From the Lawton Constitution
During this time of year, a popular topic for articles is looking back at the year that was.
In that spirit, my editor asked if I would write a book review of one of last year’s top 10 best-selling books. I agreed, then quickly realized a problem. I hadn’t read any of them. In fact, there was only one book on the list I would even consider reading: “1929” by Andrew Ross Sorkin, which came in at No. 10.
I decided to broaden my search to reflect how people are actually “reading” today by looking at top books in both print and audiobook formats. This felt more realistic, since many people, including myself, like to listen to books while driving.
However, even then, I had read only two of the books on the list, and neither had been published last year. That realization led me to what I think is the real story: What do these popular books tell us about who is reading, and what readers are looking for?
Before turning to those questions, I should acknowledge the two books I did read. I hesitate to mention the first out of fear of ridicule, which I completely deserve. Out of pure curiosity, I read “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. I enjoy fantasy and felt it would be unfair to criticize a something I hadn’t read. Say what you will, it is one of the most popular and highest-selling books of the decade. Still, it wasn’t for me. I enjoy fantasy, but this was a far cry from the Tolkien or R.A. Salvatore novels of my youth. Those stories were quests for survival; “Fourth Wing” felt more like a quest to find a man then save mankind.
The other book was “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir. I recently reviewed it for 580 Monthly but suffice it to say it is an outstanding book that I highly recommend.
As for the rest of the top 10, while it’s difficult to write about books based only on descriptions, the subject matter itself is revealing. Eight of the top 10 were fiction: “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins; “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros; “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden; “Big Jim Begins” by Dav Pilkey; “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros; “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss; “The Widow” by John Grisham; and “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir. Only two were nonfiction: “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
What immediately stands out is that in our fast-paced, often chaotic world, readers seem to want escapism more than deep intellectual challenge. They also gravitate toward authors they already know and trust. All the writers on this list are well established; several of them are the who’s who of authors.
Another clear pattern emerges when looking at demographics: women are reading far more than men. In terms of genre, two of the books fall into fantasy/romance, two are self-help, two are thrillers, one is young adult/dystopian, and two are children’s books. Five of the books skew heavily toward women readers, while three lean male. Science fiction traditionally skews strongly male, but “Project Hail Mary” has attracted a notable female readership. What becomes unmistakable is that women are driving the contemporary book market.
That trend becomes even clearer when looking specifically at the top 10 fiction books. Removing the children’s titles brings in four additional novels: “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans, “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry, “Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser, and “Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall. Only Evans and Schlesser are debut authors, further reinforcing the idea that readers prefer familiar voices. Gender-wise, the gap widens: eight of the 10 fiction titles lean toward women, with only “Project Hail Mary” and “The Widow” leaning slightly male.
The bigger surprise for me came from the nonfiction list. I expected to see more history, but only two history titles appeared, and they were at the bottom of the list: “To Rescue the American Spirit” by Bret Baier, about Theodore Roosevelt, and “The Gales of November” by John U. Bacon, about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Political books did appear, though not in the way I expected: “How to Test Negative for Stupid” by Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, “107 Days” by Kamala Harris, and “The Look” by Michelle Obama, which blends politics and fashion. Two additional self-help and psychology titles, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt and “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, also made the list, along with a music memoir, “Heart Life Music” by Kenny Chesney.
Even here, where I expected men to dominate based on traditional nonfiction trends, women still led the way. Six of the 10 nonfiction books lean toward female readers. This reflects something I already see as a professor: women are outperforming men academically, and that advantage begins with reading.
Overall, these lists suggest that readers are looking for comfort, escape, and emotional engagement. Fantasy is growing, thrillers remain popular, and story-driven narratives still matter. At the same time, readers continue to seek self-improvement, but with a shift in tone. “The Let Them Theory,” the No. 1 book of the year, isn’t about hustle or self-discipline; it’s about changing how we think, emphasizing emotional detachment and acceptance over constant optimization.
In the end, today’s readers, whether immersed in fantasy worlds or personal reflection, are emotionally and psychologically engaged, hoping not just for distraction, but for some form of positive change. It’s also comforting to know that at least some people are still reading history.
James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He can be reached at james.finck@swoknews.com.
Historically Speaking 