The Seattle Public Library unveiled its list of its most borrowed books of the year, with Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence topping the list of adult fiction titles (in physical book format), the Seattle Times reports.
Erdrich’s 2021 novel, about a haunted Minneapolis bookstore, was followed by Nita Prose’s The Maid at No. 2 and Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility at No. 3. David Guterson’s The Final Case and Julie Otsuka’s The Swimmers rounded out the top five.
In the adult nonfiction category (physical book format), the top spot was claimed by Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience. Jenny Rosenstrach’s The Weekday Vegetarians was at No. 2, followed by Arthur C. Brooks’ From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.
The fourth most checked-out nonfiction title was Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again, with David Sedaris’ Happy-Go-Lucky at No. 5.
The most borrowed audiobook in the Emerald City was Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, followed by Brianna Wiest’s 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think at No. 2 and Frank Herbert’s Dune at No. 3.
In a Spotify Wrapped–inspired feature on its website, the Seattle Public Library revealed that its most popular e-book of the year was Luis Alberto Urrea’s The House of Broken Angels. The most popular book genre among Seattleites, the library said, was detective/mystery fiction.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
