All Books
- ‘The Last Assassin’ breathes life into the events of Julius Caesar’s death
By looking through the eyes of a minor player in the assassination, Peter Stothard is able to tell a more intimate tale.
- Pushing the bounds of form in ‘The Glorious American Essay’
Phillip Lopate's choices for this fine anthology may stretch the parameters of an essay, but he's made distinctive and evocative selections.
- Agatha, decoded, in “The Mystery of Mrs. Christie”
The bestselling mystery writer of all time had secrets of her own. A new historical novel imagines what happened during her 11-day disappearance.
- Henry Adams clung to the idea of a ruling elite in American life
A biography of Henry Adams, a blue-blooded Bostonian descended from two presidents, explores his resistance to societal changes and industrialization.
- ‘The Last Days of Ellis Island’ probes bureaucracy and abuse of power
A historical novel imagines the thoughts of a fictional commissioner, whose assault on a young immigrant years before leaves him full of regret.
- ‘Black Sun’ weaves fantastic worlds in faraway lands
An ambitious fantasy series is packed with vibrant characters and political intrigue – and isn't stuck in the classic Eurocentric setting, either.
- Audiobooks to bring delight to the holiday season
Sometimes, all you need is a warm story to get through dark times, and the best four audiobooks of December 2020 have heart and optimism in spades.
- Bite-size book reviews: Fiction our readers loved in 2020
Need a new novel? Classic adventures, satire, and dystopian science fiction top this year's round-up of reader book recommendations for fiction.
- The real deal: Nonfiction books our readers loved in 2020
Need a new book? "Silver, Sword, and Stone" and other history titles top this year's round-up of reader book recommendations for non-fiction.
- Remember ‘My Dinner with Andre’? He has more wisdom to bestow.
Theater director André Gregory has had a rocky career and personal life, but one thing shines through: his devotion to the pursuit of perfection.
- ‘The Light Ages’ argues for a rebranding of the medieval period
The Dark Ages were not solely about battles and plagues, says historian Seb Falk. Instead, they included a flourishing of scientific inquiry.
- Last-minute gifts: The 10 best books of December 2020
Just in time for the holidays, it’s the Monitor’s selections for the top books of December 2020 all wrapped up and tied with a bow.
- A life unconquered by Taliban rule in ‘Dancing in the Mosque’
As a girl, Homeira Qaderi watched the Taliban take over her home city in Afghanistan. As a young woman, she took a dangerous stand.
- Obama memoir ‘A Promised Land’ delivers earnest self-reflection
The 44th president of the United States does more than defend his legacy; he shares the values that have animated his life and political career.
- Q&A with Lesley-Ann Jones, author of ‘The Search for John Lennon’
The British rock historian answers questions about one of music’s brightest stars – and the shadows he left behind.
- ‘Tecumseh and the Prophet’ shines a light on Native American resistance
Shawnee warrior Tecumseh has been portrayed nobly, while his brother fared poorly at the hands of historians. Peter Cozzens balances the story.
- Q&A with Ravi Somaiya, author of ‘The Golden Thread’
United Nations secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld “genuinely tried to do good and was also quite effective” during the Cold War, according to Somaiya.
- A bear lives, hunts, and watches the Arctic melt in ‘Ice Walker’
Through the eyes of a polar bear comes a beautifully-written, wrenching narrative of a warming planet and the struggle to survive.
- The best nonfiction books of 2020 offer wisdom and insight
Explore the life of intrepid explorer Sanmao, how America rewrote its own history, and Abraham Lincoln’s legacy in the best nonfiction titles of 2020.
- See the world differently with the best fiction books of 2020
From a riff on “Pride and Prejudice” to a sagacious story of race and belonging, the best fiction books of 2020 offer fresh ideas and perspectives.