Brain Pickings: The 15 Best Books of 2015 (15 books)

Rewarding reflections on time, love, loss, courage, creativity, and other transformations of the heart.

List curated by Maria Popova

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 4,359 ratings score: 298, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks 4.03 avg rating — 21,452 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald 3.74 avg rating — 80,435 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Ongoingness: The End of a Diary by Sarah Manguso (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 3,683 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Felicity by Mary Oliver 4.27 avg rating — 15,885 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids by Meghan Daum (Editor) 3.75 avg rating — 7,398 ratings score: 187, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	M Train by Patti Smith (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 50,712 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander 4.10 avg rating — 10,256 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 4,924 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution by Brené Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 88,483 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Enormous Smallness by Matthew Burgess 4.28 avg rating — 1,456 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 233,363 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Negroland by Margo Jefferson (Goodreads Author) 3.62 avg rating — 7,909 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall 3.67 avg rating — 3,517 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Hurry Up and Wait by Maira Kalman 3.95 avg rating — 294 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars