Books on Donald Trump’s finances and Bill Gates’ influence are in competition with titles about artificial intelligence challenges, demographic change impacts, and ethical business practices for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year.
Other contenders for the title of the “most compelling and enjoyable” business book of 2024 include a memoir from an investment bank trader, an exploration of the evolving concept of corporations, an analysis of Amazon’s dominance, and a narrative on the sustainability vs. resource demand dilemma.
Over 600 entries were reviewed by FT journalists, and a longlist of 16 titles are now in contention for the £30,000 prize, first awarded in 2005. Here are the finalists:
AI AND TECHNOLOGY
Parmy Olson’s Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race that will Change the World, set to be published next month, delves into the competition between prominent figures in the AI industry and the ethical and commercial dilemmas they face.
The Algorithm: How AI Can Hijack Your Career and Steal Your Future explores AI’s impact on the workplace and the potential biases and harms introduced by algorithms.
In The Everything War: Amazon’s Ruthless Quest to Own the World and Remake Corporate Power, Dana Mattioli scrutinizes Amazon’s influence and questions if it has grown too powerful to regulate.
Raj Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff narrate the transformation of US defense procurement in Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War, showcasing the integration of startups in military operations.
The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives by Ernest Scheyder sheds light on the challenges surrounding sustainable mineral mining practices.
ECONOMICS
In Growth: A Reckoning, Daniel Susskind explores the tension between growth and sustainability.
Andrew Scott’s The Longevity Imperative: Building a Better Society for Healthier, Longer Lives discusses managing improved life expectancy.
The Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power, and People by Paul Seabright provides an economic analysis of religions and the relationships they foster.
ORGANISATIONS
John Kay’s The Corporation in the 21st Century: Why (almost) everything we are told about business is wrong examines the evolving nature of corporations in a digital age.
Alison Taylor’s Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World guides leaders on navigating stakeholder demands and ethical challenges.
In Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together, psychologist Michael Morris explores utilizing tribal instincts positively in business and politics.
The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions — and How The World Lost its Mind by Dan Davies sheds light on accountability issues and their societal impact.
Robert Sutton and Huggy Rao present tactics to mitigate organizational friction in The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder.
BIOGRAPHY
The Trading Game: A Confession by Gary Stevenson details the highs and lows of a Citigroup swaps trader.
Billionaire, Nerd, Saviour, King: The Hidden Truth About Bill Gates and His Power to Shape Our World by Anupreeta Das explores Bill Gates’ influence and relationships.
Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered his Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success by Russ Buettner and Susanne Craig investigates Donald Trump’s finances.
Sherry Coutu joins the judging panel for the 2024 edition of the award which will be chaired by FT editor Roula Khalaf, with other distinguished members on the panel.
The winner of the £30,000 prize and shortlisted titles will be announced in December. To learn more about the award, visit www.ft.com/bookaward.
