Nonfiction Books with Buzz

"There are amusing stories of learning to embrace her role as the kooky grandmother to rapscallion grandchildren interspersed with clear-eyed observations about the sheer muscle it takes to care for her aging (and still delightfully sharp) mother ... Gorgeously written." – Alexis Burling, San Francisco Chronicle

Coined by Doctorow himself, 'enshittification" was named 'Word of the Year' by the American Dialect Association and has become one of the most useful words to describe the process by which digital service reduce in quality over time. In this new book, the popular science fiction author dives deeper into the term and exposes how the internet became exploitative and broken, then offers a roadmap to reverse enshittification and reclaim a digital world that works for users, businesses, and society—before it’s too late.

"There are amusing stories of learning to embrace her role as the kooky grandmother to rapscallion grandchildren interspersed with clear-eyed observations about the sheer muscle it takes to care for her aging (and still delightfully sharp) mother ... Gorgeously written." – Alexis Burling, San Francisco Chronicle

"Coruscating... May pack the same 'heart-smashing' wallop on readers. It is a masterpiece of memoir writing, a rich tapestry of memory, reckoning and longing." – May-Lee Chai, The Star Tribune

"Lively and vigorously researched... Boggs makes a strong case for [Baldwin's later novels] as successful formal experiments in which Baldwin once again transmuted the storms of his personal life into eloquent indictments of systemic racism... Even-handed and critically rigorous biography... Boggs has dug much deeper than his predecessors... Superlative, and it should become the new gold standard for Baldwin studies." – Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times

"'Positive Obsession' reissues Butler’s clarion call for us to join her in building a better world. Morris, in turn, delivers the invitation with the requisite care and clarity we need to see Butler’s enduring vision with fresh eyes and renewed resolve." – Dana A. Williams, The New York Times

"Candid and intimate... Yu’s debut fuses critique, historical examination and feminist contemplation with an unsparing account of her personal journey... This is an unstinting and necessary read." – Jill Damatac, The New York Times

"An incredible journey of discovery, humor, awe and inspiration... Surprises and delights... Offers humorous anecdotes and peculiar facts... These curious facts, with attendant and laugh-inducing footnotes, keep us turning the pages, but the real power of the book lies in its humanity... Praises the progress science has made without resorting to the spectacle and fanfare of the futurist, and without losing sight of the people." – Brandy Shillace, The Wall Street Journal

"A fun and engaging read that feels more like a personal storytelling session with Fox than a traditional memoir. Anyone who loves entertainment history, movies, or television will be delighted to read it." – Bridgette Whitt, Library Journal

"Carl Benedikt Frey offers a detailed and compelling account of how entrepreneurial, institutional and cultural forces have shaped periods of technological advance and stagnation across the world. In doing so, Frey, an economist and economic historian, draws timely lessons for today's policymakers as the race for supremacy in artificial intelligence and green technology continues... The present moment underscores the relevance of Frey's writing. Business dynamism appears to be fading across much of the advanced world... How Progress Ends is, therefore, an essential warning for the new era." – Tej Parikh, Financial Times