"Discovering nonfiction that reads like a story but keeps the scholarship front and center is the great white whale hunt for bookish adventurers. Countless authors attempt the feat, but it's rare to find a book that showcases not only a fresh voice but also a new perspective. Scientific American staff read some truly exceptional nonfiction books in 2025 while on the prowl for intriguing stories, robust reporting and exceptional voices."
"Easily one of the most gripping nonfiction books I've ever read, it keeps you hanging with cliff-hangers that envelop its dramatic characters, occasionally brave and often cowardly people hired and fired by artificial intelligence company OpenAI. One of the few journalists ever invited to interview OpenAI staff, Hao's expertise flies off every page, and her dozens of pages of notes and citations back it up."
"On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. All books featured here have been independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through links on our site, Scientific American may earn an affiliate commission."
Ten nonfiction books of 2025 were chosen for blending narrative drive with rigorous scholarship and for delivering intriguing stories, robust reporting and distinct voices. Empire of AI by Karen Hao offers a gripping exposé of OpenAI, with cliff-hanger pacing, portraits of employees hired and fired, extensive notes and citations, and revelations about ivory-tower decision-making, monied meetings and global, underrecognized workers whose mental health suffers to make AI safer. The list spans environment and history as well, including titles such as Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane, and aims to add outstanding new works to readers' top shelves.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]