The Most Anticipated Nonfiction of Fall 2025

From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, “the definitive history of the 2008 banking crisis” (The Atlantic Monthly), comes a spellbinding narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history. With the depth of a classic history and the drama of a thriller, 1929 unravels the greed, blind optimism, and human folly that led to an era-defining collapse — one with ripple effects that still shape our society today.

A profound and unparalleled literary voice, Zadie Smith returns with a resounding collection of essays. In this eagerly awaited new collection, Smith brings her unique skills as an essayist to bear on a range of subjects that have captured her attention in recent years. Throughout this thrilling collection, Smith shows us once again her unrivalled ability to think through critically and humanely some of the most urgent preoccupations and tendencies of our troubled times.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and beloved former Today co-host Hoda Kotb comes her most personal, ambitious book yet — a guide to dealing with change and upheaval, even (and perhaps especially) when it’s unexpected.

Beautifully illustrated with more than 200 photographs, including never-before-seen images, The Look is a stunning journey through Michelle Obama’s style evolution, in her own words for the first time. In The Look, Michelle Obama explores the joy and purpose of fashion and beauty and how — when wielded with grace and care — they can uplift and affirm the values one holds most dear. Confidence, she concludes, cannot be put on. But when you’re wearing something that’s intentional or beloved, clothing can make you feel like the best version of yourself.

In this much-anticipated final installment in the Stoic Virtues series, Ryan Holiday makes the case for the virtue on which all other virtues depend. Wisdom is Holiday’s guiding principle, and Wisdom Takes Work is the culmination of all his work. Drawing on fascinating stories of the ancient and modern figures alike, Holiday shows how to cultivate wisdom through reading, self-education, and experience. An absence of curiosity and prudence is a catastrophe for all of us, argues Holiday. This incredibly timely book both diagnoses the greatest problem of our current moment and offers solutions for the way forward. Wisdom is work — but it’s worth it.

The Waterbearers is a dazzling and transformative work of American storytelling that reimagines not just how we think of Black women, but how we think of ourselves — as individuals, parents, communities, and a country.

Longtime NBC News reporter Char Adams writes a deeply compelling and rigorously reported history of Black political movements told through the lens of Black-owned bookstores, which have been centers for organizing from abolition to the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter. Full of vibrant characters and written with cinematic flair, Black-Owned is an enlightening story of community, resistance, and joy.

From New York Times bestselling author, Emmy-winning actor, and charismatically carnivorous woodworker Nick Offerman, an illustrated woodworking guide with projects for the whole family.

From one of the definitive journalists of this era — acclaimed historian, Pulitzer finalist, staff writer at the New Yorker, and dean of Columbia Journalism School — comes a kaleidoscopic, real-time portrait of our last turbulent decade. Through a stunning melange of narrative journalism, criticism, and penetrating profiles, Cobb captures the crises, characters, movements, and art of an era — and helps readers understand what might be coming next.

From Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis, a shocking investigation of unparalleled depth into the subversion of the Justice Department over the last decade, culminating in President Donald Trump upending this cornerstone of democracy and threatening America’s rule of law as we have long known it.

Attacks on schools and teachers have long been a hallmark of fascist regimes: Throughout history, as many dictators rose to power they began banning books and controlling curriculum. Fascists fear teachers because teachers foster an educated and empowered population that can see past propaganda and scare tactics. Fascists fear teachers because they teach young people how to think for themselves. A rousing defense of public education as the cornerstone of American democracy, by the woman attacked by the far right as “the most dangerous person in the world.”

This is a story of unprecedented political plot twists, showing what happened behind the scenes as political fortunes fell and rose again, and as a new team coalesced around President Trump with the goal of creating an entirely new world order. From President Biden’s shocking withdrawal and Vice President Harris’s historic run, to the multiple assassination attempts on President Trump, his election, and the changes he has brought to every corner of the country, this book reveals in surprising new detail how we got here, and what we can expect from American politics in the years to come.

Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action, putting our current crisis in historical context, and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance’s message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context and the political history — and why the rule of the law still matters. At the same time, she empowers the reader to do something, both as individuals and collectively. Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to combat the second Trump administration and save American democracy.

A stunning narrative from one of the most powerful young writers at work today, and the director of the Oscar®-nominated documentary, Sugarcane, We Survived the Night interweaves oral history with hard-hitting journalism and a deeply personal father-son journey into a searing portrait of Indigenous survival, love, and resurgence.

From the founder of Wikipedia, a sweeping reflection on the global crisis of credibility and knowledge, revealing “the rules of trust” that transformed Wikipedia from a scrappy experiment into a global utility used by billions of people — and how those rules can help others build things that last.

One spark of love can change everything. The social media sensation known for his viral “random acts of kindness” videos invites you to discover a bigger, more meaningful existence, one act of generosity at a time.

The renowned psychic medium and New York Times bestselling author of Signs explains how our loved ones who have passed continue to communicate with us, steering us to discover our purpose and create lives of meaning, connection, and love.

Shot Ready is a powerful distillation of Stephen Curry’s transformative philosophy of success — centered on preparation, constant improvement, creativity, connection, mindfulness, and joy — delivered in his incomparable voice and style. Stunningly designed and illustrated with more than 100 gorgeous photographs, Shot Ready is an intimate narrative and a practical blueprint for any reader who wants to unlock their own potential.

A stunning behind-the-scenes look into Alicia Keys’s hit Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, featuring never-before-seen photographs, exclusive interviews, and insights from Keys herself.

Redefine wealth. Reclaim your life. This interactive companion to the New York Times bestselling book The 5 Types of Wealth will help you establish your priorities and achieve true wealth for a happier, more fulfilled life.

Tim Wu explores how today’s dominant platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality — urging us to recognize their influence and reclaim control to create a balanced economy that works for all.

In her most personal book yet, the iconic star of the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and #1 bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up opens up about the cultural traditions that have inspired her philosophy — and can make our lives better today.

From the award-winning historian and filmmakers of The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Roosevelts, and others: A richly illustrated, human-centered history of America’s founding struggle — expanding on the landmark, six-part PBS series to be aired in November 2025.

The definitive oral history of the 1967 novel for teens, turned blockbuster film turned Tony-winning musical, and commemorated with a newly opened museum. This groundbreaking story has managed to stay gold for nearly sixty years.

A comprehensive, compassionate guide for navigating end-of-life financial decisions for an aging parent or other loved one — from an award-winning journalist who is also a Certified Financial Planner. Watching your parents age can stir up a mix of emotions — nostalgia, concern, and often, a sense of uncertainty about the future. And assuming care for your aging loved ones can be an overwhelming sea of endless checklists, textbook explanations, and mind-numbing paperwork. With this definitive guide to elder financial planning, you can navigate these processes with confidence, saving time, energy, and peace of mind for what really matters.

David Bach’s timeless, no-budget, no-discipline, no-nonsense system to help people finish rich — automatically. Completely revised, expanded, and updated for today’s times with bonus chapters, The Automatic Millionaire gives you a totally simple, easy, realistic system based on timeless principals that have proven to work now for decades.

We are all on a rock floating through space. You probably have some questions about this. We do too. In this reflective and adventurous book, Andy Min and Thomas Sullivan (the optimistic guys behind the We Love You channel) challenge you to reconsider the way you see the world and what it means to live on Earth. Through poems, essays, narrative scenes, and more, the guys will lead you on a journey to deepen your relationship with nature — scratch that … your relationship with yourself — scratch that … your relationship with everything.

From the bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and Same as Ever, lessons on harnessing the power of money to live a happier life. This book isn’t about getting rich. It’s about getting the most out of what you already have — and learning to want what’s worth wanting.