Sunday Best: 80 Great Books from a Lifetime of Reviews

A collection of John Carey’s greatest, wisest, and wittiest reviews—amassed over a lifetime of writing

In 1977, newly installed as a professor of English at Oxford, John Carey took the position of chief reviewer for the Sunday Times—a job he still retains. In a career spanning more than forty years and upward of 1,000 reviews, Carey has kept abreast of the brightest and best books of the day, distilling his thoughts each week for the entertainment of Sunday readers.

Contained in this volume is the cream of that substantial crop: a choice selection of the books that Carey has most cherished. Covering subjects as diverse as the science of laughter, the art of Grayson Perry, the history of madness, and Sylvia Plath’s letters—and incorporating earlier writings “Down with Dons” and “Vegetable Gardening”—this is a collection of treats and surprises, suffused with careful thought, wisdom, and enjoyment. The result is a compendium of titles that have stood the test of time, offered with Carey’s warmest recommendation.