May 16, 2026 | View in Browser

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Why Capitalism Persists

How Tensions and Resistance Can Drive Reinvention

By Jeremy Adelman

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The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies

This is one of the best accounts yet of the slow breakdown of democratic rule in countries around the world.

Reviewed by G. John Ikenberry

Africa in the World’s Time

This erudite and panoramic collection of essays clarifies what’s at stake in how Africa’s story is told and who gets to tell it.

Reviewed by Zachariah Mampilly

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Books on How Culture Influences AI and AI’s Role in Creative Writing

Artificiality Book Award Winner Artificial Humanities considers how humanities can guide a more thoughtful future. Upcoming book First Encounters with AI gathers writers like Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, and Allison Parrish to explore AI’s role in creative writing. Both invite readers to consider what happens when language is no longer used only by humans.

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Cover Images of “First Encounters with AI” and “Artificial Humanities”

No Borders: Journeys Across Islands and Continents

Wang, a preeminent historian, tells the story of how his identity shaped his view of the world.

Reviewed by Pratap Bhanu Mehta

The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires

Pinkham creates an enthralling portrait of Russia through its forests, artfully combining environmental and cultural history, folklore, literature, and much more.