' picks, critics'-choice and FT-journalists'-favourites roundups where many people each name a book, books by FT staff, gift guides, and anthologies with no named author. ft.com is paywalled, so pages were read through archive.today snapshots, with the Wayback Machine used to find the 2020 series index. Missing: 2006, 2008 and 2011 (no snapshot found) and most 2016 categories (only Fiction, Economics, History and Business found). Approved for use by the site owner on 2026-11-05.

Organization: Financial Times. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2009