In this Bonus Podcast Episode, Al Woodworth, Senior Editor and Manager at Amazon Books Editorial, returns to the show to take listeners behind the scenes of Amazon’s Best Books of 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors!  A fascinating glimpse into how the 2024 list was curated, how the rankings were determined, and what criteria guided the selections. 

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Announcements

• My 2025 Reading Tracker is out! Plus, this year we’ve added another option — a LITE Tracker. Once again, the Tracker is ONLY available to Superstars patrons (i.e., no longer available as a separate purchase for $14.99 here on my website). Also, to avoid Apple’s 30% fee, be sure to join directly from Patreon’s site, mobile or desktop. Become a Superstars Patron here!

Highlights

• The impact Amazon’s #1 book of 2024 had on the editorial team
• The role of capturing “the present moment” in selecting the best books of the year
• How Amazon Editorial chose the top 5 books of 2024 
• Whether the mid-year top book or other outlets’ year-end lists influenced Amazon’s decisions
• Behind the scenes: 2024’s “reading week” retreat and “war room” discussions 
• The importance of selecting books that appeal across genres and to a broad swath of readers
• The group dynamic of ranking each book on the list
• Al highlights some lesser-known titles from the list
• How 2024 stacks up for Al and Amazon’s editorial team

Books From Our Discussion

• The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:03]
• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:25] 
• Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:27] 
• Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:28]
• The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride  | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [9:54] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:37]
• James by Percival Everett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:43]
• The Women by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:51] 
• The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:54]
• Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar  | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:59]  
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:18]
• Educated by Tara Westover | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:09] 
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:26] 
• We Solve Murders by Richard Osman | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:30] 
• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:34] 
• The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:06] 
• Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:23]
• The Wedding People by Alison Espach | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:27]
• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:35]
• We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:47]
• Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell  | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:21]
• When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:23]
• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:15]
• There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:51]
• John Lewis by David Greenberg  | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:44]
• I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:00]
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:14]
• The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:06] 

Other Links

• Amazon | Amazon Editors’ Personal Favorite Books of 2024

About Al Woodworth

More about Amazon Book Review Website | Instagram | X | Facebook

Al Woodworth is a Senior Editor on the Amazon Books Editorial team and has spent more than ten years in the book industry, championing authors and their work. She’s never without a book or four in her bag and is happiest reading memoirs and literary fiction, especially sprawling stories that cross generations and countries. She lives in Brooklyn.