A flatlay of covers of books that shaped 2020, on a red background

Recommendations

The books that shaped 2020

From stirring novels to tender biographies, thought-provoking journalism to the books that captured life in lockdown.

Features

Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in the Netflix series, The Queen's Gambit. Here Beth is seen looking pensive at a chess board, in the midst of a room of onlookers.

Books to read if you loved The Queen's Gambit
An illustration of people reading books in different ways, while perched around a large pile of books

What your favourite reading environment says about you
An illustration of a man looking back on a metropolis as he walks into nature

Why you shouldn’t give up on the city just yet
A photograph of Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia standing in front of an illustration of handmaids

Ann Dowd on creating Aunt Lydia

Books everyone is talking about

Features

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Features

Meet the people championing greater diversity in books

From education to art, campaigning to children’s books, they're leading the fight to ensure young people from all backgrounds see themselves in books.
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Features

'I want to show people the truth about doing therapy'

Philippa Perry on why she wants to demystify psychotherapy in her book Couch Fiction.
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Features

Obama’s secret writing weapon: the yellow legal pad

Obama, Maya Angelou and Truman Capote were all fans. A look into the analog method that has charmed authors for decades.

Find the perfect book this Christmas

Inspiration for your next read

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Recommendations

The Greatest American Novels you should read

The 'GAN' is a concept near impossible to define, and even harder to write. Here's some of the best.
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Recommendations

5 of the best real-life adventure books

Ed Caesar, author of The Moth and the Mountain, shares his picks.
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Features

Books to read if you're loving The Crown season four

Extra reading to answer all your burning questions about Thatcher, Diana and more.

Escapist reads

Features

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Features

Does fiction still need speech marks?

From Ali Smith to Sally Rooney, authors are ditching speech marks. Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett investigates.
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Features

‘Dear Next Generation: Thank you for showing up!’

Margaret Atwood answers questions from some of the world’s leading young campaigners.
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Articles

Bill Gates’ recommended reading list

Books loved by the Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist and author of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.

Brilliant books for gifting

Christmas gift guide Christmas gift guide

Author interviews

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Features

Caleb Femi: 'I see myself as an archivist'

The author of POOR on poetry, politics and what he hopes to capture with his work.
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Features

Nigella Lawson on how to stay in love with cooking during lockdown

We speak to the Cook, Eat, Repeat author about how cooking is all about connection – even when it seems like a chore.
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Features

Avni Doshi interview: 'Ambivalence is intrinsic to motherhood'

The Booker-shortlisted author on her early writing struggles and the years that inspired Burnt Sugar.

Inspiring non-fiction

Exciting must-reads for 2020

Explore Explore

Essays from our authors

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Features

Nurses need a seat at the political table

Christie Watson on why we need frontline health workers advising the government on its Covid-19 response.
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Features

The case for curriculum reform

To fix the future, we need to teach an accurate account of he past says author Mohsin Zaidi
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Features

Suicide is not inevitable: we can reduce it to zero

Cheer The F**k Up author Jack Rooke on the model and training that could radically tackle our mental health crisis.

Bestselling audiobooks

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Special prints created for Penguin's 85th birthday

Penguin 85th

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Award-winning books and authors

Penguin Clothbound Classics in piles and gift boxes with velvet ribbons

Christmas gifts for book lovers

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Discover Puffin and Ladybird

New and bestselling children's books

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Explore our series and collections

Clothbound Classics

Penguin Clothbound Classics

87 Books
Beatrix Potter Originals

Beatrix Potter Originals

23 Books
Penguin English Library

The Penguin English Library

108 Books

Events

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Events

Yotam Ottolenghi: A Life in Flavour, 6th - 17th April 2021

An exclusive opportunity to hear directly from Ottolenghi himself about his life in flavour, and find inspiration for your own cooking.
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Events

Limitless: In Conversation with astronaut Tim Peake, 10th - 18th May 2021

Join British astronaut Tim Peake has he relives his six-month mission to the International Space Station, and the surprising journey that took him there.
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Events

A Night in with Nadiya Hussain, 9th December

Penguin Live and Fane Online present Nadiya Hussain in conversation to celebrate the release of her new book, Nadiya Bakes.

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