Reviewed in short: New books from Steve Brusatte, Selby Wynn Schwartz, Katy Hessel and Seán Hewitt
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals by Brusatte, After Sappho by Schwartz, The Story of Art Without Men by…
ByBook reviews
Read all the latest book reviews from the New Statesman and discover the best novels, non-fiction, essays and biographies. If you’re looking for something more specific, explore our sections dedicated to politics books and history books.
What is to be done about money?
A new economic history examines how and why money has always been inextricably linked to politics and power.
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From spy to journalist to celebrated poet: the curious life of Basil Bunting
The letters of the Northumbrian modernist reveal an idiosyncratic career and an exacting critical mind.
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Reviewed in short: New books by Guy Standing, Stu Hennigan, Jessica Andrews and Don Paterson
The Blue Commons by Standing, Ghost Signs by Hennigan, Milk Teeth by Andrews and The Arctic by Paterson.
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Rebecca May Johnson’s Small Fires is a radical analysis of cooking
This lively, conversational book insists that following a recipe can be a creative process.
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Mohsin Hamid: “After 9/11, I was treated as a potential terrorist”
The Booker-shortlisted author on race, America and his new novel, The Last White Man.
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The 15 best books for summer
The New Statesman’s selection of essential recent releases.
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Why Gone with the Wind is American culture’s original sin
Sarah Churchwell’s book is a 458-page indictment of the Civil War-era romance. Frankly, should we give a damn?
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Reviewed in short: New books from Geoff Mulgan, CJ Hauser, Matt Rowland Hill and Hans Fallada
Another World Is Possible by Mulgan, The Crane Wife by Hauser, Original Sins by Rowland Hill and Lilly and Her…
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When women were warriors: the forgotten female leaders of the Middle Ages
In Femina, Janina Ramirez tells the stories of women previously written out of history books.
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Who wants to be “normal”?
Often what we consider “normal” is, statistically speaking, abnormal. And wouldn’t most of us prefer to be extraordinary anyway?
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Raymond Briggs’ genius was his understanding of loss
The writer and illustrator has died aged 88. From The Snowman to When the Wind Blows, his work was sensitive…
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Elif Batuman and the art of a real life
In Either/Or, Batuman’s sequel to The Idiot, the protagonist is bewildered by the mundane and fixated on the profound.
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Burning the bastards out
The destruction of country houses in the Irish revolution can be seen as the last stage of a long Land…
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How the super-rich live
Wandering through the haunts favoured by London’s wealthiest residents reveals the gilded side of the capital hiding in plain sight.
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A creed for the anthropocene
Staving off climate change will entail not only a technological revolution but transforming our relations with the natural world.
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The psychoactive plants that change our consciousness
It is fascinating to learn how three plant-derived drugs – caffeine, opium and mescaline – can shape society.
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Nora Ephron and the art of self-narrative
The writer and film-maker poured her life into her journalism and romcoms. What can a new biography tell us that…
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The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: how Putin exploited a wartime myth
There are echoes of the invasion of Ukraine in the epic battle for Stalingrad, but this time Russia is on…
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Nietzsche before the breakdown
In the 1880s, the ailing philosopher prophesied the West’s violent decline – but not even he could prevent it.
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