BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2001

83 highest-rated books first published in 2001.

← 20002002 →

Why Memories of Ice is #1

Memories of Ice (Steven Erikson) scores 8.9/10 from 528 ratings — 0.3 points ahead of Fool's Errand in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Memories of Ice
    Memories of IceSteven Erikson · 2001 Fantasy528 ratings1
    8.98.9 / 10
  2. Fool's Errand
    Fool's ErrandRobin Hobb · 2001 Fantasy553 ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  3. Lirael
    LiraelGarth Nix · 2001 Fantasy388 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  4. The Curse of Chalion
    The Curse of ChalionLois McMaster Bujold · 2001 Fantasy288 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  5. Thief of Time
    Thief of TimeTerry Pratchett · 2001 Fantasy444 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  6. The Shadow of the Wind
    The Shadow of the WindCarlos Ruiz Zafón · 2001 Crime & mystery1.2K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  7. The Universe in a Nutshell
    The Universe in a NutshellStephen Hawking · 2001 Popular science137 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  8. American Gods
    American GodsNeil Gaiman · 2001NYT bestsellerFilmed 2017 Fantasy3.4K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  9. Squire
    SquireTamora Pierce · 2001 Fantasy131 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  10. The Other Wind
    The Other WindUrsula K. Le Guin · 2001 Fantasy200 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  11. Unbroken
    UnbrokenLaura Hillenbrand · 2001NYT bestseller Biography & memoir136 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  12. The Last Hero
    The Last HeroTerry Pratchett · 2001 Fantasy279 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  13. The botany of desire
    The botany of desireMichael Pollan · 2001 Nature & environment125 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
    The Amazing Maurice and His Educated RodentsTerry Pratchett · 2001Filmed 2022 Fantasy301 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. Chasm City
    Chasm CityAlastair Reynolds · 2001 Science fiction259 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  16. Tales from Earthsea
    Tales from EarthseaUrsula K. Le Guin · 2001 Fantasy219 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  17. Child of the Prophecy
    Child of the ProphecyJuliet Marillier · 2001 Fantasy63 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  18. Fast Food Nation
    Fast Food NationEric Schlosser · 2001 Business135 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  19. Sea of Silver Light
    Sea of Silver LightTad Williams · 2001 Fantasy94 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  20. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
    Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original ScreenplayJ. K. Rowling · 2001 Fantasy61 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  21. A Cook's Tour
    A Cook's TourAnthony Bourdain · 200178 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  22. Grave Peril
    Grave PerilJim Butcher · 2001 Fantasy1.1K ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  23. Stars Above
    Stars AboveMarissa Meyer · 2001 Young adult232 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  24. Darkest Hour
    Darkest HourMeg Cabot · 2001 Young adult83 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  25. Fallen Dragon
    Fallen DragonPeter F. Hamilton · 2001 Science fiction120 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  26. Vampire Mountain
    Vampire MountainDarren O'Shaughnessy · 2001 Children’s books147 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  27. Sea of Swords
    Sea of SwordsR. A. Salvatore · 2001 Fantasy81 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  28. Antrax
    AntraxTerry Brooks · 2001 Fantasy61 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  29. Atonement
    AtonementIan McEwan · 2001Filmed 2007 Historical fiction607 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  30. The Fiery Cross
    The Fiery CrossDiana Gabaldon · 2001 Historical fiction195 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  31. Fooled by Randomness
    Fooled by RandomnessNassim Nicholas Taleb · 2001 Business258 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  32. Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
    Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less TimeBrian Tracy · 2001 Business90 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  33. Street Magic
    Street MagicTamora Pierce · 2001 Fantasy67 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  34. Getting Things Done
    Getting Things DoneDavid Allen · 2001 Business56 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  35. The Eyre Affair
    The Eyre AffairJasper Fforde · 2001 Fantasy442 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  36. Ninth Key
    Ninth KeyMeg Cabot · 2001 Young adult94 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  37. Reunion
    ReunionMeg Cabot · 2001 Young adult82 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  38. Number9dream
    Number9dreamDavid Mitchell · 2001 Fantasy97 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  39. March Upcountry
    March UpcountryDavid Weber · 2001 Science fiction71 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  40. Life of Pi
    Life of PiYann Martel · 2001NYT bestseller Adventure1.9K ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  41. Among the Impostors
    Among the ImpostorsMargaret Peterson Haddix · 2001 Science fiction51 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  42. The Magicians' Guild
    The Magicians' GuildTrudi Canavan · 2001 Fantasy340 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  43. Maelstrom
    MaelstromPeter Watts · 2001 Science fiction60 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  44. The Corrections
    The CorrectionsJonathan Franzen · 2001 Contemporary fiction384 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  45. The Skies of Pern
    The Skies of PernAnne McCaffrey · 2001 Science fiction54 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  46. The Chronoliths
    The ChronolithsRobert Charles Wilson · 2001 Science fiction55 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  47. The Other Boleyn Girl
    The Other Boleyn GirlPhilippa Gregory · 2001 Historical fiction241 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  48. A Darkness More Than Night
    A Darkness More Than NightMichael Connelly · 2001 Crime & mystery129 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  49. The Surgeon
    The SurgeonTess Gerritsen · 2001 Crime & mystery198 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  50. Noughts & Crosses
    Noughts & CrossesMalorie Blackman · 2001 Dystopian100 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  51. Seven Up
    Seven UpJanet Evanovich · 2001 Crime & mystery130 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  52. Point Blanc
    Point BlancAnthony Horowitz · 2001 Thriller202 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  53. Debt of Bones
    Debt of BonesTerry Goodkind · 2001 Fantasy128 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  54. Blindsighted
    BlindsightedKarin Slaughter · 2001 Crime & mystery146 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  55. Shadow of the Hegemon
    Shadow of the HegemonOrson Scott Card · 2001 Science fiction451 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  56. Jackdaws
    JackdawsKen Follett · 2001 Thriller58 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  57. Tell No One
    Tell No OneHarlan Coben · 2001 Crime & mystery234 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  58. Echo Burning
    Echo BurningLee Child · 2001 Thriller338 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  59. Morality for Beautiful Girls
    Morality for Beautiful GirlsAlexander McCall Smith · 2001 Crime & mystery60 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  60. Blood and Gold
    Blood and GoldAnne Rice · 2001 Horror120 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  61. The Constant Gardener
    The Constant GardenerJohn le Carré · 2001 Crime & mystery61 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  62. Last Man Standing
    Last Man StandingDavid Baldacci · 2001 Thriller62 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  63. 1st to Die
    1st to DieJames Patterson · 2001Filmed 2003 Crime & mystery216 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  64. The Empty Chair
    The Empty ChairJeffery Deaver · 2001 Crime & mystery59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  65. White Teeth
    White TeethZadie Smith · 2001 Contemporary fiction323 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  66. Artemis Fowl
    Artemis FowlEoin Colfer · 2001Filmed 2020 Fantasy1.3K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  67. Violets Are Blue
    Violets Are BlueJames Patterson · 2001 Crime & mystery98 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  68. Valhalla Rising
    Valhalla RisingClive Cussler · 2001 Adventure61 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  69. Fool Moon
    Fool MoonJim Butcher · 2001 Fantasy1.4K ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  70. Dune: House Corrino
    Dune: House CorrinoBrian Herbert · 2001 Science fiction91 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  71. Mortal Engines
    Mortal EnginesPhilip Reeve · 2001 Science fiction346 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  72. A Painted House
    A Painted HouseJohn Grisham · 2001 Thriller115 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  73. An Offer From a Gentleman
    An Offer From a GentlemanJulia Quinn · 2001NYT bestseller Romance414 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  74. Bitten
    BittenKelley Armstrong · 2001 Fantasy174 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  75. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
    Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemJ. K. Rowling · 2001 Fantasy782 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  76. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
    The Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsAnn Brashares · 2001 Young adult424 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  77. Quidditch Through the Ages
    Quidditch Through the AgesJ. K. Rowling · 2001 Fantasy504 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  78. Choke
    ChokeChuck Palahniuk · 2001 Humour582 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  79. The Pillars of Creation
    The Pillars of CreationTerry Goodkind · 2001 Fantasy197 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  80. Dead Until Dark
    Dead Until DarkCharlaine Harris · 2001 Fantasy719 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  81. Narcissus in Chains
    Narcissus in ChainsLaurell K. Hamilton · 2001 Horror75 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  82. Deception Point
    Deception PointDan Brown · 2001 Thriller1.2K ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  83. Dreamcatcher
    DreamcatcherStephen King · 2001 Horror393 ratings
    6.96.9 / 10

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