Review: The Psychology of Information Security
Leron Zinatullin’s second‑edition book argues that security controls crumble when they ignore the people who must use them. Drawing on organizational psychology, change management and usability research, the text maps risk management fundamentals to practical policy design and behavioral change. Real‑world scenarios, such as ISO 27001 malware‑protection controls, illustrate how misaligned workflows create new risks. The work equips security leaders with frameworks—from COM‑B to nudge theory—to craft people‑centric defenses.
‘As If’ by Isabel Waidner, Reviewed
Isabel Waidner’s latest novel, As If, follows two London‑based actors—Lewis, a grieving widower, and Korine, a struggling family man—who discover they look alike enough to exchange roles. The swap lets each inhabit the other’s professional and domestic pressures, exposing how...
If You Would Save the Planet, Forget The Planet. Think only of the Sensual Properties of One Dear Place
The essay contrasts the historic topophilic tradition of nature writing—celebrating love for a single pond, creek or valley—with today’s alarmist, global‑scale environmental books that rely on statistics and anger. It cites Douglas Brinkley’s comprehensive environmental history, early writers like Gilbert...
Book Review: ‘See You on the Other Side,’ by Jay McInerney
Jay McInerney’s latest novel, See You on the Other Side, caps his nine‑book career and closes the Calloway tetralogy. The story follows Russell Calloway, a seasoned independent publisher, as he navigates a 35th‑anniversary party at Manhattan’s Odeon. Drawing on McInerney’s own life...
2026 Xingyun Awards Finalists
The World Chinese Science Fiction Association announced the finalists for the 17th‑annual Xingyun Awards on March 31, 2026. The shortlist spans eight categories, including Best Novel, Novella, Short Story, Non‑Fiction, Translated Fiction, New Writer, Review, and the Star Bridge Award....
Weekly Bestsellers, 13 April 2026
Alex Aster’s debut novel *Starside* surged to the top of the hardcover fiction charts, landing at #1 on both the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and reaching #21 on the USA Today combined list. The week also...
Storipod Strikes Deal to Distribute Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Books Digitally
Storipod, a mobile‑first microblogging platform for African creators, has partnered with Narrative Landscape Press to digitise Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books and other leading African titles. The deal uses Storipod’s chapter‑by‑chapter micropayment system, lowering upfront costs and keeping content in users’ libraries. The...
Audiobooks, E-Books, Printed Books — a Pew Research Comparison
Pew Research’s 2026 reading‑habits survey shows print books still lead American readers, but their dominance is eroding. Audiobook consumption has risen steadily since 2015, reaching 26 percent of adults in 2025, while e‑book usage holds steady around 31 percent. Over the past...
Beloved Lake District Character Herdy Makes ‘Ewe-Ropean’ Book Debut
Lake District icon Herdy has secured a global publishing deal with Quarto, granting the company world rights to a new line of children’s books. The character will make its international debut at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which runs April...
The Car-Crash Conspiracy
Patrick Radden Keefe, fresh from his book "London Falling," has published a New Yorker investigation titled "The Car‑Crash Conspiracy." The piece exposes a coordinated network of personal‑injury lawyers, private investigators and “slammers” in New Orleans East who deliberately stage tractor‑trailer...
Have We Been Reading Toni Morrison All Wrong?
Harvard professor Namwali Serpell’s new book *On Morrison* offers a systematic reading of Toni Morrison’s entire oeuvre, spanning all eleven novels, criticism, plays and poetry. Serpell argues that the surge of reverence for Morrison after her 2019 death has eclipsed close...
'Speakeasies to Symphonies' And 'Cosmic Music' Chronicle 2 Jazz Greats
Two new biographies shine a light on under‑appreciated jazz innovators. Scott Brown’s *Speakeasies To Symphonies* chronicles pianist‑composer James P. Johnson, the stride pioneer whose influence on Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk was eclipsed by his reluctance to record....
5 Books That Will Help You Navigate Change and Stay Resilient at Work
Amid a shifting labor market, five newly released books offer leaders actionable frameworks for building resilient, future‑ready teams. The titles cover leveraging older workers, redefining success through the Significance Pyramid, and applying the CARE leadership habits of Clarity, Autonomy, Relationships,...
Richard Branson Says Everyone Should Read This Cult-Classic Novel—It Changed How He Made Decisions
Richard Branson credits the 1971 cult novel *The Dice Man* with shaping his early decision‑making as he launched Virgin Records in 1972. He literally rolled dice to choose which artists to sign, using the book’s chance‑based philosophy to break routine...
White Cat at the Gates of Death: Garth Nix’s Sabriel
Garth Nix’s 1995 fantasy novel Sabriel introduces Mogget, a white‑eyed cat bound by a red bell collar to the Abhorsen lineage. Though he appears as a talkative feline, Mogget is a centuries‑old Free Magic entity whose true form is a...
Tucker Carlson Launches Book Imprint With Skyhorse
Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host and podcaster, has launched a new book imprint called Tucker Carlson Books in partnership with Skyhorse Publishing. Skyhorse, which has issued memoirs by Woody Allen and Melania Trump, will handle distribution and editorial support....
Lil Jon to Go Deep and Get Low in New Memoir
Lil Jon’s forthcoming memoir, *I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me*, arrives on Oct. 20 via Simon & Schuster’s Black Privilege imprint. The book opens with his mother’s birth in Alabama and tracks his ascent from Atlanta’s crunk explosion to chart‑topping collaborations with...
What the One-Child Policy Meant for Me
The author, born in 1987 in rural Henan, grew up under China’s one‑child policy amid the country’s rapid economic reforms. His family, once landowners, lost property during Communist land redistribution, limiting both his father’s and mother’s education and career prospects....
Find Out Which Book Was 1st to Be Eliminated on Canada Reads 2026
Canada Reads 2026, hosted by Ali Hassan, kicked off its televised literary duel with five Canadian champions. In the opening debate, Iain Reid’s psychological thriller *Foe*, championed by Josh Dela Cruz, became the first book eliminated. The competition will continue...
The Faith of Beasts by James S. A. Corey
The Faith of Beasts, a 2026 novella by James S. A. Corey, continues the Captive’s War saga by scattering human survivors of Anjiin across labs, survey missions, and space fleets under the Carryx Empire. The story shifts from overt rebellion...
In Memoriam: Tracy Kidder, Author of Pulitzer Prize-Winning “The Soul of a New Machine”
Tracy Kidder, Pulitzer‑winning author of “The Soul of a New Machine,” died on March 24 at age 80. The 1981 bestseller chronicled Data General’s race to build the 32‑bit Eclipse MV/8000, a story Kidder captured by embedding with the engineering team despite having...
7 Innovative Collections From Poets Without MFAs
The article spotlights seven recent poetry collections by writers who never earned an MFA, highlighting how they sidestep academic conventions to produce inventive work. Each book—ranging from Rodrigo Toscano’s philosophically playful verses to Brandon Kilbourne’s science‑infused poems—demonstrates a distinct blend...
Ghost-Eye by Amitav Ghosh Review – a Climate-Crisis Novel Let Down by Its Prose
Amitav Ghosh’s eleventh novel, Ghost‑Eye, attempts a climate‑crisis story framed around reincarnation and a spiritual “hive mind.” While the plot weaves post‑World War II history, activist intrigue, and supernatural elements, reviewers argue the prose is clogged with clichés and stilted dialogue....
Bharatanatyam Dancer-Scholar Indumati Raman’s New Book Turns the Spotlight on Marathi Yakshaganams
Bharatanatyam dancer‑scholar Indumati Raman has released a new volume that shines a light on Marathi Yakshaganams and the cultural legacy of the Thanjavur Maratha rulers (1676‑1855). The work builds on her earlier study of the Bhagavata Mela tradition and is...
When Housewives Get Revenge, and More Mystery News
The latest Book Riot newsletter highlights a wave of new paperback releases, including 66 mystery‑thriller titles, and several adaptation projects. Actress‑author Krysten Ritter is set to star in a series version of her novel *Retreat* alongside producer Steve Yockey. Iantha...
Mediums and Mountain Ascetics
Hiroko Yoda’s new book, Eight Million Ways to Happiness, weaves memoir, history and cultural analysis to introduce readers to Japan’s contemporary spiritual landscape. Drawing on personal grief after her mother’s death, Yoda explores the fluid interplay of kami, Shinto, Buddhism...
How Streaming Platforms Reignited the YA Boom
Streaming giants are reviving the young‑adult (YA) boom by adapting popular books into series and films, with Netflix’s "Heartstopper" leading the charge. The genre’s resurgence follows a shift from traditional cable networks to on‑demand platforms, where short‑season formats align well...
Briefly Noted Book Reviews
The April 13 2026 Briefly Noted roundup spotlights four new titles: Evelyn Iritani’s nonfiction "Safe Passage" reveals the fraught US‑Japan civilian exchanges of World War II, exposing constitutional violations and diplomatic heroism. Benjamin Hale’s true‑crime narrative "Cave Mountain" juxtaposes a 2001 Ozark disappearance...
The Cognitive Athlete: Sustainable Peak Performance for Leaders, Thinkers and Doers, Reviewed
Clint Rahe’s new book, The Cognitive Athlete, translates elite‑sport conditioning into a systematic guide for professionals seeking sustainable mental and emotional peak performance. Drawing on his RAF training background, Rahe outlines four cognitive phases—conditioning, transition, performance and recovery—backed by neuroscience...
Isaac Asimov Reviews George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Calls It “Not Science Fiction, But a Distorted Nostalgia for a Past...
In a 1980 syndicated column, Isaac Asimov critiqued George Orwell’s *Nineteen Eighty‑Four*, arguing the novel is not science fiction but a nostalgic re‑imagining of Stalinist England. He faulted the book’s outdated setting, its focus on gin‑and‑tobacco habits, and its implausible...
Book Review: ‘Go Gentle,’ by Maria Semple
Maria Semple makes a high‑profile return after a ten‑year hiatus with "Go Gentle," a frenetic satire that mixes an art heist, sexual assault, and a coven of Upper West Side divorcées. The novel follows Adora Hazzard, a TV writer turned...
Book Review: ‘The Future Is Peace,’ by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon
Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian activist, and Maoz Inon, an Israeli tour operator, co‑authored The Future Is Peace, a memoir of loss and reconciliation after the Oct 7 attacks. Both lost parents in the violence—Abu Sarah’s brother died in Israeli custody, while Inon’s...
Of Nature, Art and Grace: On Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It
Norman Maclean’s *A River Runs Through It* turns fifty, marking half a century of literary acclaim. The University of Chicago Press took a chance on the Montana‑set manuscript after major New York houses rejected it for its “trees.” The novella’s...
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BOOK REVIEW: Navigating Obsession, Sexuality and Belonging in These Four Must-Read Books
The Daily Maverick review spotlights four 2025‑26 releases that probe obsession, sexuality and belonging. Arundhati Roy’s memoir "Mother Mary Comes to Me" (≈$24) intertwines a fierce mother’s love with generational trauma. Tanya Sweeney’s "Esther Is Now Following You" (≈$21) dramatizes...
Special Editions, Seasonal Podcasts, and the Art of Low-Key Book Marketing with Sara Rosett
Indie author Sara Rosett, a USA Today bestseller, has moved away from traditional retailer‑first launches toward a low‑key, personality‑driven marketing model. She now sells directly through a Shopify store, runs seasonal mystery podcasts, and leverages special editions, Kickstarter campaigns, and...
Walking Shadow by Greg Doran Review – Shakespeare’s Healing Power
Walking Shadow intertwines two memoirs: Antony Sher’s candid diaries written during his final months battling liver cancer, and his partner Greg Doran’s globe‑spanning quest to locate more than 200 surviving copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio. Sher’s entries blend stark honesty with wry...
Do We Do Enough to Address Student-on-Student Bullying in Higher Ed?
HEPI director Nick Hillman reviews Donald Jeffries’s 2020 book *Bullyocracy*, highlighting that bullying remains pervasive in schools and workplaces despite formal policies. The review draws parallels between U.S. case studies and the UK higher‑education sector, noting a gap in focus...
The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice by David Cairns
David Cairns’s fourth Major Findo Gask novel, *The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice*, transports the Edinburgh‑based detectives to 1865 America to investigate a plot against President Lincoln. The story blends a classic whodunnit structure with a meditation on historical truth,...
If They Aren’t Reading, Why Are We Making Fun Of Them?
Aaron Matz’s review of Dan Sperrin’s *State of Ridicule* argues that traditional English political satire has waned since the late eighteenth century, as state affairs grew too complex and mass culture expanded the arena of power. Matz contends that contemporary...
The Book News We Covered This Week
Book Riot’s weekly roundup spotlights several pivotal developments in the literary world. The American Library Association settled its lawsuit, securing Institute of Museum and Library Services funding after the Trump administration withdrew its appeal. After a seven‑year pause, the Indies...
Rethinking the Way We Decide
Debashis Sarkar’s new book *Evolve: 49 Counterintuitive Principles for Business* reframes decision‑making by urging leaders to examine how they view problems rather than simply what actions to take. The work organizes 49 insights into laws, paradoxes, and biases, drawing from...
Rising Above Life’s Storms
Neena Verma, a leadership coach and grief‑and‑growth author, releases *RISE — The Deep Resilience Way*, a three‑part guide that blends personal trauma stories with psychological research. The book introduces her original RISE model—Restorative Adaptation, Imaginal Growth, Supple Strength, Expansive Emergence—to help...
Thanks to an Old-Fashioned Family Novel, This 22-Year-Old Is Already a Literary Star in Europe
Swiss author Nelio Biedermann, 22, has become a literary sensation in Europe after his debut novel Lázár topped the German bestseller list for 29 weeks. The sweeping, old‑fashioned family saga, set in a former aristocratic Hungarian lineage, earned rave reviews...
Want to Talk Comics? Today, that Often Means Going Online
The comics industry has entered a "Blue Age," where digital platforms like Marvel Unlimited, Webtoons and Shonen Jump dominate consumption, and fans congregate in social‑media affinity spaces. Publishers, creators and scholars now use Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok to market, discuss...
Douglas Stuart on the Push and Pull of an Old Life Versus a New One
Douglas Stuart discusses how his new short story "A Private View" and upcoming novel "John of John" examine the friction between a working‑class Scottish upbringing and a privileged New York art world. He reveals that his own childhood poverty, his mother’s...
They Were Once Essential to So Many Writers. Now They’re Quietly Vanishing Across the Internet.
The article chronicles the rapid disappearance of niche online writing communities as AI‑generated content floods platforms, eroding the professional purpose that once kept freelancers connected. Once‑vibrant Slack and Zoom rooms now host complaints about low‑quality AI output, mirroring the 12%...
Book Review: ‘Lázár,’ by Nelio Biedermann
Nelio Biedermann’s novel *Lázár* follows a translucent‑skinned aristocrat born into a fading Habsburg dynasty, tracing the family’s descent from imperial splendor to Soviet expropriation and the 1956 Hungarian revolt. The story blends gothic fable, surreal imagery, and meticulous historical detail,...
A Novelist Was Accused of Using AI. Why the Literary World Is Still Grappling with Guardrails
The Society of Authors has launched a “Human Authored” label so writers can certify that their books contain no AI‑generated text, a move prompted by the recent controversy surrounding horror author Mia Ballard, whose novel was pulled after a New York Times report...
An English Life in Vladimir Putin’s Twilight Zone
Marc Bennetts’s new book, *The Descent*, draws on his 25‑year stay in Russia to portray a nation spiralling into apathy and forced conformity under Vladimir Putin. Through vivid personal episodes—driving a nuclear waste truck, debating state TV loyalists, and witnessing...
Pro-Palestinian Organizers End Giller Prize Boycott, Citing Successful Campaign
Pro-Palestinian group CanLit Responds announced the end of its boycott of the Giller Prize after the literary award severed sponsorship ties with Scotiabank, the Azrieli Foundation, and clarified Indigo’s role as a promotional partner. The prize, which awards $100,000 CAD...