Title: Recent progress in fluctuation theorems and free energy recovery Abstract: We review applications of fluctuation theorems to recover free energy differences from single molecule pulling experiments. The possibility of measuring energies in the range of tenths of kcal/mol or kBT of molecular systems embedded in an aqueous environment opens exciting perspectives to our basic understanding of energy processes in nonequilibrium small systems. After a brief reminder of key concepts about free energy measurements and calculations we overview single-molecule manipulation techniques and free energy recovery using fluctuation theorems. Issues concerning the correct definition of mechanical work, the non-Galilean invariance of fluctuation theorems and free energy recovery from unidirectional work measurements are also discussed.