A recent Pew Research study found that 23% of American adults did not read any books in the past year, signaling both a challenge and an opportunity for readers hungry for real-world insights. While The Literary Compass has long championed fiction’s imaginative reach, our coverage of groundbreaking nonfiction has yet to receive the spotlight it deserves.
This article fills that gap with a handpicked selection of the top nonfiction titles arriving in 2025—books that blend meticulous reporting, personal memoir, business strategy, technological deep dives, and incisive social commentary. Whether you’re a policy wonk, a history buff, a career climber, or simply someone seeking new perspectives, you’ll find titles here that inform and inspire.
Our choices hinge on four key criteria:
- Critical acclaim and award buzz (including the National Book Awards’ expanded eligibility)
- Timeliness and relevance to urgent societal conversations
- Diversity of authors, backgrounds, and viewpoints
- Actionable insights or transformative ideas that stay with you
Now, let’s count down the twelve nonfiction releases poised to elevate your reading list this year—and uncover the next book you won’t be able to put down.
1. Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Evicted, turns his attention to the broader machinery that sustains economic hardship in Poverty, by America. Rather than viewing poverty as an unfortunate side effect, Desmond makes a compelling case that it is an outcome of deliberate policy decisions and social neglect. Through a blend of rigorous data analysis and intimate personal stories, he exposes the systemic drivers of inequality and offers a blueprint for meaningful change.
Synopsis & Main Themes
Desmond’s core argument is that poverty is a policy choice—not an unavoidable condition. He pairs nationwide statistics with detailed portraits of families and individuals caught on the economic margins. Major themes include:
- Housing insecurity as both cause and consequence of persistent poverty
- Wage stagnation and the unraveling of social safety nets
- Racial and gender disparities in access to opportunity
- Corporate and government decisions that perpetuate hardship
Author Credentials & Research
A professor of sociology at Princeton University, Desmond earned the Pulitzer Prize for his landmark ethnographic study Evicted. In Poverty, by America, he again immerses himself in communities across five states—conducting hundreds of interviews and combining those narratives with large‐scale statistical research. Standout case studies include a single mother navigating predatory rent increases in Milwaukee and rural residents fighting the closure of a manufacturing plant.
Who Should Read This & Why
This book is indispensable for activists, policy makers, community organizers, and students of social justice. By laying bare the policy choices that shape economic outcomes, Desmond equips readers with the knowledge and urgency needed to advocate for affordable housing, living wages, and systemic reform. Anyone committed to understanding—and dismantling—the roots of inequality will find both the evidence and inspiration they need.
Publication Details & Buying Options
- Publisher: Crown
- Release Date: June 3, 2025
- ISBN: 978-0-553-41912-9
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Looking for more standout nonfiction? Explore our nonfiction category or this guide to recommended nonfiction. Additionally, browse our books section for curated reading lists across genres.
2. Empire of AI by Karen Hao
Veteran technology reporter Karen Hao pulls back the curtain on the breakneck race to build the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence in Empire of AI. Drawing on her deep connections at OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and beyond, Hao weaves together the technical breakthroughs, corporate rivalries, and geopolitical pressures driving today’s AI frenzy. Her narrative balances insider anecdotes with clear-eyed analysis, making a complex subject accessible to readers who want both the human stories and the big-picture stakes.
Book Overview
Hao traces AI’s arc from experimental labs in Silicon Valley to its current status as a global arms race. Early chapters explore foundational breakthroughs—deep learning, reinforcement learning, large-language models—and the personalities who championed them, from Sam Altman’s bold gambles at OpenAI to DeepMind’s clandestine research on game-playing algorithms. As the story unfolds, she exposes how venture capital, national security concerns, and public enthusiasm collide, setting the stage for rapid deployment of systems that can (and at times do) outpace our ability to control them.
Key Insights & Takeaways
- AI’s cross-industry impact is more than hype: Hao shows how machine vision is transforming healthcare diagnostics, detecting diabetic retinopathy with accuracy rivaling specialists, while text-generation models are upending customer service and content creation.
- Not every experiment succeeds: she dissects high-profile failures—like an autonomous vehicle project that misread a fallen tree as a harmless street sign—and explores why even top teams stumble when AI meets the real world.
- Ethical quandaries abound: the book highlights AI bias in hiring tools and the environmental cost of training massive models, making clear that progress comes with trade-offs that demand public scrutiny.
Relevance for Today’s Readers
Understanding AI isn’t just for engineers. Professionals across marketing, finance, education, and government need to grasp the technology’s potential and pitfalls. Students and policymakers can use Hao’s questions—How do we balance innovation with safety? Who governs AI’s gatekeepers?—as springboards for debates in classrooms, boardrooms, and community forums. By demystifying technical jargon and spotlighting real-world examples, Empire of AI equips readers to participate in conversations that will shape how these tools are built, regulated, and used.
Release Info & Preorder
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Release Date: July 15, 2025
- Hardcover Price: $32.00
- ISBN: 978-0-593-65750-8
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3. The Wealth Ladder by Nick Maggiulli
Nick Maggiulli, the mind behind the popular finance blog Of Dollars and Data and author of Just Keep Buying, lays out a stage-based approach to wealth building in The Wealth Ladder. Instead of one-size-fits-all advice, Maggiulli’s ladder breaks financial progress into clear, sequential “rungs,” guiding readers through the right actions at each life stage. It’s a practical blueprint for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting personal finance tips.
Through real-world case studies and data-driven insights, Maggiulli shows how applying the right strategy at the right time can multiply your efforts. Whether you’re just starting your career, balancing growing expenses, or eyeing early retirement, The Wealth Ladder meets you where you are and helps you climb to where you want to be.
Framework Breakdown
Maggiulli divides wealth accumulation into five actionable rungs:
- Foundation
Establish an emergency fund equal to three to six months of expenses and eliminate high-interest debt. - Growth
Automate contributions to retirement accounts and low-cost index funds, targeting consistent percentage-based savings. - Optimization
Maximize tax-advantaged vehicles (Roth IRAs, HSAs) and review your asset allocation to balance risk and return. - Expansion
Diversify into real estate, side businesses, or alternative investments once core portfolios are on autopilot. - Preservation
Implement estate planning, insurance strategies, and charitable giving to protect and distribute wealth.
Mini Case Study
Sarah, a 32-year-old graphic designer, built a $15,000 emergency fund (Foundation), automated 15% of her income into a target-date fund (Growth), and then funneled extra savings into a Health Savings Account (Optimization). After three years, she purchased a rental property (Expansion) and is now finalizing her will and setting up a donor-advised fund (Preservation).
Why It Matters in 2025
Economic volatility—rising inflation, unpredictable interest rates, and market swings—has many readers questioning traditional advice. Maggiulli’s stage-based ladder cuts through the noise by focusing on when to act, not just what to do. His methodology emphasizes adaptability: as your career, family, and financial goals evolve, so do the priorities of each rung. That makes The Wealth Ladder particularly relevant for navigating the headwinds of 2025.
Practical Takeaways
- Monthly Expense Audit: Track spending across essentials, growth, and leisure categories. Identify one non-essential area to trim and redirect into savings.
- Automated Transfers: Set up recurring contributions to your 401(k), Roth IRA, and a high-yield savings account on each payday.
- Low-Cost Investing: Favor broad-market index funds with expense ratios below 0.10%. Review your asset mix annually to stay aligned with your risk tolerance.
- Micro-Step Challenge: Pick one small habit—like reviewing subscription services—and build momentum toward larger financial goals.
Publication & Purchase Details
- Publisher: Portfolio
- Release Date: June 10, 2025
- ISBN: 978-0-593-85403-7
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4. Original Sin by Jake Tapper & Alex Thompson
Seasoned journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson join forces in Original Sin, a revealing investigation into President Biden’s reelection bid. Drawing on unprecedented access to campaign insiders, the book uncovers the internal debates, strategic missteps, and personal dynamics that have shaped—and in some cases, shaken—one of the most consequential political efforts in recent memory.
Tapper, chief Washington correspondent for CNN, and Thompson, a lead reporter at Politico, chronicle how concerns over the president’s age and performance seeped into private conversations. Through a combination of leaked memos, off-the-record interviews, and behind-the-scenes observations, they lay bare the tensions between loyalty and pragmatism that define modern campaigns.
Synopsis
Original Sin opens on a candid campaign meeting in early 2024, where staffers grapple with polling data showing a widening gap among key demographics. From there, Tapper and Thompson guide readers through a series of pivotal moments:
- The debate over whether to disclose medical records and how to manage public perception
- Frictions between long-time aides and newer strategists pushing for bolder messaging
- Unseen pressure on state directors wrestling with conflicting directives
Key revelations include internal memos questioning the timing of major policy announcements and firsthand accounts of advisers privately discussing contingency plans for alternative candidates.
Journalism & Style
Tapper and Thompson blend investigative rigor with narrative flair. They weave together:
- Firsthand interviews with over fifty campaign staffers, many speaking under promise of anonymity
- Analysis of internal documents—schedules, emails, draft speeches—that expose real-time decision-making
- Vivid scene-setting, from late-night strategy sessions to high-stakes fundraisers, that reads more like a political thriller than a standard report
The pacing moves briskly, alternating between frontline anecdotes and broader context, ensuring that readers never lose sight of how individual choices reverberate across the campaign.
Intended Audience & Impact
Political junkies, media analysts, and civics students will find Original Sin an indispensable guide to the mechanics of a modern White House campaign. By illuminating the trade-offs and human factors behind electoral strategy, Tapper and Thompson deepen our understanding of how public narratives are crafted—and sometimes unraveled—before they reach voters. This book doesn’t just recount events; it prompts reflection on accountability, leadership, and the very nature of democratic competition.
Release Information
- Publisher: Random House
- Expected Release Date: August 5, 2025
- Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
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Looking for more essential political reads? Explore our best books to read for curated recommendations.
5. We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach & Amanda Doyle
When three powerhouse voices come together, the result is bound to resonate. Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle—bestselling authors, award-winning podcasters, and advocates for personal growth—pool their insight in We Can Do Hard Things. This guidebook blends memoir, practical advice, and community wisdom to help readers navigate life’s toughest moments with self-compassion and collective support.
Book Structure & Themes
We Can Do Hard Things unfolds in three interwoven sections, each reflecting one author’s lens:
- Vulnerability
Glennon Doyle opens with stories of surrendering control and finding strength in authenticity. - Boundary Setting
Abby Wambach shares candid reflections on the power of saying “no”—both on soccer fields and in personal relationships. - Joyful Living
Amanda Doyle offers rituals for cultivating delight, even amid uncertainty.
This tri-voice approach ensures a dynamic rhythm: personal anecdotes give way to research-backed insights and end with community-driven rituals. Readers feel both uplifted and equipped to practice what they learn.
Sample Exercises & Prompts
Interactivity is at the heart of this book. Two standout exercises include:
-
Morning Intention Ritual
Before your feet hit the floor, spend five minutes listing three seed-thoughts—words or phrases you want to carry through your day (e.g., “kindness,” “courage,” “breath”). This anchors your mindset and primes you for challenges. -
Boundary Mapping
Draw a circle and label the center with your name. Around the perimeter, note areas where you feel drained—work, social media, family demands. Use this map to decide which boundaries to fortify this week, then script a brief “I need to…” statement you’ll actually use in conversation.
Each chapter wraps up with reflection prompts—questions like “Where did I play small?” or “What ritual heals my heart?”—that encourage journaling or group discussion.
Reader Benefits
This book is tailor-made for anyone facing a major life pivot—be it burnout, grief, or a long-overdue period of self-rediscovery. Use it:
- Solo, as a weekly workbook for self-study
- In book-club style, enlivening conversations with friends or therapy groups
- As a digital-detox companion, pairing prompts with offline gatherings
You’ll walk away with a toolkit of rituals, language for setting healthy limits, and the reminder that resilience isn’t a solo sport.
Availability
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Release Date: May 20, 2025
- Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
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6. King of Kings by Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson, acclaimed for Lawrence in Arabia, delivers an expansive narrative in King of Kings, tracing the tumultuous aftermath of World War I in the Middle East. He unpacks the diplomatic missteps and military campaigns that dismantled the Ottoman Empire and set the stage for modern religious nationalism. Anderson’s vivid storytelling and deep expertise illuminate the human dramas and geopolitical forces that continue to echo through the region.
Historical Scope
In this sweeping history, Anderson journeys from the sands of Arabia to the banks of the Tigris between 1918 and 1925. He explores:
- The secret pacts of the Sykes-Picot and Balfour Declarations
- Ibn Saud’s rise and his clashes with the Hashemite dynasty
- The imposition of British and French mandates in Iraq, Syria and Palestine
- Early uprisings and the forging of new nation-states
By weaving these events together, King of Kings reveals how arbitrary borders and competing promises fueled the conflicts that followed.
Research & Prose Style
Anderson’s account rests on exhaustive archival research—diplomatic correspondence, personal memoirs, period newspapers—supplemented by on-site reporting in key Middle Eastern locales. His prose strikes a balance between scholarly precision and cinematic flair, bringing to life desert campaigns, backroom negotiations, and the personal ambitions of soldiers, spies, and local leaders.
Contemporary Relevance
A century on, the legacies of post-WWI diplomacy still shape Middle Eastern politics. King of Kings provides essential context for understanding today’s border disputes, sectarian tensions, and state-sponsored religious movements. It’s a must-read for students, policy makers, and civic groups seeking to grasp how early 20th-century decisions continue to influence regional stability.
Publication Details
- Publisher: Doubleday
- Release Date: September 1, 2025
- ISBN: 978-0-385-54807-6
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7. Big Asian Energy by John Wang
John Wang draws on years of coaching Asian American leaders at Fortune 500 firms to deliver Big Asian Energy, a playbook for bringing cultural confidence into boardrooms, networking events, and every career milestone. Far from a generic leadership manual, Wang’s framework blends research-backed strategies with real-life success stories, showing how embracing one’s heritage can become a professional superpower rather than a hurdle. Readers will come away with both a deeper understanding of systemic challenges faced by Asian Americans and actionable tools to boost visibility and influence.
Core Principles
Wang distills his approach into three interconnected pillars:
- Self-Advocacy
Learn to articulate your contributions and negotiate for promotions without second-guessing your worth. - Storytelling
Craft a personal narrative that highlights cultural strengths—adaptability, resilience, community orientation—and positions you as a unique asset. - Community Building
Leverage affinity groups and mentorship circles to deepen relationships, share resources, and multiply collective impact.
For example, one case study follows Mei, a marketing director who used a “cultural pitch” to reframe her team’s work on Asian market expansion—turning a peripheral project into a high-profile initiative that doubled her department’s budget.
Cultural & Professional Impact
While aimed squarely at Asian American professionals, Wang’s lessons resonate far beyond any single demographic. He addresses common barriers—implicit bias in promotion cycles, networking norms that favor extroverted styles, and the “model minority” myth—and reframes them as opportunities for leadership innovation. By sharing how firms that embrace diverse voices outperform peers on creativity and retention, Big Asian Energy makes a compelling case that cultural authenticity is not just good for individuals, but for organizations seeking fresh perspectives and sustainable growth.
Exercises for Confidence
Wang peppers the text with hands-on activities designed to cement each principle:
- Personal Narrative Workshop
Draft a three-minute “heritage highlight” speech that ties an element of your upbringing to a business achievement. Practice it with a peer group and gather feedback on clarity and impact. - Ally Network Map
Draw your current network—mentors, sponsors, peers—and identify two new connections in leadership roles you’ll approach this quarter. Plan a simple ask (e.g., coffee chat) to build rapport and mutual learning.
Each chapter ends with reflection prompts like “When have I let humility hold me back?” or “Which cultural strength do I underutilize?” that readers can journal or discuss in team workshops.
Release & Ordering
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Release Date: September 15, 2025
- Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
- ISBN: 978-0-593-47543-0
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8. Anatomy of a Con Artist by Johnathan Walton
Johnathan Walton has endured what many fear most: he was conned. But instead of retreating, he turned the tables—becoming a victim-turned-vigilante and the host of the hit podcast Queen of the Con. In Anatomy of a Con Artist, Walton distills the lessons from his own ordeal into a clear, 14-point red-flag framework designed to help you spot manipulators before they strike. Each chapter pairs a warning sign with a gripping true story, showing just how insidious—and often charming—professional liars can be.
Red-Flag Framework
Walton’s fourteen red flags are a powerful toolkit for anyone wary of deception. Key examples include:
- Over-the-Top Praise: When compliments feel excessive or premature, they may signal grooming for greater influence.
- Urgent Requests: “Act now or you’ll miss out” is a classic tactic to short-circuit your judgment.
- Vague Credentials: Con artists often mention prestigious-sounding affiliations without specifics.
- Shifting Stories: One day the narrative changes—contradictions are rarely innocent.
- Excessive Emotional Appeals: Drawing on guilt, shame, or sympathy to bend your will.
- Isolation Tactics: Encouraging you to cut off friends or family who might doubt the scheme.
- Promises of Secrecy: “Don’t tell anyone” is a red flag in both romantic and financial cons.
- Pressure to Loan Money: A common twist in online romances and business scams alike.
- Scripted Scripts: Rehearsed anecdotes designed to earn your trust.
- Feigned Authority: References to insider access or hidden expertise without verifiable proof.
- Flattery and Mirroring: Mirroring your interests and background to create a false sense of affinity.
- Financial Intuition: Claiming to predict markets or opportunity windows no one else knows about.
- Quick Intimacy: Invitations to share personal details early on can foreshadow betrayal.
- Exit Strategy: A sudden request to part ways or vanish when scrutiny increases.
For instance, Walton recounts how “Heather,” a con artist posing as a venture capitalist, showered him with selective praise—calling him “brilliant” and “destined for fame”—only to press for a “small” bridge loan that turned into a six-figure debt.
Storytelling & Tone
Walton’s narrative reads like a suspense novel. His firsthand accounts carry genuine vulnerability, and he peppers the text with moments of dark humor that cut through the tension. By detailing both his own mistakes and those of others, he avoids a preachy tone—inviting readers to learn alongside him. Chapters are structured as bite-sized case studies, each closing with a concise summary of the warning sign and questions to journal or discuss with friends.
Reader Takeaways
Whether you’re navigating online dating, fielding unsolicited investment pitches, or simply shopping for a used car, this book arms you with practical habits:
- Pause Before You Share: Give yourself a cooling-off period before sending money or personal data.
- Verify Claims Independently: Look up credentials, check corporate records, or call known references.
- Listen for Gaps: Pay attention when someone dodges direct questions or changes the subject.
- Keep Confidants in the Loop: Talk through major decisions with friends or family before moving forward.
This guide is essential for digital natives, professional networkers, and anyone who wants to protect their emotional and financial well-being.
Publication & Where to Buy
- Publisher: Gallery Books
- Release Date: July 29, 2025
- Hardcover Price: $28.00
- ISBN: 978-1-9821-7067-2
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9. Black Moses by Caleb Gayle
Caleb Gayle’s Black Moses brings to light the astonishing story of Edward McCabe, a Black leader whose vision of a self-governed state for formerly enslaved people was nearly realized in the turbulent Reconstruction era. Gayle unearths how McCabe—born into slavery, then rising to become a lawyer, banker, and territorial secretary of state—sought to carve out political power for Black Americans against overwhelming odds. This riveting narrative confronts the racial prejudice, political backroom deals, and economic greed that ultimately derailed McCabe’s bold experiment.
Historical Narrative
Gayle traces McCabe’s journey from his early years in Ohio through his tenure in the newly formed Oklahoma Territory. As one of the few Black officeholders in federal service, McCabe championed the creation of a majority-Black county—complete with its own schools and courts—and lobbied Congress to admit a “Black state” alongside Kansas. Yet every promise of autonomy collided with white settlers’ land grabs, legislators’ broken commitments, and an increasingly hostile press corps. Through letters, contemporary newspaper reports, and McCabe’s own speeches, Gayle reconstructs these pivotal struggles, capturing both the grand ambitions and the small betrayals that defined the era.
Research Depth & Style
Drawing on extensive archival work—federal records, personal correspondence, periodicals from Topeka to Washington—Gayle’s prose feels both scholarly and cinematic. He introduces us to McCabe’s allies, like Carrie A. Goodwin, who organized women’s clubs to support land ownership, and his opponents, who branded him a “dangerous agitator.” Chapter by chapter, the narrative weaves character portraits with broader social forces, maintaining brisk pacing even as it navigates dense legislative debates. The result is a history that reads with the immediacy of a novel, anchored by meticulous sourcing.
Modern Significance
Though McCabe’s dream of a Black-governed state faded by 1907, Black Moses resonates today amid renewed discussions on racial justice and political representation. Gayle draws parallels between McCabe’s efforts and contemporary movements advocating for voting rights, economic equity, and community self-determination. Discussion questions—such as “What lessons can modern activists draw from McCabe’s coalition-building?” or “How do economic interests still intersect with racial politics?”—make this an ideal selection for book clubs, university seminars, or civic forums.
Publication Details
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Release Date: Summer 2025
- ISBN: 978-0593543795
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10. 2024 by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager & Isaac Arnsdorf
When Washington Post insiders Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf turn their attention to the 2024 presidential race, the result is a front‐row seat to history in motion. In 2024, the trio combines their deep contacts on both the Trump and Biden campaigns with meticulous reporting to trace each pivotal moment—from early fundraising scrambles to the showdown debates that reshaped public opinion. Their narrative reads like a political thriller, yet it’s grounded in the nuts and bolts of modern campaigning.
Campaign Chronology
The authors structure the book as a day‐by‐day ledger of the 2024 cycle, highlighting:
- Early strategy sessions where candidates tested messaging on swing‐state voters
- Fundraising benchmarks, revealing how digital small‐donations upended traditional high‐dollar dinners
- Debate prep and behind‐the‐scenes feuds over question formats, moderator selection, and fact‐checking protocols
- Polling swings following unexpected news events—Supreme Court rulings, international crises, even viral social‐media moments
By weaving these milestones together, 2024 shows how each decision, tweet, or ad buy rippled through the race in real time.
Analytical Approach
Dawsey, Pager, and Arnsdorf don’t just recount events—they slice through the noise with data‐driven context. Drawing on internal memos, overnight focus groups, and proprietary polling, they:
- Benchmark campaign performance against historical precedents
- Highlight how microtargeting on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat shifted youth turnout
- Compare fundraising trajectories with past midterms and presidential bids
- Uncover the human side of campaign life, from exhausted field staff sleeping in cars to frantic calls between strategists
This balanced blend of quantitative insight and qualitative color makes 2024 a model for campaign analysis.
Who Should Read This & Why
Political junkies will savor the granular detail; civics students can use it as a case study in modern election mechanics. Campaign operatives—whether veteran consultants or grassroots volunteers—will find lessons on voter outreach, crisis management, and narrative control. For anyone curious how strategy rooms and stump speeches translate into votes, 2024 offers a front‐line perspective that’s both informative and, at times, startling.
Release Info & Purchase Details
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Expected Release Date: June 2025
- Hardcover Price: $32.00
- ISBN: 978-0593832530
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11. The Carpool Detectives by Chuck Hogan
True-crime and thriller enthusiasts will be drawn to Chuck Hogan’s latest, The Carpool Detectives, where the protagonists aren’t hardened investigators but a tight-knit group of suburban moms. Motivated by worry for their children and frustration at a stalled investigation, these everyday sleuths turn their weekly carpool into a makeshift detective agency—proof that community power can outpace official channels.
Story Overview
In 2008, two local teens were found murdered, and the case soon went cold. Years later, a handful of parents—each with a different skillset, from journalism to data analytics—decide to take matters into their own hands. They comb through court records, re-interview witnesses whose recollections had dimmed, and leverage social media to surface new leads. Their pivotal breakthrough comes when digital forensics unearths encrypted messages pointing to a suspect previously dismissed by detectives, reigniting the official inquiry.
Narrative & Pacing
Hogan keeps readers on the edge of their seats by alternating between the mothers’ methodical research sessions and high-stakes moments in the field. Personal backstories—balancing school carpools, demanding day jobs, and family life—add depth to each chapter, while cliffhangers at the end of sections propel the narrative forward. His lean, cinematic writing style makes every discovery feel urgent, turning archival documents and interview transcripts into page-turning drama.
Audience & Engagement
The Carpool Detectives resonates with anyone who devours true-crime podcasts or enjoys theory-crafting at book club discussions. Armchair sleuths will compare their own hypotheses with the group’s tactics, while community organizers might draw inspiration from these grassroots investigators. Pair this read with investigative journalism podcasts or documentaries—its real-world approach offers a case study in how ordinary citizens can hold systems accountable.
Publication Details
- Publisher: Penguin Random House
- Release Date: October 20, 2025
- Hardcover Price: $32.00
- ISBN: 978-0-593-73322-6
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12. Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher has built her career on fearless interviews and incisive analysis—and in Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, she brings both to bear on Silicon Valley’s rise. Part memoir, part industry exposé, the book charts her evolution from a closeted reporter breaking into a male-dominated field to a globe-trotting critic sparring with the CEOs of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Twitter. It’s a candid account of personal growth entwined with the cultural forces that transformed social platforms into engines of influence—and, all too often, division.
Dual Narrative Structure
Swisher alternates between two compelling threads: her own coming-of-age story as a gay woman and trailblazing journalist, and the high-stakes drama unfolding in tech boardrooms. You’ll move from intimate recollections—ruminated over hospital visits and kitchen-table writing sessions—to gripping scenes of pitch meetings and product launches. This back-and-forth keeps the pace brisk, revealing how Swisher’s personal convictions shaped her reporting, and vice versa.
Social & Industry Critique
At its heart, Burn Book is a trenchant critique of the “outrage economy.” Swisher unpacks:
- How engagement-driven algorithms prioritize sensational content over substance
- The myth of platform neutrality, masking systemic biases against marginalized voices
- The human toll of harassment, data breaches, and digital addiction
By weaving in stories of engineers who sounded internal alarms and users who paid the price, Swisher shows that these aren’t abstract debates but urgent questions about ethics, accountability, and power.
Relevance for 2025 Readers
As AI-generated content floods our feeds and privacy scandals multiply, understanding the forces that shaped today’s tech is essential. Burn Book equips readers—be they marketers, policymakers, educators, or everyday social-media users—with the context and critical tools to engage these platforms thoughtfully. In a year when digital literacy matters more than ever, Swisher’s blend of memoir and manifesto is both timely and necessary.
Further Reading & Link
- Compare notes with NPR’s Summer Nonfiction Picks, featuring staff favorites across genres.
- Preorder Burn Book in hardcover, ebook, or audiobook from your go-to retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org.
Next Steps for Elevating Your Nonfiction Reading in 2025
You’ve just surveyed a dozen compelling new nonfiction releases—ranging from deep dives into economic policy and political power plays to intimate memoirs and cutting-edge technology exposés. This eclectic mix highlights how authors are reshaping conversations around inequality, leadership, resilience, and the forces that shape our world.
Now it’s your turn. Pick three titles that spark your curiosity—whether it’s Matthew Desmond’s call to action in Poverty, by America, Kara Swisher’s insider look at digital culture in Burn Book, or the DIY detective work of The Carpool Detectives. Dive in, take notes, and let what you learn inform your next dinner-table conversation, book club meeting, or personal project.
We’d love to hear which ones you choose—and which new nonfiction gems you’ve already discovered this year. Share your top picks and reading experiences in the comments below to help fellow readers expand their lists.
For more in-depth reviews, author spotlights, and personalized suggestions, return to The Literary Compass. Don’t forget to explore our AI-powered recommender to find the next nonfiction book perfectly suited to your interests. Happy reading!
