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Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2019

Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2019 names 182 books across 28 categories. 47 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Architecture and design

  1. Art Deco Britain: Buildings of the Interwar Years by Elain Harwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. City on a Hill: Urban Idealism in America from the Puritans to the Present by Alex Kriegersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Claude Parent: Visionary Architect by Chloe Parentsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Definitive Jacques Tati by Alison Castlesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. X-Ray Architecture by Beatriz Colominasource (opens in a new tab)

Art

  1. Judith Kerr by Joanna Careysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lee Krasner: A Biography by Gail Levinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Leonardo da Vinci Rediscovered by Carmen C Bambachsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rembrandt: The Complete Paintings by Volker Manuthsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Lives of Lucian Freud: Youth 1922-1968 by William Feaversource (opens in a new tab)

Audiobooks

  1. Between the Stops by Sandi Toksvigsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. I Am the Border, So I Am by Irish Bordersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I, Robot by Peter Crouchsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Stroutsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Slow Horses by Mick Herronsource (opens in a new tab)

Business

  1. 21 Letters on Life and Its Challenges by Charles Handysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Anxious Times: Medicine and Modernity in Nineteenth-Century Britain by Amelia Bonea, Melissa Dickson, Sally Shuttleworth and Jennifer Wallissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Equal: A Story of Women, Men and Money by Carrie Graciesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perezsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America by Christopher Leonardsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Legacy: One Family, A Cup of Tea and the Company that Took on the World by Thomas Hardingsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas that Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries by Safi Bahcallsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Make, Think, Imagine: Engineering the Future of Civilisation by John Brownesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution by Gregory Zuckermansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe by Roger McNameesource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s books

  1. A Girl Called Justice by Elly Griffithssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Evie And The Animals by Matt Haigsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Curse Of The School Rabbit by Judith Kerrsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Golden Butterfly by Sharon Goslingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. White Fox by Chen Jiatongsource (opens in a new tab)

Classical music

  1. One Hundred Miracles: A Memoir of Music and Survival by Zuzana Růžičková and Wendy Holdensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More by Stephen Houghsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sex, Death, and Minuets: Anna Magdalena Bach and Her Musical Notebooks by David Yearsleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Rite of Spring: The Music of Modernity by Gillian Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Silent Musician: Why Conducting Matters by Mark Wigglesworthsource (opens in a new tab)

Crime

  1. Death in the East by Abir Mukherjeesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Heaven, My Home by Attica Lockesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sarah Jane by James Sallissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The King’s Evil by Andrew Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Wych Elm by Tana Frenchsource (opens in a new tab)

Economics

  1. 99%: Mass Impoverishment And How We Can End It by Mark E Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Better Planet: Forty Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future by Daniel Estysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Capitalism, Alone: The Future of the System That Rules the World by Branko Milanovicsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Escape from Rome: The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity by Walter Scheidelsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Extreme Economies: Survival, Failure, Future — Lessons from the World’s Limits by Richard Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Narrative Economics: How Stories Go Viral and Drive Major Economic Events by Robert J Shillersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Open: The Progressive Case for Free Trade, Immigration, and Global Capital by Kimberly Clausingsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Schism: China, America and the Fracturing of the Global Trading System by Paul Blusteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The AI Economy: Work, Wealth and Welfare in the Robot Age by Roger Bootlesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Code of Capital: How the Law Creates Wealth and Inequality by Katharina Pistorsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Great Reversal: How America Gave up on Free Markets by Thomas Philipponsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies and the Fate of Liberty by Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Triumph of Injustice: How the Rich Dodge Taxes and How to Make Them Pay by Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucmansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Unbound: How Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do about It by Heather Bousheysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadassource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafaksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obiomasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Aknersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Girl by Edna O’Briensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sudden Traveller by Sarah Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Man Who Saw Everything by Deborah Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Testaments by Margaret Atwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Topeka School by Ben Lernersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Wall by John Lanchestersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coatessource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction in translation

  1. Fly Already by Etgar Keretsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Optic Nerve by María Gainzasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Ditch by Herman Kochsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Society of Reluctant Dreamers by José Eduardo Agualusasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Sun on My Head by Geovani Martinssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. This Tilting World by Colette Felloussource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Vivian by Christina Hesselholdtsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Will by Jeroen Olyslaegerssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Will and Testament: A Novel by Vigdis Hjorthsource (opens in a new tab)

Film

  1. Ayoade on Top by Richard Ayoadesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Make My Day: Movie Culture in the Age of Reagan by J Hobermansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Say What Happened: A Story of Documentaries by Nick Frasersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes’s Hollywood by Karina Longworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History by Nathalia Holtsource (opens in a new tab)

Food and drink

  1. Baan: Recipes and Stories from my Thai Home by Kay Plunkett-Hoggesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Leaf: Lettuce, Greens, Herbs, Weeds — Over 120 Recipes that Celebrate Varied, Versatile Leaves by Catherine Phippssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mandalay: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen by MiMi Ayesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sour: The Magical Element that Transforms your Cooking by Mark Diaconosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Gaijin Cookbook: Japanese Recipes from a Chef, Father, Eater and Lifelong Outsider by Ivan Orkin and Chris Yingsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Whole Fish Cookbook: New Ways to Cook, Eat and Think by Josh Nilandsource (opens in a new tab)

Gardens

  1. New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family by Darryl Chengsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. New Vegetable Garden Techniques: Essential Skills & Projects for Tastier, Healthier Crops by Joyce Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Garden Jungle: or Gardening to Save the Planet by Dave Goulsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Urban Garden Design by Kate Gouldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants by Hilton Cartersource (opens in a new tab)

Health

  1. Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World by Camilla Cavendishsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Brysonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria and Hubris by Mark Honigsbaumsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Time and How to Spend It: The 7 Rules for Richer, Happier Days by James Wallmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What Dementia Teaches Us About Love by Nicci Gerrardsource (opens in a new tab)

History

  1. Amritsar 1919: An Empire of Fear and the Making of a Massacre by Kim A Wagnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation by Roderick Beatonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior by Catherine Hanleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Stalin and the Fate of Europe: The Postwar Struggle for Sovereignty by Norman M Naimarksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Boundless Sea: A History of the Oceans by David Abulafiasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Russian Job: The Forgotten Story of How America Saved Russia from Famine by Douglas Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Story of Silver: How the White Metal Shaped America and the Modern World by William L Silbersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey’s Destruction of Its Christian Minorities, 1894–1924 by Benny Morris and Dror Ze’evisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. To Begin the World Over Again: How the American Revolution Devastated the Globe by Matthew Lockwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Without the Banya We Would Perish: A History of the Russian Bathhouse by Ethan Pollocksource (opens in a new tab)

Literary non-fiction

  1. A Month in Siena by Hisham Matarsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Somewhere Becoming Rain: Collected Writings on Philip Larkin by Clive Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sontag: Her Life by Benjamin Mosersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Man in the Red Coat by Julian Barnessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Three Women by Lisa Taddeosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentinosource (opens in a new tab)

Photography

  1. Elf Dalia by Maja Danielssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Howling Winds by Vasantha Yogananthansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Parliament of Owls by Jack Lathamsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Coast by Sohrab Hurasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Pillar by Stephen Gillsource (opens in a new tab)

Picture books

  1. All Of Us: A Young People’s History of the World by Yvan Pommaux and Christophe Ylla-Somerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter by Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conradsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Patience, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliezsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Red Riding Hood by Beatrix Pottersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesysource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminskysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Frolic and Detour by Paul Muldoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Million-petalled Flower of Being Here by Vidyan Ravinthiransource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Music of Time: Poetry in the Twentieth Century by John Burnsidesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vertigo and Ghost by Fiona Bensonsource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. A Short History of Brexit: From Brentry to Backstop by Kevin O’Rourkesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Becoming Nigerian: A Guide by Elnathan Johnsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How to Be a Dictator: The Cult of Personality in the Twentieth Century by Frank Diköttersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Maoism: A Global History by Julia Lovellsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography, Volume Three: Herself Alone by Charles Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century by George Packersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Siege: Trump Under Fire by Michael Wolffsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Super Continent: The Logic of Eurasian Integration by Kent Caldersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Great Successor: The Secret Rise and Rule of Kim Jong Un by Anna Fifieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Light that Failed: A Reckoning by Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmessource (opens in a new tab)

Pop

  1. Face It: A Memoir by Debbie Harrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fangirls: Scenes from Modern Music Culture by Hannah Ewenssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. It Gets Me Home, This Curving Track by Ian Penmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Me by Elton Johnsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Final Days of EMI: Selling the Pig by Eamonn Fordesource (opens in a new tab)

Science

  1. Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Sainisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Demon in the Machine: How Hidden Webs of Information are Solving the Mystery of Life by Paul Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey Into Greenland’s Buried Past and Our Perilous Future by Jon Gertnersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Weather Machine: How We See Into the Future by Andrew Blumsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. We are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foersource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction

  1. Always North by Vicki Jarrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cold Storage by David Koeppsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Emily Eternal by MG Wheatonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Exhalation by Ted Chiangsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Warehouse by Rob Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire by Prashant Kidambisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. No Win Race: A Story of Belonging, Britishness and Sport by Derek A Bardowellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Position of Trust: A Football Dream Betrayed by Andy Woodwardsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Great Romantic: Cricket and the Golden Age of Neville Cardus by Duncan Hamiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer by Caitlin Murraysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. With Clough, By Taylor by Peter Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)

Technology

  1. Human Compatible: AI and the Problem of Control by Stuart Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana Zuboffsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America by Margaret O’Marasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Technology Trap: Capital, Labour and Power in the Age of Automation by Carl Benedikt Freysource (opens in a new tab)

Thrillers

  1. A Long Night in Paris by Dov Alfonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Honest Man by Ben Fergussonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Black Sun by Owen Matthewssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Fragility of Bodies by Sergio Olguínsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. White Hot Silence by Henry Portersource (opens in a new tab)

Travel

  1. Alpenglow: The Finest Climbs on the 4000m Peaks of the Alps by Ben Tibbettssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells by Pico Iyersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Midsummer Morning: Rediscovering a Life of Adventure by Alastair Humphreyssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Road Trip by Paul Therouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Pravda Ha Ha: True Travels to the Ends of Europe by Rory Macleansource (opens in a new tab)

Young adult

  1. Bearmouth by Liz Hydersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Furious Thing by Jenny Downhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Black Flamingo by Dean Attasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Gifted, the Talented and Me by William Sutcliffesource (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 2019