In two books — one compassionate and scientific, the other angry and polemical — David Kessler and Stuart Gillespie tackle the root causes of the obesity crisis
From politics, economics and history to art, food and, of course, fiction — FT writers and critics choose their favourite reads of the year so far
A galloping narrative account of the tensions that pushed England to ‘the edge of a precipice’
Gabriela Cabezón Cámara powerfully reimagines a real-life tale of transformation, escape and the brutal colonial history of Latin America
The Swedish historian catalogues two centuries of outlandish looks and behaviour across working-class subcultures
Joshua Hammer takes a hugely enjoyable look at three rivals who competed to decipher the world’s oldest writing
Former spooks or sleuths can’t shake off their old lives in books by Paul Vidich, Alan Parks, Graham Hurley and Mark Ezra, while Mark Ellis and Lily Samson delve into secret worlds
The FT’s books editors answered reader questions and shared their personal recommendations
Ancient Greek and Roman stories in all their modern retellings and Hollywood adaptations remain powerful guides to our political systems and personal lives
The first biography in English of China’s president’s father highlights how even reformers bow to state ideology
The 1976 novel captures a moment of generational change in Stockholm — and in its first English translation, the writing still feels fresh
How extinction is not a natural inevitability but a political choice — and why ‘species revivalism’ might not be the answer
The controversy over Raynor Winn’s memoir ‘The Salt Path’ has implications for business beyond publishing
A fan of trashy cult movies, his wacky blockbusters have rescued comic book franchises from mortal danger
What makes ancient Greece and Rome still relevant today?; Xi Jinping’s ideological upbringing; extinctions and the dubious ethics of reviving lost species; a belated English translation of a Swedish cult classic; a Ukrainian novel of war and snails; England’s nostalgia and muddled identity; Hal Ebbott’s daring debut; essays by Arifa Akbar; a biography of Virgil Abloh; Pilita Clark’s top environment titles — and Nilanjana Roy on gardening memoirs
A kaleidoscope of essays on theatre workers, nightclub bouncers, carers and medics that explore night-time’s physical and imaginative spaces
A soft-focus biography of the late Louis Vuitton designer comes into its own as a document on the evolution of luxury
Hal Ebbott’s powerful debut novel shatters our expectations when the comfortable world of two families is blown apart in one reckless moment
With huge economic and political shifts taking place, what will replace the old world order?
Writing about our green spaces has taken on a life of its own since the pandemic
In Maria Reva’s road-trip novel, mail-order brides serve an unlikely purpose, and Russia’s invasion blows apart the divide between fact and fiction
Books by Brendan Cooper and Bijan Omrani explore two forces that once fuelled the country’s global power and now leave it pining for the past
Artists and scientists have long harnessed chance as a tool and AI can play a similar role in creativity
Including Maxim Samson’s fresh look at humanity’s imprint on the planet and Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow’s exploration of the nuclear debate
As net zero goals revive the push for atomic power, could it light the way or lead to disaster? Three timely books explore the possibilities
Fewer young people are reading for pleasure than ever before, with broad economic and social consequences. Can the trend be reversed?
Thane Gustafson’s economic history of post-Soviet Russia wonders how impervious Putin is to western sanctions
The novelist draws on Japanese-Korean history to create a restless, leisurely and capacious work that takes in a sweep of periods and places
Desmond Elliott Prize winner Claire Adam creates the illusion of real life on the page in the story of a middle-aged Londoner searching for her adopted daughter
The story of the men and women who run our business world offers colourful tales of heroes, villains, succession struggles and salaries
John Foot’s superbly researched and grimly absorbing history of the left-wing militants’ attempts to bring down the state in the 1970s
‘The Acid Queen’ and ‘The Last Great Dream’ chart the characters and consequences of the counterculture — and its continuing influence today
The best reads on the country’s local, regional and global history, as chosen by you
Gabriel Zuchtriegel’s spirited part-history, part-memoir evokes the everyday life of the ancient city, and poses some very modern questions
What’s in a name for an unborn child? Plus tales of troubled teens; walking across England; and journeying to the stars
Society inevitably structures our choices but the resulting frustration feeds a yearning for magical rings
Some say money, others nostalgia — or maybe it’s the endlessly fascinating double act of Noel and Liam Gallagher
