My 40 Favorite Books of the Decade
“I want enough time to be in love with everything.”
Books, glorious books! There were so many great books that came out this decade. I’m really glad I got back into reading during this decade because it allowed me to immerse myself in so many incredible stories. This list really took me back on a trip down memory lane. While I thought about opening it up to include books I read during the decade, I decided to focus solely on the publishing date. And hey, it still netted me forty books. That seems like plenty!
I do want to give a shoutout to some authors whose work I was not able to get to this decade, but I am still very interested in arriving at eventually. Their books all sound so good!
Megan Amram, Drew Barrymore, Lesley Arimah, Andrew Blauner, Adam Nayman, Rupinder Gill, Lauren Shockey, Regis Philbin, Cheryl Strayed, Jenny Lawson, Gillian Flynn, Colin Mochrie, Delia Ephron, Jen Doll, Nick Offerman, John Waters, Amy Nicholson, Joshua Ferris, Maureen Corrigan, Paula Hawkins, Juilene Osborne-McKnight, Dave Barry, Joel McHale, Trevor Noah, Lauren Graham, Tom Hanks, Alyssa Mastromonaco, Ben Fritz, Dave Itzkoff, George Pelecanos, Michelle Obama, Jenny Slate, Bob Iger, Shea Serrano, Hilton Als, Linda Holmes, and Joe Posnanski.
As for my honorable mentions, I wanted to include The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli and The Haunted Mansion by Jason Surrell.
But that’s enough yapping. Let’s get to the list! It is presented alphabetically because I never feel comfortable ranking books.
America Again: Rebecoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t by Stephen Colbert
The sequel to I Am America (And So Can You!) is just as wickedly funny as its predecessor. Every line has a joke or some element of satire. I’m in awe of its humor and it always reminds me of how great Stephen Colbert was. He’s still good, but The Colbert Report was just another level from The Late Show.
America the Edible: A Hungry History from Sea to Dining Sea by Adam Richman
Adam Richman made for a an amazing and charismatic host of Man v. Food, but his book about eating in different regions of the United States was also quite well-written. He does a great job of weaving in stories about his life with the meals he ate. The stories from Hawaii stick with me the most.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes
Not every actor would write an entire book about their experience on a movie from thirty years prior. But Cary Elwes is so sweet and endearing that of course he’d write something like this. It’s an amazing behind the scenes look at one of the best fantasy movies ever made.
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Noah Hawley gets character development and he gets how ordinary people can rise out of extreme situations. Before the Fall is about an unlikely bond that forms after the crash of an airplane. It makes for a compelling read, especially since any detail you could want to know is all there in the text.
The Big Short by Michael Lewis
The Big Short is deeply harrowing and somewhat depressing, but it is essential reading in this era. Michael Lewis is a master at explaining intricate concepts without ever becoming bogged down in exposition or confusion. I knew nothing about the housing market going into it and now I still kind of don’t, but I’m still really scared!
Bobby Kennedy by Larry Tye
I’m definitely a bit biased towards this because Bobby Kennedy is probably my favorite politician of all-time. But Larry Tye is pretty deft at handling a biography. He paints a picture of someone as an icon, rather than simply dealing with who they were on a personal level. It’s a tendency I was glad to see dodged.
Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Bone is a book I read for a class in college and boy am I glad I did! It’s a collection of poems that are deeply moving and resonant far beyond academic settings. Yrsa Daley-Ward puts so many human experiences that are raw and emotional into words. That’s the beauty of poetry.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
I know I said I wasn’t going to rank these books, but I just have to say that Bossypants is my favorite. It’s my favorite book of all-time. I read it on a whim of 30 Rock for summer reading during my freshman to sophomore transition of high school and it blew me away. It changed how I think of writing, reading, kindness, love, humor, television, comedy, and just everything. I credit Bossypants for much of who I am. Thank you, Tina Fey!
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
It’s the only book from A Song of Ice and Fire to be released in the 2010s (despite the initial odds of this being low). It might be the last one ever. But with POV chapters for Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Arya Stark, Jaime Lannister, and Cersei Lannister, how could it not rank as one of the best in the series?
David Bowie by Dylan Jones
A biography about David Bowie could have taken a lot of different forms, but all of them would likely do a disservice to his spirit. Fortunately, Dylan Jones abandons all pretense and decides to tell the story of Bowie’s life through the medium of an oral history. For me, it was a really affecting decision.
Elevation by Stephen King
It’ll probably be the only Stephen King book I ever read and it’s neither a rollicking western-esque adventure story nor a jaw-droppingly iconic horror story. It’s a simple fantasy tale about a guy who loses weight and it’s a short book all the same. I’m still not sure I entirely understood it, but I couldn’t put it down when I read it.
Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun
For the back cover of this book, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote, “Jomny Sun’s incredible writing knocks you to the floor, breathless, then scoops you up and gives you a kiss where it hurts before it occurs to you to cry. Read this book only if you want to feel more alive.” I couldn’t put it better than that if I tried.
Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh
An adventure story where the real heart is in the relationships between the characters? It sounds cliche. As a matter of fact, much of it is cliche. But it is so beautifully written and tells something familiar all while being completely original and innovative regarding those literary tactics. It could have read as trite, but Ghosh is too gifted for that.
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
If you’re going to read the story of anyone, you should probably make it Malala Yousafzai’s. Inspiring, gutting, harrowing, hopeful. It’s all of the things. I Am Malala is the captivating recounting of one person following their calling to the brink. It shows you what’s worth fighting for.
I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections by Nora Ephron
Unfortunately, we lost Nora Ephron during this decade. One of the all-time great writers, humorists, and essayists, no one did it better than Ephron. At the very least, she gave us I Remember Nothing before she passed. It’s a thoughtful reflection on a life well-lived. She called her shot. Her essays about what she will and won’t miss in life have always stuck with me.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Comedians have always had memoirs and essay collections, but I feel like they were really good in the 2010s. Mindy Kaling gave us two of these and she’s due for more in the coming years, as well. This particular book proved to the world that Mindy was way more than a supporting player on The Office. She was a comic voice who belonged in the upper echelon of her peers. And there, she stayed.
Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones
This biography about Jim Henson is a largely paint-by-the-numbers, chronological retelling of someone’s life that was anything but. Still, it’s very affecting at times. Try to get read about Jim Henson’s funeral without getting teary-eyed; it’s impossible.
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
David Sedaris published way more than this book during the decade, but it’s the only one of his read I’ve from the 2010s. So far. I can’t wait to read the other entries into his bibliography, but this one was a worthy inclusion, as well. For me, Sedaris has never missed. Always been one of my favorites.
Man Seeking Woman by Simon Rich
Simon Rich is one of the most underrated writers to come out of Saturday Night Live. His irreverent, absurdist take on basic concepts is a delight for someone like me to read, who is always looking for something different. There is a wryness to this book that is as thought-provoking as it is sweet.
The Martian by Andy Weir
This book came out of nowhere. Popular fiction with in-depth science apparently makes for a good marriage. The genius of The Martian, though, is in the simplicity of the idea Andy Weir came up with. A man is stuck on Mars. How do we get him off? How does he survive? It’s an elevator pitch that makes for a perfect story.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The conclusion of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay was a bit of a comedown after the thrilling finish to Catching Fire. But it still brought a great deal of closure and depth to the story and it had a really sweet ending. Apparently, we’ll be revisiting this universe with a new book soon, so who’s to say if Mockingjay is even the legit ending?
The Modern Prometheus by Nicole Mello
This book was written by my sister! It is a modern-day retelling of the Prometheus/Frankenstein story and well-worth your time. I believe she started it out as a National Novel Writing Month project, which just goes to show you that NaNoWriMo is good for something.
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak
I don’t think I’ve ever eagerly anticipated the release of a book as I did with One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak. I even got the audiobook version! I met B.J. on his tour for his children’s book, The Book with No Pictures, and he saw my copy of One More Thing, which was filled with notes. Every story is amazing and it is such an influence on me. I adore it. I would like to reread it.
The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan
Few books have prose as fully-realized and beautiful as this one does. There is also an element of tragedy to it as Marina Keegan was gone just far, far too soon. It’s a stunning time capsule of what could have been. But at least, we have this, right? She put art into the world and it will be forever remembered and celebrated.
Phantasmagoria by Nicole Mello
My sister has always described Phantasmagoria as the book most emblematic of her writing style. I think they are all great, but this one definitely comes with a number of comedy-horror short stories, each one scratching a particular itch of the reader.
Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Top Comedy Writers by Mike Sacks
I wish there were more interview books like these. I really jive with it. Following up And Here’s the Kicker, Mike Sacks released Poking a Dead Frog, which interviewed people like Michael Schur, Amy Poehler, Mel Brooks, and more. It’s a fantastic read if you love comedy, writing, and the creative process.
Room by Emma Donoghue
Room is a disturbing experience. Written by Irish author Emma Donoghue, it could have easily been a story about abuse through the lens of a child. But instead, it grapples with second-half trauma in a way that few books would dare to. So difficult, but so worthwhile.
Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow
This is another book that is similar to the one above by Mike Sacks. The only thing is that it has more of a buddy-buddy feel to it because Judd Apatow is friends with many of the people he spoke to. Included are interviews conducted from his childhood, but each one has a similar merit to it, despite being decades apart.
Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt is a very funny man and a good writer. His books will always have that base merit, at least. However, Silver Screen Fiend also speaks to the obsessives and movie nerds of the world. It’s an interesting lens through which to tell a story, but it makes sense for Oswalt’s aesthetic.
Sisters in Law by Linda Hirshman
That’s just a great title. But the book, as a whole, is equally engaging in content, as well as edification. Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Two very important people and everyone would be better off knowing more about them. This book is a great place to start!
Sitcom by Saul Austerlitz
If it’s not clear by now, I really enjoy reading about pop culture. This book by television expert Saul Austerlitz is a phenomenal look at the history of sitcoms. However, he tackles it by selecting twenty-four different episodes from the best comedies. I Love Lucy kicks it off and Community concludes it, so it is obviously tailor-made for me. But fans of comedy and television will be able to derive pleasure from it, too.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
I’m going to make a bold statement and say that this is my favorite biography ever written. Walter Isaacson is the model biographer, in my mind. He spins a breath-taking tale, while also writing fully and honestly about his subject. Few people have a story like Steve Jobs. I couldn’t put it down.
This Is a Book by Demetri Martin
Demetri Martin is an out-of-the-box thinker. I’m not a fan of that quote there that references the icky Woody Allen. To me, Martin is the heir apparent to Mitch Hedberg. Non sequiturs and unconventional thoughts. Plus, drawings and jokes! Point your face at it!
TV: The Book by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller-Seitz
A couple years ago, two of the best television critics working today decided to take on the unruly task of ranking the one hundred greatest American television shows ever made. What resulted was a list that was undeniably controversial, but still a good starter pack for excellent television and excellent television criticism.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This might be the biggest non-fiction book of the decade. Who could ever read about the story of Louis Zamperini and just take a break? A world-class sprinter who crashed in the sea and was stranded until eventually becoming a prisoner of war. That’s a story begging for a book and Laura Hillenbrand told it to perfection.
Venus by Nicole Mello
This is the third book on the list from my sister, but it’s the first one she wrote. At the core of the story, it’s a road trip, but it quickly unfolds into much more than that. She wrote it in accordance with Backpack Digital, which gives even more credence to the travel themes of it all.
The War for Late Night by Bill Carter
I always enjoy books that delve into the behind the scenes nature of many cultural institutions. And what institution could be bigger than The Tonight Show? The dance between Leno and Letterman, O’Brien and Fallon makes for a captivating read. It’s been ten years since Conan got screwed and it still feels so shady.
When She Saw What She Had Done by Nicole Mello
This book is the last from my sister on this list. It is a collection of poems about Lizzie Borden’s life. (She’s the one who was said to have killed her parents in Fall River, Massachusetts.) It’s a quick read, but an unconventional one if you’re looking into Borden for more knowledge and feeling.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling’s second essay collection was so lovely and hilarious. I think there are some more memorable ones in her first batch, but this book is overall more solid, to me. I love them both, but something seems so assured about this one. Maybe it’s just her experience in her industry. I can’t wait to read more from her!
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Lastly, I have to mention Yes Please by Amy Poehler. She is a laugh-out-loud funny writer and her stories are resonant beyond the years. I remember reading this in the back corner of an empty classroom before I had to go work stage crew for the school play. Those were good memories.
And good memories are always better with a good book.
Check out my previous “Best of the Decade” lists!
My 15 Favorite New Theme Park Attractions of the Decade
