The most popular essays books of 2023

Essays are short works of nonfiction in which a writer thinks something through. The subject can be anything: politics, a walk, a film, a grief. What matters is the mind at work and the voice. Collections here range from the classic to the sharply contemporary. This list shows the ones first published in 2023.

Cover of Love, Pamela

Love, Pamela

Pamela Anderson

Published 2023

256 pages

Cover of You Could Make This Place Beautiful A Memoir

You Could Make This Place Beautiful A Memoir

Maggie Smith

Published 2023

320 pages

Cover of Quietly Hostile Essays

Quietly Hostile Essays

Samantha Irby

Published 2023

256 pages

Cover of Strong Female Character

Strong Female Character

Fern Brady

Published 2023

288 pages

Cover of Oath and Honor

Oath and Honor

Liz Cheney

2023 · 2024 edition

372 pages

Cover of Raw Dog The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs

Raw Dog The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs

Jamie Loftus

2023 · 2025 edition

320 pages

Cover of Hijab Butch Blues A Memoir

Hijab Butch Blues A Memoir

Lamya H

Published 2023

304 pages

Cover of Leslie F*cking Jones A Memoir

Leslie F*cking Jones A Memoir

Leslie Jones

Published 2023

269 pages

Cover of Congratulations, The Best Is Over! Essays

Congratulations, The Best Is Over! Essays

R. Eric Thomas

2023 · 2024 edition

256 pages

Cover of You're that Bitch & Other Cute Lessons about Being Unapologetically Yourself

You're that Bitch & Other Cute Lessons about Being Unapologetically Yourself

Bretman Rock

Published 2023

252 pages

Cover of The Best Strangers in the World Stories from a Life Spent Listening

The Best Strangers in the World Stories from a Life Spent Listening

Ari Shapiro

2023 · 2024 edition

256 pages

Cover of A Living Remedy A Memoir

A Living Remedy A Memoir

Nicole Chung

Published 2023

239 pages

Cover of Black Friend Essays

Black Friend Essays

Ziwe

Published 2023

181 pages

Cover of Burn It Down

Burn It Down

Maureen Ryan

Published 2023

348 pages

Cover of Straight Shooter A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes

Straight Shooter A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes

Stephen A. Smith

Published 2023

288 pages

Cover of Breaking Through My Life in Science

Breaking Through My Life in Science

Katalin Karakó

Published 2023

336 pages

Cover of Honey, Baby, Mine A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding)

Honey, Baby, Mine A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding)

Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Reese Witherspoon

Published 2023

239 pages

Cover of Friendaholic Confessions of a Friendship Addict

Friendaholic Confessions of a Friendship Addict

Elizabeth Day

Published 2023

416 pages

Cover of I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us

I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us

Kristin Chenoweth

Published 2023

224 pages

Cover of Birdie & Harlow

Birdie & Harlow

Taylor Wolfe

2023 · 2024 edition

272 pages

Cover of It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward

It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward

Elizabeth Passarella

Published 2023

256 pages

Cover of The Jolliest Bunch Unhinged Holiday Stories

The Jolliest Bunch Unhinged Holiday Stories

Danny Pellegrino

2023 · 2024 edition

272 pages

Cover of Tough Titties

Tough Titties

Laura Belgray

Published 2023

320 pages

Cover of Code Name Blue Wren

Code Name Blue Wren

Jim Popkin

2023 · 2024 edition

368 pages

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