From politics, economics and history to art, food and, of course, fiction — FT writers and critics choose their favourite reads of the year so far
A family history that exposes China’s authoritarian regime and an era of repression
Harald Jähner’s vivid history depicts Germany’s dizzying era of change — and its catastrophic finale
Jane Robinson chronicles the achievements and taboo-busting life of 19th-century campaigner Barbara Bodichon
This engaging chronology by the legendary drummer Questlove also functions as a memoir of his life from hip-hop fan to successful musician
Lauren Elkin explores questions of feminism and fidelity in a time-hopping tale of two marriages
From Joan Didion to Toni Morrison: writers emerge most clearly in the memoirs of fellow authors
The dizzying change of Weimar Germany 1918-33; a Chinese memoir of family and exile; a warning about ageing populations and falling birth rates; an insider’s history of hip-hop; the life of an early campaigner for women’s rights; Anita Desai’s novella of loss and longing; James Patterson’s posthumous completion of a Michael Crichton disaster thriller — plus Nilanjana Roy on writers’ biographies and Alex Clark’s pick of the top new audio books
After a 13-year hiatus, the author returns with a tender novella about the possibilities of an imagined life
With ageing populations, falling birth rates and fewer workers to pay tax, the author calls for bold experiments to cope with the dizzying changes already upon us
A posthumous and seamless completion of a volcano thriller that the ‘Jurassic Park’ writer left unfinished after his death in 2008
A hunt for the next Lionel Messi, love on the run in Montana — plus Richard Flanagan’s moving meditation on life, family and chance
We asked you to share with us your favourite reads of the year so far — and here is what you told us
FT Weekend’s book columnist Nilanjana Roy on what to read if you’re in the dumps about an election near you
Gideon Rachman selects his best mid-year reads
Why has the ambitious, multilingual young writer of superlative letters been dismissed as nothing more than the mother of Byron’s child?
FT editors, columnists and specialists share the titles that have inspired them
Barry Forshaw selects his best mid-year reads
Suzi Feay selects her best mid-year reads
Ludovic Hunter-Tilney selects his best mid-year reads
Richard Fairman selects his best mid-year reads
Books by FT writers
Tony Barber selects his best mid-year reads
James Lovegrove selects his best mid-year reads
Carl Wilkinson selects his best mid-year reads
Laura Battle and Andrew Dickson select their best mid-year reads
Ángel Gurría-Quintana selects his best mid-year reads
Alex Clark selects her best mid-year listens
Tom Robbins selects his best mid-year reads
Simon Kuper selects his best mid-year reads
Harriet Fitch Little selects her best mid-year reads
Pilita Clark selects her best mid-year reads
Maria Crawford selects her best mid-year reads
Edwin Heathcote selects his best mid-year reads
Martin Wolf selects his best mid-year reads
Carola Long selects her best mid-year reads
International Edition