Ex Libris

From "the most powerful book critic in the English-speaking world" ( Vanity Fair ) comes a personal, thought-provoking list of 100 life-changing books she wouldn't want you to miss--beautifully illustrated with original essays on each recommendation.

Legendary former New York Times critic and bestselling author Michiko Kakutani once again brings her wealth of knowledge and passion about books to the public--but this time with her personal selections of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that have had a profound effect on her life.

More than just recommendations, Ex Libris covers a broad range of topics that help make a person a well-rounded reader and citizen of the world--from the historical (Federalist Papers, The Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. ) to the timely (Elizabeth Kolbert's harrowing The Sixth Extinction , Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale ) to the fantastical (the Harry Potter novels, Where the Wild Things Are ).

With richly detailed illustrations by lettering artist and designer Dana Tanamachi that evoke vintage bookplates interspersed among Kakutani's passionate essays about her beloved books, Ex Libris is always pointing us to our next great read.