Reading up on literature
23 deep · digging since nov 19, 25
- Pulitzer Prizes 2026: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists
Jill Lepore's "We the People" wins the Pulitzer for history and Daniel Kraus's "Angel Down" wins for fiction in 2026.
- Just a moment...
Joanna Stern's book "I Am Not a Robot" recounts her year integrating AI into every aspect of life and is now a New York Times bestseller.
- Horror Novel ‘Shy Girl’ Canceled Over Suspected A.I. Use - The New York Times
Hachette canceled the novel 'Shy Girl' over suspected AI use, halting its U.S. release and U.K. edition to preserve original storytelling.
- International Booker Prize Nominees: 13 Books to Get You Talking - The New York Times
The New York Times lists 13 nominated novels for the International Booker Prize, including works by Daniel Kehlmann, Olga Ravn, and Gabriela Cabezón Cámara.
- How a New Yorker Put Poetry on the London Underground - The New York Times
Judith Chernaik's idea to feature poetry in London Underground subway cars has transformed the morning commutes of millions of riders worldwide.
- Henry David Thoreau Fans Are Building Replicas of Walden Cabin - The New York Times
Modern enthusiasts are constructing full-scale replicas of Henry David Thoreau's Walden cabin as an homage to the Transcendentalist writer.
- 10 Long Books to Cozy Up With This Winter - The New York Times
The New York Times article recommends 10 lengthy books across fantasy epics, pastoral classics, and family dramas to offer substantial and cozy winter reading immersion.
- Opinion | ‘Hamnet’ and the Beauty in Imagining Loss - The New York Times
The opinion piece praises the novels 'Hamnet' and 'The Correspondent' for their powerful and beautiful depiction of a mother's grief.
- Opinion | A Gift That Gets Children Reading - The New York Times
Giving children early access to high-quality books as gifts improves educational outcomes and creates curious, informed citizens.
- Sophie Kinsella, ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ Author, Dies at 55 - The New York Times
Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author of the 'Shopaholic' series under the pseudonym Madeleine Wickham, has died at 55.
- The 10 Best Books of 2025 - The New York Times
The New York Times Book Review staff selected the top 10 fiction and nonfiction books of 2025, compiling an annual list of the year's best.
- Ask HN: What fiction books would you recommend for programmers?
Hacker News commenters recommend fiction books that programmers would enjoy, including titles by Neal Stephenson, Ted Chiang, and Greg Egan, among many others.
- From NYT’s 10 Best Books of 2025: A.O. Scott on Kiran Desai’s New Novel - The New York Times
A.O. Scott analyzes a scene from Kiran Desai's novel "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," one of the NYT’s 10 Best Books of 2025.
- Opinion | How I Began to Love Reading Again - The New York Times
The author regained a love of reading by surrendering the belief they knew more than the author and trusting the narrative journey.
- How Joan Didion Did Thanksgiving - The New York Times
Joan Didion's newly unveiled papers reveal her meticulous planning and devotion to cooking for her Thanksgiving meals.
- How to Fix a Typewriter and Your Life - The New York Times
A man leaves corporate security to restore typewriters, finding purpose and fulfillment through a dying craft in a small Vermont shop.
- Sex Had Become a Chore. Then They Started Reading Romantasy. - The New York Times
The romantasy genre allows readers to discuss yearning and desire openly, reshaping their real-life sexual relationships.
- Short Little Difficult Books
A HN discussion endorses reading short, challenging books like Borges' stories for intellectual reward over easy entertainment.
- The Secret to Getting Through Big, Dense, Difficult Books - The New York Times
Reading difficult books is inherently painful and social; engaging with a community helps readers push through intellectual discomfort and find shared meaning.
- Solvej Balle Took 30 Years to Write ‘On the Calculation of Volume.’ It’s a Sensation. - The New York Times
Solvej Balle's 30-year effort 'On the Calculation of Volume' reframes the tedium of contemporary life as unexpected wonders.
Takes
A few good books worth reading: - Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - a classic that celebrates builders. Once you read it, you’ll notice the same characters and events taking place today. - The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio - great for understanding how civilizations rise and fall and how crypto can help create better countries. - From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yu (founder of Singapore) - talks about building a new country, worth reading for understanding nation-building.
@brian_armstrong
If you resolved to read more this year, here are some particularly pleasing books: Master and Commander, Franklin's Autobiography, The Inimitable Jeeves, My Family and Other Animals, Wing Leader, Some Experiences of an Irish RM, A Time of Gifts.
@paulg
As 2025 comes to a close, I'm continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out! pic.twitter.com/T9LFt5fnKG
@BarackObama