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Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2020

Financial Times Best Books of the Year 2020 names 162 books across 23 categories. 37 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Architecture and design

  1. Cabinet of Curiosities by Massimo Listri, Antonio Paolucci and Giulia Carciottosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chernobyl: A Stalkers’ Guide by Darmon Richtersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. In Memory Of: Designing Contemporary Memorials by Spencer Baileysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedtsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Walker: On Finding and Losing Yourself in the Modern City by Matthew Beaumontsource (opens in a new tab)

Audiobooks

  1. Mr Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Our Bodies, Their Battlefield: What War Does to Women by Christina Lambsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendezsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Shapeless Unease: A Year of Not Sleeping by Samantha Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Stubborn Light of Things by Melissa Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)

Business

  1. A World Without Work: Technology, Automation and How We Should Respond by Daniel Susskindsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery by Roger Kneebonesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit by Alex Edmanssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future by Jill Leporesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. No Filter: The Inside Story of How Instagram Transformed Business, Celebrity and Our Culture by Sarah Friersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Reimagining Capitalism: How Business Can Save the World by Rebecca Hendersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Long Win: The Search for a Better Way to Succeed by Cath Bishopsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Uncharted: How to Map the Future Together by Margaret Heffernansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. When More is Not Better: Overcoming America’s Obsession with Economic Efficiency by Roger Martinsource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s and Young adult

  1. Dear Justyce by Nic Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe by Stefanie Posavec and Miriam Quicksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Cousins by Karen M McManussource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Greatest Inventor by Ben Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Wolf Road by Richard Lambertsource (opens in a new tab)

Classical music

  1. Beethoven: A Life by Jan Caeyerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons by Kadiatu Kanneh-Masonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Rosssource (opens in a new tab)

Crime

  1. A Song for the Dark Times by Ian Rankinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Broken by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Searcher by Tana Frenchsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Three-Fifths by John Verchersource (opens in a new tab)

Economics

  1. 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape The Future of Everything by Mauro F Guillénsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bandit Capitalism: Carillion and the Corruption of the British State by Bob Wyliesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Beyond Confrontation: Globalists, Nationalists and their Discontents by Phil Mullansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bigger Government: The Future of Government Expenditure in Advanced Economies by Marc Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles by William Quinn and John D Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Brand New Nation: Capitalist Dreams and Nationalist Designs in Twenty-First-Century India by Ravinder Kaursource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Competition is Killing Us: How Big Business is Harming Our Society and Planet — and What to do About It by Michelle Meaghersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Democracy and Globalization: Anger, Fear, and Hope by Josep M Colomer and Ashley L Bealesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Greed is Dead: Politics after Individualism by Paul Collier and John Kaysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Impact: Reshaping Capitalism to Drive Real Change by Ronald Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Less is More: How Degrowth will Save the World by Jason Hickelsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Money For Nothing: The South Sea Bubble and the Invention of Modern Capitalism by Thomas Levensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Rentier Capitalism: Who Owns the Economy, and Who Pays for it? by Brett Christopherssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Cost of Free Money: How Unfettered Capital Threatens Our Economic Future by Paola Subacchisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Costs of Inequality in Latin America: Lessons and Warnings for the Rest of the World by Diego Sánchez-Ancocheasource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Great Demographic Reversal: Ageing Societies, Waning Inequality, and an Inflation Revival by Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Unsustainable Inequalities: Social Justice and the Environment by Lucas Chancelsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Social Mobility? by Lee Elliot Major and Stephen Machinsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Windows of Opportunity: How Nations Create Wealth by David Sainsburysource (opens in a new tab)

Environment

  1. A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future by David Attenboroughsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Climate Change and the Nation State: The Realist Case by Anatol Lievensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Carbon Club: How a Network of Influential Climate Sceptics, Politicians and Business Leaders Fought to Control Australia's Climate Policy by Marian Wilkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths that Hinder Progress by Mark Jaccardsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What We Need To Do Now: For a Zero Carbon Future by Chris Goodallsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Inside Story: A Novel by Martin Amissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jack by Marilynne Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Piranesi by Susanna Clarkesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Real Life by Brandon Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Red Pill by Hari Kunzrusource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuartsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Snow by John Banvillesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Summer by Ali Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembgasource (opens in a new tab)
  13. To Be a Man by Nicole Krausssource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction in translation

  1. An Inventory of Losses by Judith Schalanskysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Earthlings by Sayaka Muratasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fracture by Andrés Neumansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Many People Die Like You by Lina Wolffsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Storm Birds by Einar Kárasonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveldsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrantesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Wondrous and Tragic Life of Ivan and Ivana by Maryse Condésource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Wild Swims by Dorthe Norssource (opens in a new tab)

Food and drink

  1. Dumplings and Noodles: Bao, Gyoza, Biang Biang, Ramen — and Everything in Between by Pippa Middlehurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Red Sands: Reportage and Recipes Through Central Asia, from Hinterland to Heartland by Caroline Edensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained + More Than 100 Essential Recipes by Nik Sharmasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Noble Rot Book: Wine from Another Galaxy by Dan Keeling and Mark Andrewsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Pie Room — 80 achievable and show-stopping pies and sides for pie lovers everywhere by Calum Franklinsource (opens in a new tab)

History

  1. A People Betrayed: A History of Corruption, Political Incompetence and Social Division in Modern Spain 1874-2018 by Paul Prestonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All Against All: The Long Winter of 1933 and the Origins of the Second World War by Paul Jankowskisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Blood Royal: Dynastic Politics in Medieval Europe by Robert Bartlettsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Britain’s War: A New World, 1942-1947 by Daniel Todmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Machiavelli: His Life and Times by Alexander Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Spies and Scholars: Chinese Secrets and Imperial Russia’s Quest for World Power by Gregory Afinogenovsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment by Michael Huntersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Fortress: The Siege of Przemyśl and the Making of Europe’s Bloodlands by Alexander Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Jews and the Reformation by Kenneth Austinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Underground Asia: Global Revolutionaries and the Assault on Empire by Tim Harpersource (opens in a new tab)

Literary non-fiction

  1. Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread by Michiko Kakutanisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Intimations: Six Essays by Zadie Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankinesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Let’s Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood by Jasper Reessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonaldsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Dearly by Margaret Atwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Homie by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Poor by Caleb Femisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diazsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Rendang by Will Harrissource (opens in a new tab)

Politics

  1. Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Rivalry that Unravelled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East by Kim Ghattassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Conservatism: The Fight for a Tradition by Edmund Fawcettsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Cynical Theories: How Universities Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity — and Why this Harms Everybody by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsaysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Diary of an MP’s Wife: Inside and Outside Power by Sasha Swiresource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights by Helen Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Eat the Buddha: The Story of Modern Tibet Through the People of One Town by Barbara Demicksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Joe Biden: American Dreamer by Evan Osnossource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Losing The Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East by Philip H Gordonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman by Ben Hubbardsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West by Catherine Beltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Jakarta Method: Washington’s Anticommunist Crusade & the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World by Vincent Bevinssource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A Baker III by Peter Baker and Susan Glassersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir by John Boltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr by Peniel E Josephsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Twilight of Democracy: The Failure of Politics and the Parting of Friends by Anne Applebaumsource (opens in a new tab)

Science

  1. Covid-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened, and How to Stop the Next One by Debora MacKenziesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us about Life, Love and Relationships by Camilla Pangsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells by Harold McGeesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread — and Why They Stop by Adam Kucharskisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The World According to Physics by Jim Al-Khalilisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. What is Life?: Understand Biology in Five Steps by Paul Nursesource (opens in a new tab)

Science fiction

  1. England’s Screaming by Sean Hogansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Hold Up the Sky by Cixin Liusource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Night Train by David Quanticksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Notes From Small Planets by Nate Crowleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterricasource (opens in a new tab)

Sport

  1. A People’s History of Tennis by David Berrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Juve! 100 Years of an Italian Football Dynasty by Herbie Sykessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Life in Red and White: My Autobiography by Arsène Wengersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. One Life by Megan Rapinoe and Emma Brockessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. That Will Be England Gone: The Last Summer of Cricket by Michael Hendersonsource (opens in a new tab)

Style

  1. Clothes . . . and other things that matter by Alexandra Shulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Bloomsbury Look by Wendy Hitchmoughsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute by Hamish Bowles and Chloe Mallesource (opens in a new tab)

Technology

  1. Analogia: The Entangled Destinies of Nature, Human Beings and Machines by George Dysonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Facebook: The Inside Story by Steven Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How to Talk to Robots: A Girls’ Guide to a Future Dominated by AI by Tabitha Goldstaubsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Future is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotlersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Internet in Everything: Freedom and Security in a World with No Off Switch by Laura DeNardissource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Road to Conscious Machines: The Story of AI by Michael Wooldridgesource (opens in a new tab)

Thrillers

  1. Box 88 by Charles Cummingsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Dead Line by Holly Wattsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Englishman by David Gilmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Paladin by David Ignatiussource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Runner by Stephen Leathersource (opens in a new tab)

Travel

  1. A Tomb with a View: The Stories and Glories of Graveyards by Peter Rosssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Antarctic Atlas: New Maps and Graphics That Tell the Story of A Continent by Peter Fretwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Cathedrals of Steam: How London’s Great Stations Were Built — and How They Transformed the City by Christian Wolmarsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: Travels Among the Collectors of Iceland by A Kendra Greenesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Without Ever Reaching the Summit by Paolo Cognettisource (opens in a new tab)

Visual arts

  1. Morozov: The Story of a Family and a Lost Collection by Natalya Semenovasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Raymond Briggs: The Illustrators Series by Nicolette Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Lives of Lucian Freud: Fame 1968-2011 by William Feaversource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Velázquez: The Complete Works by José López-Rey and Odile Delendasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Vincent van Gogh: A Life in Letters by Vincent van Goghsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Financial Times Best Books of the Year

FT critics' and editors' year-end picks, one list per category (fiction, politics, history, economics, business, science, crime, poetry, children's, art, food, sport and others). 2007-2015 ran as one or two long Books of the Year articles split by category; from 2016 each category is its own article in the series. Left out: FT readers' picks, critics'-choice and FT-journalists'-favourites roundups where many people each name a book, books by FT staff, gift guides, and anthologies with no named author. ft.com is paywalled, so pages were read through archive.today snapshots, with the Wayback Machine used to find the 2020 series index. Missing: 2006, 2008 and 2011 (no snapshot found) and most 2016 categories (only Fiction, Economics, History and Business found). Approved for use by the site owner on 2026-11-05.

Organization: Financial Times. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2020