How many more books will you read before you die? A few years ago I recommended a so-so book I had just reviewed for The Economist to a friend. He replied that he was likely to read only about 400 more books (since he averaged ten a year and was in his early 40s). He did not want to waste his time on a mediocre one. The mean American reads 14 books each year (and the median American just five), so it’s important to choose wisely. Life is too short for bad books.
 
As you prepare your gift list or dream of what you will read by the fire over the holidays (in addition to catching up on The Economist, of course), please scan through our list of the year’s best books. Some of our choices will inspire you to think differently about familiar subjects, from Martin Luther King to George Orwell. Others will wow you with the depth of their reporting and research on subjects including China, Ghana and 007’s globe-trotting creator, Ian Fleming. A few of our selections, including “Ultra-Processed People” and “Outlived”, focus on longevity, exercise and healthy eating. This year publishers have given readers plenty of books to devour. Dig in.