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The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2020

The Guardian Best Books of the Year 2020 names 179 books across 14 categories. 67 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Art

  1. A Black Hole Is Everything a Star Longs to Be by Kara Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Andy Warhol by Blake Gopniksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Artemisia Gentileschi by Jonathan Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Town by David Gentlemansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Lives of Lucian Freud by William Feaversource (opens in a new tab)

Biography and memoir

  1. A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Broken Greek by Pete Paphidessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Coming Undone: A Memoir by Terri Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Featherhood by Charlie Gilmoursource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Greenlights by Matthew McConaugheysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. House of Glass by Hadley Freemansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Hungry by Grace Dentsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Inferno by Catherine Chosource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Just Ignore Him by Alan Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  11. More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moransource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orrsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. No Time Like the Future by Michael J Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Consequences of Love by Gavanndra Hodgesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Hungover Games by Sophie Heawoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Careysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Wild Silence by Raynor Winnsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Yellow House by Sarah M Broomsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. To the End of the World by Rupert Everettsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's and young adult

  1. Anisha, Accidental Detective by Serena Patelsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black and British: A Short, Essential History by David Olusogasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrencesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Julian at the Wedding by Jessica Lovesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Just One of Those Days by Jill Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Serpentine by Philip Pullman and Tom Duxburysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Book of Hopes by Katherine Rundellsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomerysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nichollssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Wolf Road by Richard Lambertsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! by Fiona Waters and Britta Teckentrupsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. What We’ll Build by Oliver Jefferssource (opens in a new tab)

Crime and thrillers

  1. Bent by Joe Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black Rain Falling by Jacob Rosssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Broken by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Cry Baby by Mark Billinghamsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anapparasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alamsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Our Fathers by Rebecca Waitsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Remain Silent by Susie Steinersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Summer of Reckoning by Marion Brunetsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Last Protector by Andrew Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Man on the Street by Trevor Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Searcher by Tana Frenchsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osmansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Three-Fifths by John Verchersource (opens in a new tab)
  18. True Story by Kate Reed Pettysource (opens in a new tab)
  19. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitakersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Your House Will Pay by Steph Chasource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Exciting Times by Naoise Dolansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Exit Management by Naomi Boothsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Good Citizens Need Not Fear by Maria Revasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchorsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Inside Story by Martin Amissource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jack by Marilynne Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Modern Times by Cathy Sweeneysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Mr Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Piranesi by Susanna Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendezsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Real Life by Brandon Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Reality and Other Stories by John Lanchestersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuartsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reidsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Summer by Ali Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Summerwater by Sarah Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Bass Rock by Evie Wyldsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveldsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Dominant Animal by Kathryn Scanlansource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Liar’s Dictionary by Eley Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrantesource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantelsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghuesource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Shadow King by Maaza Mengistesource (opens in a new tab)
  30. The Silence by Don DeLillosource (opens in a new tab)
  31. The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again by M John Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  33. The Voice in My Ear by Frances Levistonsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. The Young Team by Graeme Armstrongsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembgasource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Tyll by Daniel Kehlmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Utopia Avenue by David Mitchellsource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Weather by Jenny Offillsource (opens in a new tab)
  39. When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatutsource (opens in a new tab)

Food and drink

  1. Coconut & Sambal by Lara Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flavour by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfragesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. One Tin Bakes by Edd Kimbersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Girl from Tel Aviv by Limi Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Pastry Chef’s Guide by Ravneet Gillsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Towpath by Laura Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Xi’an Famous Foods by Jason Wangsource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic novels

  1. Altitude by Olivier Bocquet and Jean-Marc Rochettesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blackwood by Hannah Eatonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dragman by Steven Applebysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flake by Matthew Dooleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. J+K by John Phamsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Paying the Land by Joe Saccosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Spit Three Times by Davide Reviatisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Summer Spirit by Elizabeth Hollevillesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tominesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Wolf of Baghdad by Carol Isaacssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Welcome to the New World by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Wendy, Master of Art by Walter Scottsource (opens in a new tab)

Ideas

  1. Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights by Helen Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life by John Graysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. If You Should Fail: A Book of Solace by Joe Moransource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Labours of Love: The Crisis of Care by Madeleine Buntingsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saadsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Men Who Hate Women by Laura Batessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Notes from an Apocalypse: A Personal Journey to the End of the World and Back by Mark O’Connellsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom by James Danckert and John D Eastwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J Sandelsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Time of the Magicians: The Invention of Modern Thought 1919-29 by Wolfram Eilenbergersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Whites: On Race and Other Falsehoods by Otegha Uwagbasource (opens in a new tab)

Nature

  1. Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnultysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Book of Trespass by Nick Hayessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Consolation of Nature by Michael McCarthy, Jeremy Mynott and Peter Marrensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morrissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonaldsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. How to Wash a Heart by Bhanu Kapilsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Just Us by Claudia Rankinesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Magnetic Field: The Marsden Poems by Simon Armitagesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Darling from the Lions by Rachel Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Paris: A Poem by Hope Mirrleessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Poor by Caleb Femisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diazsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. RENDANG by Will Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Sanatorium by Abi Palmersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Air Year by Caroline Birdsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Fire of Joy by Clive Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Historians by Eavan Bolandsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. This Is a Picture of Wind by JR Carpentersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Tongues of Fire by Seán Hewittsource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. A Promised Land by Barack Obamasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Behind the Red Wall by Deborah Mattinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Boris Johnson: The Gambler by Tom Bowersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Diane Abbott by Robin Bunce and Samara Lintonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Diary of an MP’s Wife by Sasha Swiresource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Joe Biden: American Dreamer by Evan Osnossource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Left Out by Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguiresource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Rage by Bob Woodwardsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. This Land by Owen Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Too Much and Never Enough by Mary Trumpsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Tribes by David Lammysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Why the Germans Do It Better by John Kampfnersource (opens in a new tab)

Science

  1. A Dominant Character by Samanth Subramaniansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Explaining Humans by Camilla Pangsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Outbreaks and Epidemics by Meera Senthilingamsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaportasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Stephen Hawking by Leonard Mlodinowsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Women’s Empowerment by Linda Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Rules of Contagion by Adam Kucharskisource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction and fantasy

  1. King of the Rising by Kacen Callendersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mordew by Alex Phebysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The New Wilderness by Diane Cooksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. War of the Maps by Paul McAuleysource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. Born Fighter by Ruqsana Begumsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mud, Maul, Mascara by Catherine Spencersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Farther Corner by Harry Pearsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Rodchenkov Affair by Grigory Rodchenkovsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Unforgiven by Ashley Graysource (opens in a new tab)

About the The Guardian Best Books of the Year

The Guardian's year-end picks, one list per category, each chosen by a Guardian critic (fiction, crime, science fiction and fantasy, poetry, biography, politics, nature, food, sport, children's, graphic novels and others). 2009-2012 lists ran as critics' Christmas books-for-giving pieces. Left out: Observer pieces (a separate source here), roundups where many writers or public figures each name favourites, readers' and publishers' picks, stocking fillers and gift guides, books a critic panned, and picks with no named author. theguardian.com's robots.txt bars Claude crawlers, so pages were read through the Wayback Machine. Missing: 2006-2008 (no qualifying critic list found) and some categories in 2009-2014 and 2016-2017 that Wayback did not capture or index. Approved for use by the site owner on 2026-11-05.

Organization: The Guardian. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2020