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Washington Post Best Books of the Year 2007

Washington Post Best Books of the Year 2007 names 199 books across 3 categories. 56 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

10 Best Books

  1. Edith Wharton by Hermione Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. FDR by Jean Edward Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Finn by Jon Clinchsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ralph Ellison: A Biography by Arnold Rampersadsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Last Cavalier by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Lauren Yodersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano, translated by Natasha Wimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Robertssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackermansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Notable Fiction

  1. A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseinisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Tranquil Star: Unpublished Stories by Primo Levi, translated by Ann Goldstein and Alessandra Bastaglisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Abc by David Plantesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. After Dark by Haruki Murakami, translated by Jay Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Angelica by Arthur Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Away by Amy Bloomsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Bangkok Haunts by John Burdettsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Bowl of Cherries by Millard Kaufmansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russosource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Acimansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Charity Girl by Michael Lowenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Christopher's Ghosts by Charles McCarrysource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Conjugal Love by Alberto Moravia, translated by Marina Harsssource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Dancing to "Almendra" by Mayra Montero, translated by Edith Grossmansource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Delirium by Laura Restrepo, translated by Natasha Wimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Devotion by Howard Normansource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Divisadero by Michael Ondaatjesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Endless Things by John Crowleysource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Engleby by Sebastian Faulkssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Eureka by Jim Lehrersource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Fellow Travelers by Thomas Mallonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Generation Loss by Elizabeth Handsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Ghost by Alan Lightmansource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stottsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. High Season by Jon Loomissource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Imposture by Benjamin Markovitssource (opens in a new tab)
  30. In Her Absence by Antonio Munoz Molina, translated by Esther Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  31. In the Country of Men by Hisham Matarsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nansource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarconsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Lost Paradise by Cees Nooteboom, translated by Susan Massottysource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Lottery by Patricia Woodsource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Loving Frank by Nancy Horansource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Making Money by Terry Pratchettsource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Mister B. Gone by Clive Barkersource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklinsource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Mothers and Sons by Colm Toibinsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. My Holocaust by Tova Reichsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Nada by Carmen Laforet, translated by Edith Grossmansource (opens in a new tab)
  43. New England White by Stephen L. Cartersource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Once in a Promised Land by Laila Halabysource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Origin by Diana Abu-Jabersource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Past Perfect by Susan Isaacssource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Peony in Love by Lisa Seesource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Pontoon by Garrison Keillorsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Red Cat by Peter Spiegelmansource (opens in a new tab)
  50. Red Rover by Deirdre McNamersource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Right Livelihoods: Three Novellas by Rick Moodysource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Run by Ann Patchettsource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Shakespeare's Kitchen: Stories by Lore Segalsource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Spook Country by William Gibsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  55. Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  56. Surveillance by Jonathan Rabansource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Symphony by Jude Morgansource (opens in a new tab)
  58. The 47th Samurai by Stephen Huntersource (opens in a new tab)
  59. The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  60. The American Way by John Ridleysource (opens in a new tab)
  61. The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Edith Grossmansource (opens in a new tab)
  62. The Bestiary by Nicholas Christophersource (opens in a new tab)
  63. The Big Girls by Susanna Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DIazsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkiensource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Collected Poems 1956-1998 by Zbigniew Herbert, translated by Alissa Vallessource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Elephanta Suite by Paul Therouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The God of Spring by Arabella Edgesource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oatessource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum, translated by Charlotte Barslundsource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Lying Tongue by Andrew Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Maytrees by Annie Dillardsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Melancholy Fate of Capt. Lewis by Michael Pritchettsource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Other Side of You by Salley Vickerssource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamidsource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Geesource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wigginssource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Shotgun Rule by Charlie Hustonsource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Terror by Dan Simmonssource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  82. The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  83. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie OiFarrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  84. The Water Cure by Percival Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  85. The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendellsource (opens in a new tab)
  86. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabonsource (opens in a new tab)
  87. Time and Materials: Poems by Robert Hasssource (opens in a new tab)
  88. Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Austersource (opens in a new tab)
  89. Trespass by Valerie Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  90. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonskysource (opens in a new tab)
  91. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippmansource (opens in a new tab)
  92. World Without End by Ken Follettsource (opens in a new tab)
  93. Zeroville by Steve Ericksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Zoli by Colum McCannsource (opens in a new tab)
  95. Zugzwang by Ronan Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)

Notable Nonfiction

  1. Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyresource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Alexis de Tocqueville by Hugh Brogansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Almost a Miracle by John Ferlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. American Creation by Joseph J. Ellissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. American Islam by Paul M. Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Amerigo by Felipe Fernandez-Armestosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Are We Rome? by Cullen Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. At the Center of the Storm by George Tenet and Bill Harlowsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Bay of Spirits by Farley Mowatsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Body of Work by Christine Montrosssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Boone by Robert Morgansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Calvin Coolidge by David Greenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Cheating Destiny by James S. Hirschsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Classics for Pleasure by Michael Dirdasource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Cultural Amnesia by Clive Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Dark Victory by Ed Sikovsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Day of Battle by Rick Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Deception by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clarksource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Dry Manhattan by Michael A. Lernersource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Einstein by Jurgen Neffe, translated by Shelley Frischsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. F5 by Mark Levinesource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Gerald R. Ford by Douglas Brinkleysource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Gertrude Bell by Georgina Howellsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Grand Avenues by Scott W. Bergsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrupsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Ike by Michael Kordasource (opens in a new tab)
  28. India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guhasource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Indian Summer by Alex von Tunzelmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Alisource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Journals, 1952-2000 by Arthur M. Schlesingersource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weinersource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Lost Genius by Kevin Bazzanasource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Marco Polo by Laurence Bergreensource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washingtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Merchant of Death by Douglas Farah and Stephen Braunsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans and Vagabonds by Gregory Rodriguezsource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Musicophilia by Oliver Sackssource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Nature's Engraver by Jenny Uglowsource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Nixon and Mao by Margaret MacMillansource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Once Upon a Country by Sari Nusseibeh and Anthony Davidsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Opening Day by Jonathan Eigsource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Other Colors by Orhan Pamuk, translated by Maureen Freelysource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Paris by Andrew Husseysource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Passions and Tempers by Noga Arikhasource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Portraits and Observations by Truman Capotesource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Power, Faith, and Fantasy by Michael B. Orensource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Reading Judas by Elaine Pagels and Karen L. Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Reality Show by Howard Kurtzsource (opens in a new tab)
  50. Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins by Rupert Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Religious Literacy by Stephen Protherosource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Return to Dragon Mountain by Jonathan D. Spencesource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Sacco & Vanzetti by Bruce Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  55. Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubronsource (opens in a new tab)
  56. Shoot the Widow by Meryle Secrestsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Something in the Air by Marc Fishersource (opens in a new tab)
  58. Supreme Conflict by Jan Crawford Greenburgsource (opens in a new tab)
  59. Takeover by Charlie Savagesource (opens in a new tab)
  60. The Art of Political Murder by Francisco Goldmansource (opens in a new tab)
  61. The Blair Years by Alastair Campbellsource (opens in a new tab)
  62. The Body Has a Mind of Its Own by Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakesleesource (opens in a new tab)
  63. The Boys from Dolores by Patrick Symmessource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The China Fantasy by James Mannsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone by Shashi Tharoorsource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Feminine Mistake by Leslie Bennettssource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The Grand Surprise by Stephen Pascalsource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Greatest Battle by Andrew Nagorskisource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The House That George Built by Wilfrid Sheedsource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Idea That is America by Anne-Marie Slaughtersource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Lost World of James Smithson by Heather Ewingsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Most Noble Adventure by Greg Behrmansource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The N Word by Jabari Asimsource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Occupation of Iraq by Ali A. Allawisource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Rest Is Noise by Alex Rosssource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The Road to Disunion by William W. Freehlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Shakespeare Riots by Nigel Cliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Siege of Mecca by Yaroslav Trofimovsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Toothpick by Henry Petroskisource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein by Martin Dubermansource (opens in a new tab)
  82. This Mighty Scourge by James M. McPhersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  83. Thomas Hardy by Claire Tomalinsource (opens in a new tab)
  84. Toussaint Louverture by Madison Smartt Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  85. Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski, translated by Klara Glowczewskasource (opens in a new tab)
  86. Two Lives by Janet Malcolmsource (opens in a new tab)
  87. Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution by Woody Holtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  88. Vaccine by Arthur Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  89. Virgin by Hanne Blanksource (opens in a new tab)
  90. Warm Springs by Susan Richards Shrevesource (opens in a new tab)
  91. West from Appomattox by Heather Cox Richardsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  92. What Hath God Wrought by Daniel Walker Howesource (opens in a new tab)
  93. When She Was White by Judith Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Wild by Jay Griffithssource (opens in a new tab)

About the Washington Post Best Books of the Year

Three lists a year: 10 Best Books, Notable Fiction, and Notable Nonfiction. 2011-2025 notable lists are WaPo's 50 notable works of fiction and nonfiction. 2006-2010 notable lists are Book World's holiday Best Books of the year, whose genre subsections are folded into fiction and nonfiction; 2006 and 2011 top lists are top five fiction plus top five nonfiction. WaPo pages were read through the Wayback Machine because washingtonpost.com blocks direct fetches. Secondary sources where no WaPo copy was readable: the 2008 top 10 and nine of the 2010 top 10 come from Publishers Lunch; the 2025 lists are cut off by the paywall in every archived copy and come from yearendlists.com (item 1 on each WaPo page matches). WaPo's separate genre lists (thrillers, SF, poetry, graphic novels) and critics' personal picks are left out. No list is ranked.

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

The most recommended books of 2007