The Sense Of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide To Writing In The 21st Century(01 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Steven PinkerRating: #17 from Amazon.caGenre: ReferenceIn a nutshell: A book detailing why people should care about writing well — and a practical guide on how to do it.Good for: Writers of all stripes, social media addicts and former English majors
Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, And Other Inscrutable Geographies(02 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Alastair BonnettRating: #1 on Amazon.caGenre: Geography; travelIn a nutshell: Think of this like a map of the unmapped, as Bonnett writes about the world's most surprising placesGood for: Travellers, science fiction lovers, urban wanderers
The Bone Clocks(03 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: David MitchellRating: #16 on Indigo, #12 on Amazon.caGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: Like many of Mitchell's novels, this combines multiple storylines and fantastical plots in a story about a teenage runaway and the many lives she affectsGood for: Fans of Mitchell's other works (like Cloud Atlas), fantasy fans
On Immunity: An Inoculation(04 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Eula BissRating: #5 from Amazon.caGenre: Social studies, non-fictionIn a nutshell: An investigation into the act of immunization, from both a literal and psychological standpointGood for: Those interested in biology, new parents (though beware, it's a highly charged topic)
The Oh She Glows Cookbook(05 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Angela Liddon Rating: #1 on IndigoGenre: Vegan cookbookIn a nutshell: Vegan recipes that focus on fresh, healthy ingredients — with the pictures to matchGood for: Meatless Monday fans, vegans, your 'I need to start being healthier' buddy
Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, And Madness At The Dawn Of Hollywood(06 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: William J. MannRating: #18 on Amazon.caGenre: Murder, non-fictionIn a nutshell: The story behind the murder of William Desmond Taylor, the president of the Motion Picture Directors Association in 1920.Good for: Film noir cinephiles, those who love conspiracy theories
In The Kingdom Of Ice: The Grand And Terrible Polar Voyage Of The USS Jeannette(07 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Hampton SidesRating: #2 on IndigoGenre: Historical non-fictionIn a nutshell: The story of some of the first explorers of the North Pole and their harrowing journey across itGood for: Those who love exploration books, history (particularly of the 19th century)
All The Light We Cannot See(08 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Anthony DoerrRating: #3 on Indigo, #11 on Amazon.caGenre: Historical fictionIn a nutshell: A World War II narrative that looks at both German and French sides of the war from a personal viewpoint, with a slight dose of magic for good measureGood for: People who love radio (yes, radio), former History majors
The Empathy Exams(09 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Leslie Jamison Rating: #13 on Amazon.caGenre: Personal essaysIn a nutshell: Emotional and critical insights into the writer's life, which in turn becomes a larger look at empathy in generalAwards: Winner of the Graywolf Press Nonfiction PrizeGood for: People who engage in (or want to engage in) therapy, those who enjoy taking time to pick apart what they're reading
The Quick(10 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Lauren OwenRating: #20 on Amazon.caGenre: Gothic fictionIn a nutshell: A turn-of-the-20th-century murder mystery novel that involves high society, secret lives and a wonderful portrait of LondonGood for: Mystery lovers, Anglophiles, those who love sprawling narratives with many characters
Boy, Snow, Bird(11 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Helen OyeyemiRating: #15 on Amazon.ca; #17 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A sort of reworked Snow White, this highly imaginative novel calls into question ideas about identity and dynamics of a mixed familyGood for: Magical realism fans (for something different), those appreciative of stunning writing
Avalon(12 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Mindee ArnettRating: #12 on IndigoGenre: Science fiction; young adultIn a nutshell: A group of teenage mercenaries go to the far reaches of the galaxy to retrieve one of their parent's long-lost ships, and fight the bad guys along the wayGood for: Science fiction fans, space fans
Capital In The Twenty-First Century(13 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Thomas PikettyRating: #18 on IndigoGenre: FinanceIn a nutshell: A look at why there is so much inequality in the world, from a fully centred viewpoint that focuses on facts, data and historical information since the 18th centuryGood for: Economists, members of the Occupy movement, CEOs and anyone interested in inequality
Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind(14 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Yuval Noah HarariRating: #10 on IndigoGenre: History; scienceIn a nutshell: An engaging and detailed look at human history, from the very beginning, when there were at least six species of humans — and why there's only one nowGood for: Fans of Guns, Germs and Steel, scientists, fans of sociology
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming The Unseen Forces That Stand In The Way Of True Inspiration(15 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Ed CatmullRating: #20 on IndigoGenre: Work; self-helpIn a nutshell: A combination of advice for finding inspiration at work while also revealing what makes Pixar tickGood for: Managers, fans of cartoons, seekers of advice on how to harness creativity
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art(16 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Carl HoffmanRating: #9 on Amazon.caGenre: Non-fiction mysteryIn a nutshell: The real story of what happened to Michael Rockefeller, who died in New Guinea under mysterious circumstances in 1961Good for: Travellers, people fascinated by real-life crime
All My Puny Sorrows(17 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Miriam ToewsRating: #11 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A tale of two sisters whose lives — in all their heartbreak, humour and disaster — are intertwined in a tale of loveAwards: Winner of Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeGood for: Those who value strong female relationships, those wanting to read more about mental health
Elizabeth Is Missing(18 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Emma HealeyRating: #22 on IndigoGenre: MysteryIn a nutshell: A grandmother who is losing her memory goes searching for a friend she thinks is in need of her help, but ends up uncovering stories about her sister's disappearance from decades agoGood for: Anyone who takes care of older family members, mystery lovers
Stone Mattress(19 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Margaret AtwoodRating: #4 on Amazon.caGenre: Fictional short storiesIn a nutshell: Classic Atwood-type tales in various forms, including a reunion for The Robber Bride characters and a crime in the ArcticGood for: Fans of Canadian fiction, those with a dark sense of humour
The Children Act(20 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Ian McEwanRating: #7 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: The story of a judge whose marriage is crumbling, and who instead focuses on a case of parents who don't want their child to have medical treatmentGood for: Fans of McEwan, those interested in the issue of parental roles
Sweetland(21 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Michael CrummeyRating: #4 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: When the government pays out residents of a remote Newfoundland island to leave, one man stays behind and faces its ghostsGood for: Those who love tales of families and Maritimers
The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution(22 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Walter IsaacsonRating: #10 on Amazon.caGenre: Work; inspirationIn a nutshell: The biographies of those who helped create the digital world we all know and love, starting with Ada LovelaceGood for: People who love computers, people who want to be inspired
Dorothy Must Die(23 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Danielle PaigeRating: #21 on IndigoGenre: Fairy tale fictionIn a nutshell: A take on the Wizard of Oz that sets Dorothy up as the enemy, and a plot to take her downGood for: Fans of Wicked, parents sick of "The Wizard of Oz"
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki And His Years Of Pilgrimage(24 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Haruki MurakamiRating: #19 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: Tsukuru Tazaki is in his 30s, ready to settle down — but first he must confront his past and uncover what went wrong in his life so long agoGood for: Fans of Murakami's earlier work in realism, fans of Japanese literature in general for its depictions of the culture
Dataclysm: Who We Are When We Think No One's Looking(25 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Christian RudderRating: #19 on Amazon.caGenre: Online studiesIn a nutshell: What everything from Google to Facebook to Twitter is showing scientists about human natureGood for: Social media lovers, trendwatchers
Big Little Lies(26 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Liane MoriartyRating: #14 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: The truth behind the seemingly perfect lives of a group of parents in a suburban Australia town, from the everyday problems to massive issuesGood for: Beach reading, parents of young children
The Rosie Effect(27 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Graeme SimsionRating: #9 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A sequel to The Rosie Project in which the main characters are having a baby and dealing with their friends' divorceGood for: Beach reading, fans of quirky romance stories
The Iron Trial: Book One of Magisterium(28 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Holly Black and Cassandra ClareRating: #6 on IndigoGenre: Young adult; fantasyIn a nutshell: Book one of the series focuses on the dangers of passing the test, and uncovering the world of magic.Good for: More grown-up Harry Potter fans
The Back Of The Turtle(29 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Thomas KingRating: #13 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A man returns to the reserve on which his mother grew up to survey the environmental damage for which he's responsibleGood for: Fans of Canada-based fiction, those who are interested in diversity
Blood Will Out(30 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Walter KirnRating: #15 on IndigoGenre: Non-fiction In a nutshell: The real-life story of Kirn's interactions with a man who charmed him, then turned out to be a criminal and murdererGood for: People who love true-life crime stories, journalists
Station Eleven(31 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Emily St. John MandelRating: #7 on Amazon.caGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: What does celebrity look like when society is falling to ruins all around you?Good for: People who love apocalyptic stories, peole who love Hollywood and celebrity culture
A Man Called Ove(32 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Fredrik BackmanRating: #8 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A tale of an older widow who's just about done with modern society, but who slowly starts reacquainting himself with lifeGood for: People who love the movie "Up," people who love humour mixed with sadness
Overwhelmed: Work, Love, And Play When No On Has The Time(33 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Brigid SchulteRating: #6 on Amazon.caGenre: Work; self-helpIn a nutshell: A proposal for a better way to manage our time, particularly in reference to how much we work, based on global examplesGood for: Managers, people striving for a work-life balance
The Martian(34 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Andy WeirRating: #16 on Amazon.caGenre: Science fictionIn a nutshell: The first man to land on Mars is stuck there, and must figure out a way to stay alive, or at the very least, let Earth know he's thereGood for: Fans of books about space, fans of books about science, fans of books about engineering
The Enchanted(35 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Rene DenfeldRating: #23 on IndigoGenre: FictionIn a nutshell: A multitude of storylines come together in this tale about redemption and magic, all based in a prisonGood for: Fans of magical realism, those who like darker stories
Bad Feminist(36 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Roxane GayRating: #3 by Amazon.caGenre: Female-centric essaysIn a nutshell: This hilarious writer's take on pop culture, feminism, politics and everything in betweenGood for: Women who were born after 1970
Girl Runner(37 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Carrie SnyderRating: #8 on Amazon.caGenre: Historical fictionIn a nutshell: The story of a woman who was an Olympic athlete in the 1920s, and her story of her life now that she's 104Good for: Runners, people looking for stories of early feminism
Kitten Clone: Inside Alcatel-Lucent(38 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Douglas CouplandRating: #14 on Amazon.caGenre: Investigative; culturalIn a nutshell: Coupland goes behind the scenes at Alcatel-Lucent, a technology company that runs much of what people do online in various ways, and expounds on how digital life is impacting our worldGood for: People who are curious about the impact of computers
The Opposite Of Loneliness(39 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Marina Keegan Rating: #5 on IndigoGenre: MemoirIn a nutshell: Essays by Keegan, a talent young writer who died five days after graduating from Yale — and whose thoughts on life have since gone viralGood for: Millennials (or anyone) looking for inspiration on what to do next
What We See When We Read(40 of40)
Open Image ModalAuthor: Peter MendelsundRating: #2 on Amazon.caGenre: On literatureIn a nutshell: This is a book about reading — that is, whether or not authors actually do a good job describing characters and scenes, as written by a book designer and passionate readerGood for: Book club members and others who love discussing the act of reading