The best business books of 2023
Including books by Walter Isaacson, Yanis Varoufakis and Jane Martinson
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Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Simon & Schuster £28; The Week Bookshop £21.99
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Both the subject, and the eminent biographer, make this book a "must read", said Gillian Tett in the FT, albeit a long and dense one. Musk's tortured childhood, tangled love life and X/Twitter battles grab attention. But his attitude to AI and his dealings with Ukraine's government are also fascinating. It makes you wonder: "are innovators always half-mad"?
Walter Isaacson's 'Elon Musk' can 'scarcely contain its subject'
What Went Wrong With Brexit: And What Can We Do About It by Peter Foster
Canongate £14.99; The Week Bookshop £11.99
A book that lays bare some of the more absurd claims by Brexiters and outlines how we might make the best of it. "Foster's politics might not be mine, but he's a fine writer," said Tim Stanley in The Daily Telegraph.
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You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty – A Story of Survival, Secrecy and Succession by Jane Martinson
Penguin Business £25; The Week Bookshop £19.99
A timely account of the Barclay brothers' business empire, which includes the Telegraph, said Andrew Hill in the FT. "The best effort yet at getting under the skin" of the "reclusive media twins".
Beijing Rules: China's Quest for Global Influence by Bethany Allen
John Murray/Harper £25; The Week Bookshop £19.99
"An eye-opening chronicle" of how China's Communist Party wields its power abroad, said Martin Wolf in the FT. The last word on "authoritarian economic statecraft".
Vines in a Cold Climate: The People behind the English Wine Revolution by Henry Jeffreys
A brilliant chronicle of the English wine industry's "exciting and, at times, eccentric emergence", said Alice Lascelles in the FT. The book brims with colourful characters.
Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway
WH Allen £22; The Week Bookshop £17.99
The Times economist takes six key materials – sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium – to explore the underpinnings of the modern world, said The CEO Magazine. Conway escorts us from "the dark depths of the deepest mine in Europe" to Taiwan's "silicon chip factories".
Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism by Yanis Varoufakis
Bodley Head £22; The Week Bookshop £17.99
The former Greek finance minister is "a remarkable combination of analyst and dreamer", said Martin Wolf in the FT. Here, he examines the impact of the great tech monopolies, and proposes reforms. "As always, Varoufakis makes his readers think."
Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson
Cornerstone Press £22; The Week Bookshop £17.99
A guidebook on how to take "intelligent risks" and bounce back from setbacks, said The CEO Magazine. Edmondson draws on multifarious examples to show that "the shame and blame culture is due for an overhaul".
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Trump vs. BBC: what’s at stake?The Explainer The US president has filed a $10 billion lawsuit over the editing of Panorama documentary, with the broadcaster vowing to defend itself
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Animal Farm: has Andy Serkis made a pig’s ear of Orwell?Talking Point Animated adaptation of classic dystopian novella is light on political allegory and heavy on lowbrow gags
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What new cryptocurrency regulations mean for investorsThe Explainer The Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority aim to make the UK a more attractive and safer place for crypto assets
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Frank Gehry: the architect who made buildings flow like waterFeature The revered building master died at the age of 96
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6 lovely barn homesFeature Featuring a New Jersey homestead on 63 acres and California property with a silo watchtower
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Film reviews: ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Is This Thing On?’Feature A born grifter chases his table tennis dreams and a dad turns to stand-up to fight off heartbreak
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Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
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One great cookbook: Natasha Pickowicz’s ‘More Than Cake’the week recommends The power of pastry brought to inspired life
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It Was Just an Accident: a ‘striking’ attack on the Iranian regimeThe Week Recommends Jafar Panahi’s furious Palme d’Or-winning revenge thriller was made in secret
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Singin’ in the Rain: fun Christmas show is ‘pure bottled sunshine’The Week Recommends Raz Shaw’s take on the classic musical is ‘gloriously cheering’
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Holbein: ‘a superb and groundbreaking biography’The Week Recommends Elizabeth Goldring’s ‘definitive account’ brings the German artist ‘vividly to life’