ABC Radio National is calling on Aussies to take part in a new national countdown: The Top 100 Books.
The theme for the inaugural countdown is “The Top 100 Books of the 21st Century”, a celebration of the most powerful, beloved, and talked-about books published in English between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2025.
All genres are welcome. ABC Radio National said “if you’ve read it, you can vote for it”.
Readers have been invited to vote for the stories that moved them, challenged them, or stayed with them long after the first chapter.
Across a two-day live broadcast even on October 18th and 19th, ABC Radio National will count down these books that have shaped Australia’s cultural memory.
The broadcast will also feature special guests, and a Facebook group has been created for readers to connect with their peers.
It follows a similar structure to triple j’s highly successful Hottest 100 countdowns of music. The youth station hosts the annual countdown in January for the previous year. More recently, it had its inaugural Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, specifically paying homage to homegrown music for the first time.
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INXS were declared the winner in July for their classic song “Never Tear Us Apart”. Also in the top five were Crowded House (“Don’t Dream It’s Over”), Missy Higgins (“Scar”), The Veronicas (“Untouched”), and Hilltop Hoods (“The Nosebleed Section”).
ABC Radio National also presents the ABC’s weekly flagship book programs The Book Show on Mondays at 10am and The Bookshelf on Fridays at 10am, featuring author interviews, reviews, and commentary.
Voting for The Top 100 Books is now open, and will close on October 2nd at 5pm (AEST).