15 Books for the 21st Century, 2021–2025: The Results

The editors are delighted to announce that the following books received the most votes in our writers’ and readers’ poll, in descending order:

In nominating Things You Might Find Hidden in My Ear, Naomi Shihab Nye wrote: “In this ongoing time of horrific genocide in Gaza, fully supported by the US administration, I would nominate Mosab Abu Toha’s Things You Might Find Hidden in My Ear. What I said on the back—‘I feel I have been waiting for his work all my life’—remains true. Mosab’s eloquent commentaries all speak to the fact that this genocide is not supported by a vast majority of American people and humans with any consciences at all. I love the tender, down-to-earth, understated power of his work. He honors the beautiful Palestinian people, their hopes, dreams, culture, memories—in a way that is accessible and profound. He is a leader and a guide.” Richard Woffenden’s review of the book appeared in the January 2023 issue of WLT.

Check out the “15 Books” longlist in the March 2025 issue and the “21 Books” poll from 2021. M. NourbeSe Philip’s Zong!, as told to the author by Setaey Adamu Boateng (Wesleyan University Press, 2008; Graywolf Press, 2024), received the most votes in the 2021 poll.