NPR Unveils: "Books We Love," an Interactive Reading Guide

NPR’s annual, interactive, year-end reading guide is back with a new look and name: Books We Love! Formerly known as the NPR Book Concierge, this new title reflects the warm, joyful, serendipitous spirit of our yearly collection of favorite books from both NPR staff and independent critics. What hasn’t changed is our enthusiastic, thoughtful approach to hand-picking the best of today’s books.

With over 360 selections, all published in 2021, you’re sure to find your next great read and something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. This year we know that serious supply chain challenges are affecting the book industry, especially independent booksellers, so we’re launching this year’s guide in time for Black Friday Shopping.

This dynamic list allows readers to search by, and combine tags that range from the straightforward - Biography, Cookbooks, and Young Adult - to the more descriptive and specific - The States We’re In and No Biz Like Show Biz - in order to find the exact right book to suit their mood or recipient. And with access to the full archive of all nine years of the guide, there are more than 2,800 titles to browse through in all.

2021’s Books We Love recommendations once again come from NPR staff who work both on and off the mic, including Karen Grigsby Bates, Ari Shapiro, Eric Deggans, and Scott Detrow. The collection also taps NPR’s trusted critics including Amal El-Mohtar, Maureen Corrigan, Bethanne Patrick, and many more.

This year’s titles come from a wide range of authors including bold faced, familiar names like Stanley Tucci and authors whose first books hit shelves in 2021 like Jesse Q. Sutanto. And pages will transport you everywhere from ancient Rome to imagined futures both near and distant. By mixing and matching tags you can find the work of "Historical Fiction" that’s a perfect idea for your "Book Club" — full of "Funny Stuff" and "Rather Short" enough that everyone might actually finish the book this time. Happy reading!

About NPR

NPR, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is widely known for its rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling that connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in-person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), and now it’s easy to listen to our stories on smart speaker devices. Ask your smart speaker to, "Play NPR" and you’ll be tuned into your local Member station’s live stream. Your speaker can also access NPR podcasts, NPR One, NPR News Now, and the Visual Newscast is available for screened speakers. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram