Special Report
The Best Books of 2023
By year's end, after all the new books hit shelves, Smithsonian magazine's editors and writers have clear favorites. Whether you are looking for some gift ideas or a great read to enjoy on the plane or cozied up over the holidays, consider our carefully curated lists.
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/dd/51/dd5193e9-edf5-4714-95a6-cc2be02cb4e9/booklist-2023-main.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/83/92/83928011-d1c8-4559-8916-da5ee9174bc5/booklist-2023-history.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/de/89/de893056-3281-482b-9564-9b390a98fcd6/booklist-2023-food.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/01/06/010697d1-c6d5-4c41-89f0-9188806a5763/booklist-2023-curator.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/63/d6/63d624d5-61fd-41d6-8a0a-a99c341f3369/booklist-2023-photo.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/ea/04/ea043393-18ad-4894-b2ae-8491f39bf585/booklist-2023-travel.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/54/95/5495bf57-cfac-40d7-a1ac-4fc8f56baa3e/booklist-2023-science.jpg)
:focal(800x602:801x603)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/bd/cb/bdcb79fa-6bbf-4d61-ac7a-026a84ee5060/booklist-2023-childrens.jpg)