Books · 2016
Literary Landmarks and Cultural Phenomena of 2016
The year 2016 in literature produced powerful explorations of history, identity, and political divide alongside massive publishing phenomena. From Pulitzer Prize-winning novels to memoirs that defined the zeitgeist, 2016 left an enduring mark on global publishing.
- C. Whitehead · Lit · Award-Winning
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead reimagines the secret network for escaped slaves as a literal subterranean railway, delivering a poignant, Pulitzer-winning exploration of American trauma.
- Paul Kalanithi · Memoir · Bestseller
When Breath Becomes Air
Written by a brilliant young neurosurgeon facing terminal lung cancer, this profoundly moving memoir reflects on life, mortality, and what makes human existence truly meaningful.
- J.K. Rowling et al. · Play · Bestseller
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Published as a stage play script, this eighth story in the Wizarding World became an instant record-breaking phenomenon as fans followed an adult Harry Potter and his son Albus.
- Amor Towles · Fiction · Bestseller
A Gentleman in Moscow
Amor Towles tells the charming story of Count Alexander Rostov, sentenced to spend decades inside a luxurious Moscow hotel while turbulent Russian history unfolds just outside.
- Yaa Gyasi · Fiction · Award-Winning
Homegoing
Yaa Gyasi's ambitious debut novel traces eight generations of a family divided between Ghana and America, spanning the transatlantic slave trade to the modern era.
- J.D. Vance · Memoir · Bestseller
Hillbilly Elegy
J.D. Vance's memoir of growing up in the Rust Belt offered a stark look at working-class white America, quickly becoming a central piece of political commentary during the 2016 election.
- Ibram X. Kendi · History · Award-Winner
Stamped from the Beginning
Ibram X. Kendi presents a sweeping history of anti-Black racist ideas in America, winning the National Book Award for Nonfiction for its rigorous analysis.
- S. Barry · Fiction · Award-Winning
Days Without End
Sebastian Barry's lyric novel follows an Irish emigrant fighting in the Indian Wars and American Civil War, crafting a poignant tale of survival and love.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?