Books are a foray into a whole other world. Generations after generations of people have been enthralled by these printed works of art and will continue to in the future. The genres for books are ever expanding and each tends to find their unique readers. There are some books that overlap genres and some that target a specific demographic. Regardless of their differences, all books share one thing, their ability to inspire.
2018 saw some of the most varied collection of best sellers in recent years and some familiar faces. With topics ranging from political landscapes, human psychology, self-help books and mystery thrillers, we’ve got an exciting list of bestsellers to present to you today. Whether you’ll be buying these as a present or for personal reading, all of these books are sure to please your inner bookworms.
This is the first of many articles to be featured in a new series, aptly named HitsBerry: Literature. In this series, to be published every Friday, we will discuss everything like top Bestsellers, up and coming authors to look out for, book reviews, classics you shouldn't avoid and many more.
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House - Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff unleashed an extremely controversial account of Donald Trump’s presidency. Wolff’s book focuses on the atmosphere that was created by Trump’s presidency. In the book, Wolff paints a picture of a dysfunctional, egotistical and incompetent President. Backed by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, Fire and Fury quickly garnered attention, successfully becoming one of the best-selling books in printed form, Apple iBook and Barnes & Noble ebooks. Released on January 5th, the book sold 1.7 Million copies in January alone and topped the New York Time’s Best Seller list.
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos - Jordan B Peterson
Jordan B Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Regardless of his controversial reputation, Peterson is a revered psychologist and released his book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. The book released on January 16th in the UK and Jordan went on a promotional tour, meeting various personalities and discussing the contents of the book on tv interviews. His interview on Channel 4 News garnered a lot of attention. On August 6th Peterson announced that the book had sold 2 million copies. The book focuses on the hard truths of life and encourages a self-help approach to bettering yourself.
The Woman In The Window - A.J. Finn
Author Dan Mallory penned this book with a lot of prior experience. As a mystery editor, he knows the tools of the trade and has competently written this mystery thriller. The premise revolves around Anna Fox, a woman with an anxiety disorder who lives in a Harlem neighborhood and enjoys spying on her neighbors. She is an alcoholic and a heavy drug user. When she thinks she has witnessed a murder next door, The Woman In The Window takes quick turns and avoids generic plot twists. The book became an instant best-seller in The New York Times and is being adapted into a motion picture starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman and other notable actors.
The President is Missing - Bill Clinton & James Patterson
Few people would be better suited to write about a fictional POTUS than a former POTUS. Bill Clinton paired with renowned author James Patterson to pen this political thriller. Instantly, the book was #1 New York Times Bestseller and a #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller. When the President of the United States goes missing, the threats of cyber terror and espionage cause chaos. Set within a time period of three days, the thriller has it all; action, suspense, mystery and shocking revelations.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released on June 26th, 1997. It has been 21 years since, and it is still topping the best-seller charts. J.K Rowling’s works of fiction inspired entire generations, becoming a symbol of the underdog story of good vs. evil. Young Harry Potter doesn't know that he is a wizard and lives with his miserable aunt and uncle that despise him. When a strange letter arrives for Harry, his life is changed forever. Rowling’s magical world continues to inspire many, and we will see her books top the best sellers list in the years to come.
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson
Mark Manson is a blogger and author. In this book, Mark takes a cynical approach to the self-help genre of books. He mocks it and calls its promotion of mindless positivity to be impractical and unsuitable for most. Mark further argues that lessons learned from life’s tougher moments are more valuable and is more beneficial than trying to find happiness constantly. The profanity and blunt storytelling were critically praised and found success both in printed and ebook form.
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood became one of the most accomplished writers of the 20th century with this masterpiece. The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian fictional novel. In this world, infertility is on the rise. Fertile women are called handmaids and are owned by powerful men of the dictatorship. They are forced to have intercourse with these men and are expected to give birth to healthy, alive children. The shocking nature of the novel won Atwood many awards and accolades. The book was adapted to a film in 1990, five years after its publication and recently saw an adaptation into a television show. The show’s success once again brought the book to the forefront, making it a bestseller.
Becoming - Michelle Obama
The former First Lady of The United States goes into intimate, mesmerizing details of her life in Becoming. Michelle Obama talks about growing up in Chicago, her years as a mother and her years as the First Lady. On its release day, the book sold 725,000 copies and has sold over 2 Million copies throughout the year. Obama’s authentic piece of work is an honest retelling of her experiences, criticisms from the media, her working class roots and the experience in the White House.
Girl, wash your face - Rachel Hollis
Just so you know, the book’s title is much longer; Girl, wash your face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be. Author Rachel Hollis goes deep in this book and starts every chapter with a lie that she once believed in. These range from issues about parenting, body image, relationships, career and many other problems that women face from a young age. The book became a #1 New York Times Bestseller and is one of the most successful self-help books of 2018.
The Great Alone: A Novel - Kristin Hannah
A teenage girl is caught in the fallout of her parent’s toxic marriage. Set in remote Alaska, a teenage girl witnesses her abusive father beat her mother as she is locked in a vicious cycle of denial. The harrowing story of a depressed man with untreated PTSD finds a strong narrator in Leni, the protagonist. Hannah’s work was well praised for the always sympathetic Leni and the gripping story that she pens. The Great Alone: A Novel became one of best-selling books of 2018 according to Amazon.
Which book are you planning to read next? Let us know.