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- 30 Unmissable Books of 2021
30 Unmissable Books of 2021
The past year has given us such an abundance of heartwarming, heartbreaking, enthralling, and enriching books, that it would be a shame to end the year without devouring them.
To narrow it down, we’ve put together a list of 30 of our unmissable books from 2021 that you must read!
Noise by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein
In Noise, Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein show how noise produces errors in many fields, including in medicine, law, public health, economic forecasting, forensic science, child protection, creative strategy, performance review and hiring. And although noise can be found wherever people are making judgements and decisions, individuals and organizations alike commonly ignore its impact, at great cost.
Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer
In London, the Metropolitan Police set up a new Unsolved Murders Unit – a cold case squad – to catch the criminals nobody else can.
In Geneva, millionaire art collector Miles Faulkner – convicted of forgery and theft – was pronounced dead two months ago. So why is his unscrupulous lawyer still representing a dead client?
On a luxury liner en route to New York, the battle for power within a wealthy dynasty is about to turn to murder.
And at the heart of all three investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick, rising star of the Met, and ex-undercover operative Ross Hogan, brought in from the cold.
But can they catch the killers before it’s too late?
Twelve and a Half by Gary Vaynerchuk
In his sixth business book, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and investor Gary Vaynerchuk explores the twelve essential emotional skills that are integral to his life—and business—success and provides today’s (and tomorrow’s) leaders with critical tools to acquire and develop these traits.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, Anthony Doerr’s gorgeous third novel is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope—and a book.
In Cloud Cuckoo Land, Doerr has created a magnificent tapestry of times and places that reflects our vast interconnectedness—with other species, with each other, with those who lived before us, and with those who will be here after we’re gone.
Freckles by Cecelia Ahern
Allegra Bird’s arms are scattered with freckles, a gift from her beloved father. But despite her nickname, Freckles has never been able to join all the dots. So when a stranger tells her that everyone is the average of the five people they spend the most time with, it opens up something deep inside.
Told in Allegra’s vivid, original voice, moving from modern Dublin to the fierce Atlantic coast, this is an unforgettable story of human connection, of friendship, and of growing into your own skin.
Notes On Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
On 10 June 2020, the scholar James Nwoye Adichie died suddenly in Nigeria.
In this tender and powerful essay, expanded from the original New Yorker text, his daughter, a self-confessed daddy’s girl, remembers her beloved father. Notes on Grief is at once a tribute to a long life of grace and wisdom, the story of a daughter’s fierce love for a parent, and a revealing examination of the layers of loss and the nature of grief.
Three Sisters by Heather Morris
From Heather Morris, the New York Times bestselling author of the multi-million copy bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey, inspired by a true story.
Against all odds, three Slovakian sisters have survived years of imprisonment in the most notorious death camp in Nazi Germany: Auschwitz. Livia, Magda, and Cibi have clung together, nearly died from starvation and overwork, and the brutal whims of the guards in this place of horror.
A Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes by Rodrigo Garcia
The son of one of the greatest writers of our time―Nobel Prize winner and internationally best-selling icon Gabriel García Márquez―remembers his beloved father and mother in this tender memoir about love and loss.
Value(s) by Mark Carney
In Value(s), one of the great economic thinkers of our time examines how economic value and social values became blurred, how we went from living in a market economy to a market society, and how to rethink and rebuild before it’s too late. The book will help arm the best in business, finance and government, and disarm the worst.
This book sets out how we can build a better world for all. It offers achievable solutions to global problems, building a future fit for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.
Songbirds by Christy Lefteri
Race for Tomorrow by Simon Mundy
As the impacts of climate change cascade across the planet and the global economy, who is battling to survive the worst impacts – and who is chasing the most lucrative rewards?
Telling unforgettable human stories from six continents, Race for Tomorrow is an account of disaster, of promise, of frantic adaptation and relentless innovation, of hope, of survival, and of the forces that will define our future.
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
An intimate yet sweeping novel with all the dazzling force of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoingand Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is an unforgettable debut that is set to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
Prey by Ayaan Hisri Ali
In Prey, the bestselling author of Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, presents startling statistics, criminal cases and personal testimony. Deeply researched and featuring fresh and often shocking revelations, Prey uncovers a sexual assault and harassment crisis in Europe that is turning the clock on women’s rights much further back than the #MeToo movement is advancing it.
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Crossroads is the story of a Midwestern family at a historical moment of moral crisis. Jonathan Franzen’s gift for melding the small picture and the big picture has never been more dazzlingly evident.
Viral by Alina Chan and Matt Ridley
Set in the caves and mineshafts, food markets and wildlife smugglers’ stores, laboratories and databases of China and elsewhere, Viral is a page-turner that reads like a detective novel and goes deeper into the deepest mystery of the day than any other work.
Write Me a Love Story by Ravinder Singh
The blue-eyed boy of Indian publishing, Abhimanyu Razdan is known for his bestselling romances, which move his readers to tears. PaperInk, an up-and-coming publishing house, is looking for an A-list author who will take them to the next level.
So, when Abhimanyu’s contract with his current publishers comes to an end, PaperInk decides to swoop in. But Abhimanyu isn’t quite like the emotional and sensitive characters in the novels he writes. Callous, egoistic and drunk on success, he gets into a hot argument with Asmita, PaperInk’s literary fiction editor, even before his first meeting with them.
At each other’s throats, Abhimanyu and Asmita are as different as can be, but fate has something else in store and they soon find that there is no running away from love.
To read more from Ravinder Singh’s latest book…
The Magic Mindset by Preeti Shenoy
Perfect reading for the difficult times that we are living in, The Magic Mindset is full of tips, suggestions, fun exercises and practical advice on career, family, health, relationships, finances, social media, and more. It also includes inspiring stories and anecdotes from Preeti’s own life. A cornerstone for all those who want to change their outlook, this book will help you build a purposeful and joyful life.
Full of never-before-revealed anecdotes, Stargazing, co-written with Ayaz Memon and featuring illustrations by Shiva Rao, offers a glimpse into how champions from across the globe have inspired one of the world’s greatest ODI players and Team India’s most successful Test cricket coach.
Immunity+ by Dr. Mickey Mehta and Sanjeev Kapoor
In Immunity+: Revitalise in 28 Days, leading holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta and acclaimed chef Sanjeev Kapoor collaborate to create an easy-to-follow schedule to integrate the mind-body-and-spirit connection.
Drawing from the best of ancient wisdom and modern science frontiers, Dr Mehta shows you how to revitalise and restore your prana or life force. Chef Kapoor’s vegetarian dishes are a treat for your taste buds while containing the nutrients you will need to help fight off the most stubborn diseases.
Club You to Death by Anuja Chauhan
Anuja Chauhan returns with a bloody good romance set in the pulsating heart of Lutyen’s Delhi.
When a hunky personal trainer is found asphyxiated to death under an overloaded barbell at the posh Delhi Turf Club, on the eve of the club elections, it is first thought to be a freak accident. But soon, it becomes clear that one of the members of the DTC – all pickled-in-privilege Dilliwallahs – is a cold-blooded killer.
To find out who the culprit is…
What Do You See When You Look in the Mirror? by Nikita Singh
In this dazzling collection of short fiction, bestselling author Nikita Singh explores the secret inner lives of her characters as they grapple with love, loss, grief and mental health.
Regrets, None by Dolly Thakur with Arghya Lahiri
Written with wit, humour and candour, Regrets, None is a rare memoir that is unafraid to bare it all.
It follows veteran theatre personality Dolly Thakore’s life and career — growing up in Delhi and an assortment of Air Force stations, getting her start in theatre in college, her time in London, involvement with social issues, casting for Gandhi and filming it across India, working in radio, television and advertising while returning always to her first love, theatre.
1971 by Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya
1971 was the year that changed Indian cricket forever. Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya’s book is a thrilling account of the 1971 twin tours, that brings to life the on-field excitement and the backroom drama. Against a canvas that features legends: Pataudi and Wadekar, who captained India to the two sensational series victories abroad.
From strange sightings to urban legends, from haunted buildings to not-so-friendly ghosts, colleges in India have their fair share of spine-tingling tales, be it Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, St. Bede’s College in Shimla or Delhi University. Young Blood is a collection of ten tales that reimagine college urban legends and true first-person accounts, that promises to terrify even die-hard fans of horror.
Unshackling India by Ajay Chhibber and Salman Anees Soz
Unshackling India examines the question: Can India use the next twenty-five years, when it will reach the hundredth year of independence, to restructure not only its economy but rejuvenate its democratic energy and unshackle its potential-to become a genuinely developed economy by 2047?
Kamala Harris by Chidanand Rajghatta
Chidanand Rajghatta’s masterful chronicling of Kamala’s life – her rise to candidature, the struggles and triumph in a messy, hard-won election despite coming from a ‘non-traditional’ background – delivers an inspirational story of a phenomenal woman.
The Nation’s Homeopath by Dr. Mukesh Batra
The Nation’s Homeopath is an unusual tale of entrepreneurship, risk appetite, resilience and self-belief. Dr Batra’s life has been eventful. For decades, he has treated celebrities, including presidents, prime ministers, actors, sportsmen, artists, among others, as well as the common man without discrimination.
Part memoir, part guidebook for entrepreneurs, Dr Batra’s life has lessons that would benefit readers from any sphere of activity.
The Illuminated by Anindita Ghose
An astonishing feat of the imagination, The Illuminated is as sophisticated in the quality of its prose as it is provocative in its thematic focus on questions of identity. A remarkable novel of ideas, it marks the arrival of a tremendous new literary talent.
After 2000 years, the Wall has been breached. As Mithila steps into a world unknown, her sister Minakshi tightens her grasp on a city bracing for chaos and violence under a red sky. The ghost of an old Revolution stalks the streets, while the shadow of a new one threatens to tear Sumer apart.
Spreading word about this historical transgression, Alvar and Mankala find themselves facing new perils in a City they can barely recognise-one torn between old fears and new desires, while caught in a deadly power struggle. But soon, they will know that the crossing of the Wall has consequences not just for the City, but for the world.
Read more from the much-awaited sequel of The Wall…
Almond by Won-pyung Sohn
Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother provide him with a safe and content life.
As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life at risk, Yunjae will have the chance to step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become the hero he never thought he would be.
Translated from the Korean by Sandy Joosun Lee, Almond is a poignant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever.
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