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About the list

ABC Radio National have published their top 100 books of the 21st century. It’s a heartwarming trip down memory lane, with quite a few surprise appearances along the way!

More than 280,000 people voted for their favourite books, which were published between January 1, 2000, and August 31, 2025.

The list includes both Australian and overseas authors, is a mix of both fiction and non-fiction titles, and encompasses a wide range of genres.

Chart topping books

As noted by Penguin Random House, “The books that have made the cut aren't just well-written, they're the books that have sparked long conversations and truly become part of the cultural landscape over the last century.”

Explore the full list of titles on the ABC Radio National website

Vision Australia Library are proud to confirm we have 97 of the top 100 books available in DAISY Audio. The remaining three titles are in the process of being uploaded and will be ready for our Library members early in the new year.

Top ten listed books

  1. The recipient of the highest number of votes is ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ by Trent Dalton. Available in eBraille and DAISY Audio.
  2. ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. Available in DAISY Audio and eBraille.
  3. ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles Available in DAISY Audio.
  4. ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ by Anthony Doerr. Available in eBraille and DAISY Audio.
  5. ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ by Bonnie Garmus. Available in DAISY Audio.
  6. ‘Burial Rites’ by Hannah Kent. Available in eBraille and DAISY Audio.
  7. ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ by Pip Williams. Available in DAISY Audio.
  8. ‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver. Available in eBraille.
  9. ‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara. Available in eBraille and DAISY Audio.
  10. ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel. Available in DAISY Audio.

Want to explore more of the top 100 books of the 21st century?

Review the available format for each title in the Vision Australia Library.