Halfway through the year, the shelves are unusually full. From confident debut novels to history that speaks to the present, here is what has made the first half of 2026 so rewarding for readers, and how to choose where to begin.
5 min read
Apple has spent two years looking like a straggler while rivals dazzled with chatbots. Yet its reach, its grip on personal data, and the trust of a billion users could still make it the contest's dark horse.
5 min read
Even as its economy matures and its population ages, China puts in hours that the rich world long ago abandoned. The grind has powered its rise, but the same culture of overwork is starting to exact a heavy price.
5 min read
