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The story of the 1986 nuclear disaster is well told in this comprehensive account
‘Bullshit Jobs’ provides a thought-provoking examination of our working lives
National banks have become bulwarks against crisis — and in effect gained the power to pick winners and losers
A history of political slogans reveals much about US sensibilities in the age of Trump
An upbeat biography places the great thinker in his 19th-century context
From Syria to Ireland, the fate of three characters collides with mixed results
A Mumbai detective and his baby elephant sidekick investigate the death of a wealthy American
A couple’s clandestine erotic strategy leads to disastrous consequences for both
A romantic but cryptic invitation to Paris — from the collection ‘Enter, Fleeing’
‘Who would you choose to play you in a film?’ ‘Gugu Mbatha-Raw’
The Norwegian writer on being compared with Knausgaard and capturing the mystery of life
An account of how estranged Londoners found a way to answer back is well-timed
Fiction
Non-Fiction
A couple’s reckless self-indulgence explodes into a fireball of rage and recrimination
A mystery tale in which a mother is set on discovering the truth about her errant daughter
A no-holds-barred account of the artists who outdid Dada
The book is packed with photographs, illustrations and text buzzing with enthusiasm
The novel tackles big themes with sincerity and a keen insight into the pre-teen mindset
Burgeoning AI consciousness meets the re-evaluation of humanness that that entails
An autobiographical tale of an Iranian family’s exile to France is woven into multi-sensory reminiscences of life before the revolution
‘My writing routine? Writing is like laundry. I try and get it done when I can’
Two abandoned teenagers are introduced to a seamy side of war-struck London in Ondaatje’s powerfully sad new novel
At the age of 60, the writer decided to investigate the potential of psychedelic drugs — and embarked on some colourful first-hand research
Has 2018 not been a vintage year for fiction? Or is this just a humourless cop out?
A perfectly timed handbook on the art of effective policymaking
Read about therapist Esther Perel, dark factories, the world’s best teacher, Chelsea Flower Show, royal mystique and much more
A masterclass in the art of American essay writing and criticism
A daring collection of short stories with an aura of cool and featuring dislocated characters
Which are this season’s best books?
A candid expert account suggests little will change under the current leadership
Should we fear a takeover by AI or robots? Or are humans the only malign operators?
From copying pirates to early starts, a selection of titles our writers recommend
Nigeria’s former finance minister describes plugging the leaks in a graft-ridden state
From ‘Europa’
A ‘Game of Thrones’-type saga about three kingdoms at war over a magical substance
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the author explores the world of neurology, describing the brain in poetic detail
An outlandish coming-of-age story elegantly blends real life and tales of mermaids
A novel charting two boys’ journey into ‘wokeness’ as they encounter a rage-filled white cop
