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The Best American: Nonrequired Reading Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of The Best American: Nonrequired Reading books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the The Best American: Nonrequired Reading series? Start with "The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011" (2011) and follow publication order through all 12 books.
The complete The Best American: Nonrequired Reading reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011
2011
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2012
2011
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2013
2013
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2014
2014
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2015
2015
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2016
2016
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2017
2017
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2018
2018
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2019
2019
Pen America Best Debut Short Stories 2018
2018
Twenty Years of the Caine Prize for African Writing
2019
Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror
2023
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