This powerful collection of contemporary literature brings together raw journalism, poetic fiction, literary suspense, and international voices. From P. Sainath’s searing accounts of rural India in Everybody Loves a Good Drought, to the biting satire of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and the haunting beauty of Sleeping on Jupiter, these books confront uncomfortable truths, explore identity, and offer deeply human experiences. Rounded out by the literary mastery of Nobel laureate Alice Munro and Japan’s chilling psychological fiction Butter by Asako Yuzuki, this set is perfect for readers who seek both impact and introspection.