The Best MindsThe Best Minds
What it's about
Jonathan Rosen's haunting investigation traces the forces that led his closest childhood friend, Michael Laudor, from the heights of brilliance to tragedy, in a story of friendship and of mental illness in America.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for memoir and one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2023.
You'll love it if you liked
The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness
Educated: A Memoir
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler DynastyGood to know
It's long, deeply researched and devastating.
By the numbers
- Readers36 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller9 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
If you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Best Minds worth reading?
Yes. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for memoir and one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2023. It ranks #1,998 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Best Minds about?
Jonathan Rosen's haunting investigation traces the forces that led his closest childhood friend, Michael Laudor, from the heights of brilliance to tragedy, in a story of friendship and of mental illness in America.
How long does it take to read The Best Minds?
About 14 hours (577 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Best Minds?
If you liked it, try The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O'Rourke, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover or Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe.