We chose works that are easy to find on major platforms or in libraries. Availability changes by country, so check your local services.
If you only have one evening, start with the first pick. If you have a weekend, work through the list in order; each one builds on the ideas of the last.
What it gets right
We will keep this list updated as new works arrive. Tell us what we missed; reader suggestions have shaped many of our past lists.
- The underrated pick
- Best for discussion with friends
- Best for a long weekend
- Best for a first introduction
Where to start
Some of these picks have aged badly in their details. The technology looks wrong, the interfaces are clunky. But the human questions at their centre still hold up remarkably well.
