Books
The books listed below rate 4 or 5 on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is best. These ratings are based entirely on my reading experience. I usually don’t bother to finish books that wouldn’t rate a 4 or 5; there are too many great books to waste time on those that aren’t. Occasionally, if a book is culturally significant (e.g., Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale), I’ll finish it, but it won’t appear below. Books that grabbed me by the throat or heart and shook me are listed in red.
The following lists most recently read to least.
2026
Flashlight by Susan Choi (2025) Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction: Novel
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Right to Die (Nero Wolfe 40) by Rex Stout (1964) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) Literary Fiction: Novel (frequently re-read)
The Missing Kidney and Other Stories by Maxine Rosaler (2025) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Unless by Carol Shields (2002) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019) Literary / Historical Fiction: Novel
Trio for Blunt Instruments (Nero Wolfe 39) by Rex Stout (1963) Mystery Fiction: Three Novellas (Kill Now — Pay Later, Murder Is Corny, Blood Will Tell)
The Mother Hunt (Nero Wolfe 38) by Rex Stout (1963) Mystery Fiction: Novel
How Like a God by Rex Stout (1929) Psychological Thriller Fiction: Novel
Gambit (Nero Wolfe 37) by Rex Stout (1962) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Homicide Trinity (Nero Wolfe 36) by Rex Stout (1962) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
Too Many Clients (Nero Wolfe 34) by Rex Stout (1960) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Orphan’s Sun by Adam Johnson (2012) Literary Fiction: Novel
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (2014) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (2010) Literary Fiction: Novel
Queen for a Day: A Novel in Stories by Maxine Rosaler (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001) Literary Fiction: Novel
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro (2000) Literary Fiction / Mystery Fiction: Novel
Three at Wolfe’s Door (Nero Wolfe 32) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) Science Fiction: Novel
MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood (2013) Speculative Fiction: Novel
Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe 31) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (2009) Speculative Fiction: Novel
Three for the Chair (Nero Wolfe 28) by Rex Stout (1957) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (2003) Speculative Fiction: Novel
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (2025) Mystery Fiction: Novel
If Death Ever Slept (Nero Wolfe 29) by Rex Stout (1957) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Sea by John Banville (2005) Literary Fiction: Novel
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
Snow by John Banville (2020) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Might as Well be Dead (Nero Wolfe 27) by Rex Stout (1956) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré (2016) Nonfiction: Memoir
My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The March by E. L. Doctorow (2005) Historical Fiction: Novel
Homer & Langley by E. L. Doctorow (2009) Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction: Novel
Charlie’s Good Tonight: The Life, the Times, and the Rolling Stones: The Authorized Biography of Charlie Watts by Paul Sexton (2022) Nonfiction: Biography
Trip by Amie Barrodale (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
Playground by Richard Powers (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
Three Witnesses (Nero Wolfe 26) by Rex Stout (1956) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Users by Colin Winnette (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The New Iberia Blues (Dave Robicheaux 22) by James Lee Burke (2019) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Before Midnight (Nero Wolfe 25) by Rex Stout (1955) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides (2024) Historical Nonfiction: Book
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) Historical Fiction/Science Fiction: Novel
The Tower of the Antilles by Achy Obejas (2017) Literary Fiction/Lesbian Fiction: Short Stories
You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership by Jim Ferrell (2015) Nonfiction: Book
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Black Mountain (Nero Wolfe 24) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt (2024) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
Three Men Out (Nero Wolfe 23) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli, translated by Simon Carnell and Erica Segre (2016) Nonfiction: Book
Devil is Fine by John Vercher (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2010) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Deal of a Lifetime by Frederick Backman (2017) Literary Fiction: Novella
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Prisoner’s Base (Nero Wolfe 21) by Rex Stout (1952) Mystery Fiction
Yellowface by RF Kuang (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Triple Jeopardy by Rex Stout (1952) (Nero Wolfe 20) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
2025
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Murder By the Book (Nero Wolfe 19) by Rex Stout (1951) Mystery Fiction
Does My Body Offend You? by Marya Cuevas and Marie Marquardt (2022) Young Adult Fiction: Novel
Absolution by Alice McDermott (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe 18) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Price of Salt aka Carol by Patricia Highsmith (1952/1994) Literary Fiction: Novel
See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Colored Tevelevision by Danzy Senna (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Improvement by Joan Silber (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (1984) Thriller: Novel
Dark Side of the Moon by Sarah Wisseman (2025) Thriller: Novel
Caucasia by Danzy Senna (1998) Literary Fiction: Novel
Pick-Up by Charles Willeford (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
In the Best of Families (Nero Wolfe 17) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Three Doors to Death (Nero Wolfe 16) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Open Throat by Henry Hoke (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Guest by Emma Cline (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Witness by Jamel Brinkley (2023) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (2024) Literary Fiction: Connected Short Stories
Wounded by Percival Everett (2005) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Second Confession (Nero Wolfe 15) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Gost Roots by Pemi Aguda (2024) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
Trouble in Triplicate (Nero Wolfe 14) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
*How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell (2020) Nonfiction: Self-Help (Not rated. “I’m not in the target market.” —CS
And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe 13) by Rex Stout (1948) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Grey Wolfe by Louise Penny (2024) Thriller: Novel in a Series
The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett (1930) Noir Thriller: Novel
New People by Danzy Senna (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel in a Series
Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe 12) by Rex Stout (1947) Mystery Fiction: Novel
So Much Blue by Percival Everett (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Assumption by Percival Everett (2011) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Silent Speaker (Nero Wolfe 11) by Rex Stout (1946) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Not Quite Dead Enough (Nero Wolfe 10) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Catcher In the Rye by JD Salanger (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Telephone (version C of A-C) by Percival Everett (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Black Orchids (Nero Wolfe 9) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Two Novellas
Where There’s a Will (Nero Wolfe 8) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Over My Dead Body (Nero Wolfe 7) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Some Buried Ceaser (Nero Wolfe 6) by Rex Stout (1939) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Too Many Cooks (Nero Wolfe 5) by Rex Stout (1938) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Red Box (Nero Wolfe 4) by Rex Stout (1937) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Trees by Percival Everett (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes (1934) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
The Trial (1998 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1925) Literary Fiction: Novella
Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward (2008) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
And Four to Go (Nero Wolfe 30) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Four Short Stories: Novel
Metamorphosis (2023 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1928) Literary Fiction: Novella
Before 2025 (alphabetical by author)
Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler
Fail-Safe by Eugene Burdick, Harvey Wheeler (1962) Speculative Fiction/Thriller: Novel
Agatha Christie (featuring Poirot)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Partners in Crime Agatha Christie (1929) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934) Mystery Fiction: Novel
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (1952) Mystery Fiction: Novel
F. Scott Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1922) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934) Literary Fiction: Novel
Stephen Jay Gould
The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981) Nonfiction: Science
Ernest Hemingway
In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway (1925) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929) Literary Fiction: Novel
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (1952) Literary Fiction: Novel
Thor Heyerdahl
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl (1951) Nonfiction: Science and History
Homer
The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles (1996) Narrative History and Myth
Ngaio Marsh
A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Alleyn 1) by Ngaio Marsh (1934) Mystery: Novel
Enter a Murderer (Roderick Alleyn 2) by Ngaio Marsh (1935) Mystery: Novel
The Nursing Home Murder (Roderick Alleyn 3) by Ngaio Marsh (1935) Mystery: Novel
Death in Ecstasy (Roderick Alleyn 4) by Ngaio Marsh (1936) Mystery: Novel
Vintage Murder (Roderick Alleyn 5) by Ngaio Marsh (1937) Mystery: Novel
Artists in Crime (Roderick Alleyn 6) by Ngaio Marsh (1938) Mystery: Novel
Death in a White Tie (Roderick Alleyn 7) by Ngaio Marsh (1938) Mystery: Novel
Overture to Death (Roderick Alleyn 8) Ngaio Marsh (1939) Mystery: Novel
Death at the Bar (Roderick Alleyn 9) by Ngaio Marsh (1940) Mystery: Novel
Surfeit of Lampreys (Roderick Alleyn 10) by Ngaio Marsh (1940) Mystery: Novel
Death and the Dancing Footman (Roderick Alleyn 11) by Ngaio Marsh (1941) Mystery: Novel
Colour Scheme (Roderick Alleyn 12) by Ngaio Marsh (1943) Mystery: Novel
Died in the Wool (Roderick Alleyn 13) by Ngaio Marsh (1944) Mystery: Novel
Final Curtain (Roderick Alleyn 14) by Ngaio Marsh (1947) Mystery: Novel
Swing, Brother, Swing (Roderick Alleyn 15) by Ngaio Marsh (1949) Mystery: Novel
Night at the Vulcan (Roderick Alleyn 16) by Ngaio Marsh (1951) Mystery: Novel
Spinsters in Jeopardy (Roderick Alleyn 17) by Ngaio Marsh (1953) Mystery: Novel
Scales of Justice (Roderick Alleyn 18) by Ngaio Marsh (1955) Mystery: Novel
Death of a Fool (Roderick Alleyn 19) (1956) by Ngaio Marsh (1934) Mystery: Novel
Singing in the Shrouds (Roderick Alleyn 20) by Ngaio Marsh (1958) Mystery: Novel
False Scent (Roderick Alleyn 21) by Ngaio Marsh (1959) Mystery: Novel
Hand in Glove (Roderick Alleyn 22) by Ngaio Marsh (1962) Mystery: Novel
Dead Water (Roderick Alleyn 23) by Ngaio Marsh (1963) Mystery: Novel
Death at the Dolphin (Roderick Alleyn 24) by Ngaio Marsh (1966) Mystery: Novel
Clutch of Constables (Roderick Alleyn 25) by Ngaio Marsh (1968) Mystery: Novel
When in Rome (Roderick Alleyn 26) by Ngaio Marsh (1968) Mystery: Novel
Tied Up in Tinsel (Roderick Alleyn 27) by Ngaio Marsh (1972) Mystery: Novel
Black As He’s Painted (Roderick Alleyn 28) by Ngaio Marsh (1974) Mystery: Novel
Last Ditch (Roderick Alleyn 29) by Ngaio Marsh (1976) Mystery: Novel
A Grave Mistake (Roderick Alleyn 30) by Ngaio Marsh (1978) Mystery: Novel
Photo Finish (Roderick Alleyn 31) by Ngaio Marsh (1980) Mystery: Novel
Light Thickens (Roderick Alleyn 32) by Ngaio Marsh (1982) Mystery: Novel
James A. Michener
Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener (1947) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Robert Neilson Boyd and Robert Thornton Morrison
Organic Chemistry, 3rd edition, 9th printing by Robert Neilson Boyd, Robert Thornton Morrison (1976) Text Book (frequently consulted)
Barbara W. Tuchman
The Zimmermann Telegram: America Enters the War, 1917-1918 by Barbara Tuchman (1958) Historical Narrative Nonfiction
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman (1962) Historical Narrative Nonfiction
The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World before the War, 1890-1914 by Barbara Tuchman (1966) Historical Narrative Nonfiction
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century by Barbara Tuchman (1971) Historical Narrative Nonfiction
The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam by Barbara Tuchman (1984) Historical Narrative Nonfiction