Summer is an ideal season to settle in with an engaging book — and MIT authors have offered a wealth of material in the previous year. The following selections showcase some of the publications released in the last 12 months by MIT faculty and staff. Alongside links for each book from its publisher, the MIT Libraries has assembled a valuable list of the titles available in its collections.
Seeking more literary contributions from the MIT community? Delight in our reading lists from 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Happy reading!
Science
“So Very Small: How Humans Discovered the Microcosmos, Defeated Germs — and May Still Lose the War Against Infectious Disease” (Penguin Random House, 2025)
By Thomas Levenson, professor of science communication
For numerous centuries, individuals in the West, convinced of their divinely granted authority over nature, regarded humanity too highly and microbes too insignificantly. It was not until the nineteenth century that scientists established the link. Life-saving techniques to manage infections and curb outbreaks soon emerged. Following that was the antibiotic revolution in the 1930s. However, less than a century later, the promise of that breakthrough is diminishing due to rampant overuse. Are we once again letting our self-assurance get the upper hand?
“The Miraculous from the Material: Understanding the Wonders of Nature” (Penguin Random House, 2024)
By Alan Lightman, professor of humanities practice
Nature showcases astonishing phenomena. In our awe of these occurrences, we feel a connection to the universe. For Lightman, equally impressive is that everything we observe — from soap bubbles to scarlet ibises, to shooting stars — consists of the same elemental material and adheres to identical principles and laws. “The Miraculous from the Material” pairs 36 vibrant photographs capturing nature’s most breathtaking moments with personal essays, delving into the captivating science underpinning the natural world.
Technology and society
“The Analytics Edge in Healthcare” (Dynamic Ideas, 2025)
By Dimitris Bertsimas, vice provost for MIT Open Learning, Boeing Leaders for Global Operations Professor of Management, associate dean for business analytics, and professor of operations research; Agni Orfanoudaki, and Holly Wiberg
Analytics is revolutionizing health care processes, enabling medical practitioners and administrators to utilize data and models for improved decision-making. This book offers a straightforward introduction to this vibrant field. The first section lays the technical groundwork of health care analytics, covering concepts like machine learning and optimization. The subsequent portion presents integrated case studies spanning various clinical specialties and problem scenarios through descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.
“Longevity Hubs: Regional Innovation for Global Aging” (MIT Press, 2024)
Edited by Joseph F. Coughlin, senior research scientist and MIT AgeLab director, and Luke Yoquinto, MIT AgeLab research associate
Global populations are aging, and the economic impact of older adults is set to significantly rise in the coming decades. This volume unites entrepreneurs, researchers, designers, public servants, and others to tackle the diverse challenges posed by aging societies and to investigate the potential for certain regions to emerge as longevity hubs: centers of heightened economic and innovative activity for older demographics.
“Data, Systems, and Society: Harnessing AI for Societal Good” (Cambridge University Press, 2025)
By Munther Dahleh, the William A. Coolidge Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS)
Utilizing the capabilities of data and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to address intricate societal issues necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration across academia, industry, and government. In this book, Dahleh, founder of the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS), provides a framework for researchers, professionals, and institutions to devise solutions for high-value societal problems through innovative, holistic, data-driven strategies.
“SuperShifts: Transforming How We Live, Learn, and Work in the Age of Intelligence” (Wiley, 2025)
By Ja-Naé Duane, academic research fellow at the MIT Center for Information Systems Research, and Steve Fisher
This book illustrates how we are concluding one 200-year chapter while beginning another. In this new era of intelligence, Duane and Fisher emphasize the forces of change currently impacting individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. They propose a transformative model that incorporates a holistic perspective on enacting significant change through three lenses: personal leadership, organizational dynamics, and societal impact.
“Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World’s Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation” (MIT Press, 2024)
By Greg Epstein, humanist chaplain
Modern technology has surpassed religion as the predominant influence on everyday life and community in the 21st century. In “Tech Agnostic,” Epstein investigates what it implies to be a discerning thinker concerning this novel ideology. He urges readers to reaffirm their shared humanity beyond the enticing allure of “tech,” positing tech agnosticism — not adoration — as a guiding principle for living.
“Output: An Anthology of Computer-Generated Text, 1953–2023” (MIT Press, 2024)
Edited by Nick Montfort, professor of digital media, and Lillian-Yvonne Bertram
The conversation surrounding computer-generated text has recently intensified yet often ignores the extensive history of endeavors in this domain — text generation, as it turns out, was not a recent phenomenon emerging from Silicon Valley.
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This compilation seeks to rectify that neglect by assembling seventy years of English-language writings created by generative systems and applications, long prior to ChatGPT and Claude.
Education, labor, and creativity
“Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You” (Routledge, 2025)
Authored by Lotte Bailyn, the T Wilson Professor of Management, Emerita and professor emerita of work and organizational studies; Teresa M. Amabile; Marcy Crary; Douglas T. Hall; and Kathy E. Kram
Whether they belong to the 73 million baby boomers attaining their optimal retirement benefit age or zoomers entering the workforce, eventually most working Americans will retire. The ideal strategy for retirement is individualized, yet this volume provides insights and stories from over 120 individuals, along with in-depth interviews with 14 “stars” regarding their retirement transitions.
“Accelerating Innovation: Competitive Advantage through Ecosystem Engagement” (MIT Press, 2025)
By Phil Budden, senior lecturer of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management; and Fiona Murray, associate dean for innovation, the William Porter Professor of Entrepreneurship, and professor of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management
Executives in large organizations encounter relentless pressure to innovate, yet few have the internal capabilities required to stay abreast of swift advancements in science and technology. However, by looking beyond their organizations, they often face a perplexing array of external assets. In “Accelerating Innovation,” executives will discover a pragmatic guide to this external landscape. Budden and Murray offer guidance for traversing innovation ecosystems — those hotspots globally where researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors converge.
“Writing, Thinking, and the Brain: How Neuroscience Can Improve Writing Instruction” (Teachers College Press, 2024)
By Joel R. S. Nazareno, learning science and educational outreach specialist at MIT Open Learning; Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa; and Christopher Rappleye
Writing represents the peak of cognitive activity, as demonstrated by neuroimaging that reveals how numerous neural networks engage simultaneously during writing compared to any other mental function. This publication assists educators in understanding how the brain acquires writing skills by revealing 15 stages of cognition that form the basis of the writing process, alongside targeted methods to activate them in order to enhance each individual’s writing capabilities.
“Entrepreneurship: Choice and Strategy” (Norton Economics, 2024)
By Erin L. Scott, senior lecturer of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management; Scott Stern, the David Sarnoff Professor of Management of Technology and professor of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management; and Joshua Gans
Building on over two decades of scholarly research encompassing thousands of enterprises and MIT students, Scott, Stern, and Gans have formulated a systematic framework for startup leadership. They elaborate on four crucial decisions entrepreneurs must navigate, alongside “four strategic methods to identify and frame opportunities.”
“Failure by Design: The California Energy Crisis and the Limits of Market Planning” (University of Chicago, 2024)
By Georg Rilinger, the Fred Kayne Career Development Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management
The California electricity crisis in 2000 led to billions in losses and resulted in bankruptcy for one of the state’s largest utilities. Two decades later, the lingering question is: Why did the newly established electricity markets falter? In “Failure by Design,” Rilinger investigates practical challenges in market design to offer a new interpretation of the crisis — one that transcends prior analyses that predominantly blamed inept politicians or corrupt energy traders.
Culture, humanities, and social sciences
“Chasing the Pearl-Manuscript: Speculation, Shapes, Delight” (University of Chicago Press, 2025)
By Arthur Bahr, professor of literature
In this work, Bahr examines the four poems and 12 illustrations of the “Pearl-Manuscript,” the sole surviving medieval version of two of the most renowned Middle English poems: “Pearl” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” He analyzes how the tangible manuscript enriches our comprehension of the poetry, leveraging recent technological advancements that reveal it to be a more intricate assemblage of material, visual, and textual artistry than previously appreciated. By relating the manuscript’s creation to the intricate language of the text, Bahr proposes new interpretations of the potency of poetry.
“Taxation and Resentment: Race, Party, and Class in American Tax Attitudes” (Princeton University Press, 2025)
By Andrea Campbell, the Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science
While most Americans desire the wealthy to contribute more to government funding, they show a preference for regressive rather than progressive taxation. What accounts for this discrepancy in policy preferences? In this book, Campbell elucidates how convoluted tax legislation muddles public understanding of who pays and who benefits, resulting in tax inclinations that do not align with principles, interests, or even party affiliations. Rather, racial dynamics and racism significantly influence perceptions, with tax skepticism among Americans of various backgrounds aiding the affluent and anti-tax advocates in undermining progressivity.
“Uprooted: How post-WWII Population Transfers Remade Europe” (Cambridge University Press, 2024)
By Volha Charnysh, the Ford Career Development Associate Professor of Political Science
Annually, millions are displaced from their homes due to warfare, repression, natural calamities, and climate change. In “Uprooted,” Charnysh offers a new viewpoint on the impacts of mass displacement, contending that accommodating the uprooted populace can strengthen receiving nations and benefit local economies. With insightful analysis and compelling evidence, this volume challenges prevailing assumptions about the repercussions of forced displacement and cultural diversity while proposing an innovative framework linking warfare to state-building.
“Crime, Insecurity, and Community Policing: Experiments on Building Trust” (Cambridge University Press, 2024)
By Fotini Christia, the Ford International Professor of the Social Sciences; Graeme Blair; and Jeremy M. Weinstein
How can societies curtail crime without intensifying adversarial relations between law enforcement and the community? Through field experiments across diverse political settings, this publication unveils the results of a significant research endeavor investigating the effectiveness of community policing. The researchers examine whether, and under what circumstances, this influential strategy for addressing crime and insecurity proves successful.
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acquisition, this composition signifies a novel paradigm in the examination of police reform.
“Letterlocking: The Hidden History of the Letter” (MIT Press, 2025)
By Jana Dambrogio, the Thomas F. Peterson Conservator at MIT Libraries, and Daniel Starza Smith
Prior to the creation of the gummed envelope in the 1830s, how did individuals safeguard their private correspondence? The solution is letterlocking — a clever technique of securing a letter through a mixture of folds, tucks, slits, or adhesives such as sealing wax, thereby transforming it into its own envelope. In this volume, Dambrogio and Starza Smith, specialists who have advanced the field for the past decade, narrate the captivating history of letterlocking within epistolary traditions, utilizing authentic historical instances from across the globe.
“Long-Term Care around the World” (University of Chicago Press, 2025)
Edited by Jonathan Gruber, the Ford Professor of Economics and chair of the Department of Economics, and Kathleen McGarry
As formal long-term care grows increasingly costly for the elderly in numerous nations, public systems and unpaid caregivers are progressively shouldering the responsibility of assisting the world’s elder populace. “Long-Term Care around the World” offers a comparative study of long-term care in ten affluent countries, assessing the societal costs of both formal and informal caregiving — a crucial insight, given that informal unpaid support is estimated to constitute one-third of all long-term care expenditures.
“Empty Vessel: The Global Economy in One Barge” (Penguin Random House, 2025)
By Ian Kumekawa, educator of history
What do a barrack for British soldiers during the Falklands War, a floating prison near the Bronx, and temporary lodgings for VW factory employees in Germany share in common? The Balder Scapa: a solitary barge that fulfilled all three functions. Through this singular vessel, Kumekawa illustrates various trends: globalization, the impermanence of economic activities, and the ambiguous realm of transactions many refer to as “the offshore,” the loosely regulated domain of economic engagement that promotes short-term endeavors.
“The Price of Our Values: The Economic Limits of Moral Life” (University of Chicago Press, 2025)
By David Thesmar, the Franco Modigliani Professor of Financial Economics and professor of finance, and Augustin Landier
Two economists explore the relationship between our aspiration to do good, the personal costs associated with goodness, and the threshold at which individuals forsake goodness due to its expenses. Supported by findings from two surveys, they discover that responses to modern moral quandaries are economic, and frequently quite foreseeable. Our values may steer us, yet we are equally compelled to contemplate economic implications to make decisions.
“Spheres of Injustice: The Ethical Promise of Minority Presence” (MIT Press, 2025)
By Bruno Perreau, the Cynthia L. Reed Professor of French Studies
How can the rights of minorities be safeguarded within democracies? This matter has taken center stage in the U.S. following the Supreme Court’s annulment of affirmative action. In Europe as well, minority politics face challenges. The very concept of “minority” is under scrutiny, while the idea of a “protected class” may foster competition among minorities. In “Spheres of Injustice,” Perreau illustrates how we can make the battle against discrimination advantageous for everyone.
“Attention, Shoppers! American Retail Capitalism and the Origins of the Amazon Economy” (Princeton University Press, 2025)
By Kathleen Thelen, the Ford Professor of Political Science
This manuscript chronicles the progression of U.S. retail from the late 19th century to the present, revealing the roots of a contentious balance where large low-cost retailers prevail and vast numbers of low-income families now depend on them for survival. Thelen unveils how major discount retailers have adeptly capitalized on a uniquely lenient regulatory environment to create a consumer’s utopia founded on inexpensive labor.
“Routledge Handbook of Space Policy” (Routledge, 2024)
Chapter by Danielle R. Wood, associate professor in the program in media arts and sciences and associate professor in aeronautics and astronautics
In her section, “The Expanding Sphere of Human Accountability for Sustainability on Earth and in Space,” Wood proposes a comprehensive definition of sustainability and investigates how this definition can be applied as humanity intensifies its endeavors in space. Expanding upon the tradition of consensus-building concerning sustainable development through United Nations efforts, Wood contends that sustainability for human actions in space necessitates contemplation of three forms of accountability: economic, social, and environmental.
“Victorian Parlour Games: A Modern Host’s Guide to Classic Fun for Everyone” (Chronicle Books, 2024)
By Ned Wolfe, marketing and communications assistant at MIT Libraries
“Victorian Parlour Games” is an elegantly crafted and compact hardcover collection filled with the timeless, often whimsical, games enjoyed in the late 19th century. The Victorians cherished amusement and played countless party games. This endlessly delightful compilation houses some of the very finest for your reference and enjoyment.
Arts, architecture, planning, and design
“Against Reason: Tony Smith, Sculpture, and Other Modernisms” (MIT Press, 2024)
Chapter by Judith Barry, professor in the Art, Culture, and Technology Program, with Kelli Anderson
This anthology of essays uncovers the depth and complexity of American modernist Tony Smith’s sculpture, contextualizing his diverse practice in conversation with contemporary voices. Barry’s chapter, “New Piece: Elective Geometries,” elucidates the transformation of Smith’s sculpture into a flipbook form and centerpiece “pop-up.”
“Steina” (MIT Press, 2025)
Edited by Natalie Bell, curator at the MIT List Visual Arts Center
Accompanying the related exhibition at the MIT List Visual Arts Center and Buffalo AKG Art Museum, “Steina” revitalizes the recognition of Steina (b. 1940, Iceland), tracing her career from early partnered works with Woody Vasulka to her solo explorations of optics and a liberated, non-anthropocentric perspective.
“Jewish Theatrical Resources: A Guide for Theaters Producing Jewish Work” (Alliance for Jewish Theater, 2025)
Chapter by Marissa Friedman, marketing and communications manager in the Art, Culture, and Technology Program; Jenna Clark Embry; Robin Goldberg; Gabrielle Hoyt; Stephanie Kane; Alix Rosenfeld; and Marissa Shadburn
Produced by the Alliance for Jewish Theatre, this guide was developed to assist non-Jewish theaters in authentically producing Jewish plays with cultural awareness and sensitivity. Friedman contributes a chapter on dramaturgy, delving into the essential role of a dramaturg…
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is to assist a playwright and production team in expressing their creative vision, while establishing an ideal model for the dramaturgy of a Jewish play, featuring both a theatrical dramaturg and a Jewish dramaturg.
“Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts” (MIT Press, 2025)
By Samuel Jay Keyser, the Peter de Florez emeritus professor of linguistics
Leonard Bernstein, in his renowned Norton Lectures, praised repetition, asserting that it endowed poetry with musical characteristics and that music theorists’ disregard for it came at their own risk. “Play It Again, Sam” acknowledges Bernstein’s insights. In this volume, Keyser investigates the reasons behind our enjoyment of poetry, music, and visual art, highlighting how repetition is crucial to our pleasure.
“The Moving Image: A User’s Manual” (MIT Press, 2025)
By Peter B. Kaufman, associate director of development at MIT Open Learning
Video is currently the most widely used medium for information. Two-thirds of global internet traffic is attributed to video content. Americans tend to acquire their news and information more frequently through screens and speakers than any other format. “The Moving Image” serves as the inaugural authoritative narrative detailing our journey to this point, accompanied by the first comprehensive manual aimed at helping writers, educators, and publishers optimize their use of video.
“Beyond Ruins: Reimagining Modernism” (ArchiTangle, 2024)
Edited by Raafat Majzoub SM ’17, visiting lecturer at the Art, Culture, and Technology Program; and Nicolas Fayad
This publication examines the revitalization of modern architecture in the Global South as a means for self-determination and community enhancement. Focusing on the Oscar Niemeyer Guest House in Tripoli, Lebanon, Majzoub and Fayad explore heritage as both a political and material endeavor. Through case studies, visual essays, and dialogues with architects, artists, and theorists, the book confronts issues of preservation, deficiencies in archiving, and the necessity for innovative architectural practices.
“The Equitably Resilient City: Solidarities and Struggles in the Face of Climate Crisis” (MIT Press, 2024)
By Lawrence J. Vale, the Ford Professor of Urban Design and Planning and associate dean of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning; and Zachary B. Lamb
Frequently, the areas most susceptible to climate change are inhabited by individuals with the least economic and political power. Although some officials are beginning to take steps toward mitigating climate risks, many initial adaptation strategies have exacerbated existing inequalities. In this work, Vale and Lamb inquire how cities can adjust to climate change and other hazards while also advocating for the welfare of underprivileged residents.
Novel and biography
“The Novice of Thanatos: An Epic Dark Fantasy of Horror, Death, and Necromancy” (Satirrell Publishing, 2025)
By Scott Austin Tirrell, director of administration and finance at the Art, Culture, and Technology Program
A fantasy narrative that follows 11-year-old Mishal, a talented yet troubled child welcomed into the mysterious Order of Thanatos. Set in the dark and enchanting realm of Lucardia, the tale unfolds as a first-person memoir documenting Mishal’s journey as a novice psychopomp — one who leads the deceased across the Threshold into the beyond. As Mishal navigates the Order’s strict hierarchy, academic demands, and spiritual enigmas, he begins to unveil disquieting realities about death, the soul, and the concealed motives of those wielding power. Tormented by an unshakeable spirit and encumbered by a forbidden relic, Mishal must discern whom to trust and what to hold as true as his powers expand — and as the distinction between duty and condemnation starts to fade.
For young readers
“I Love You Bigger Than Everything That’s Big” (Stillwater River Publications, 2024)
By Lindsay Bartholomew, exhibit content and experience developer at MIT Museum, and illustrated by Sequoia Bostick
How immense can your love be for someone? Higher than your reach? Longer than a river? Bigger than the sky? The true answer — bigger than everything that’s vast!
“A Century for Caroline” (Denene Millner Books / Simon and Schuster, 2025)
By Kaija Langley, director of development at MIT Libraries, and illustrated by TeMika Grooms
A great-grandmother shares the wisdom accrued over a century with an eager little girl in this heartfelt picture book honoring family and the essence of living a long, meaningful, and beautiful life.
“All the Rocks We Love” (Penguin Random House, 2024)
By Taylor Perron, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, and Lisa Varchol Perron, and illustrated by David Scheirer
It is well-known that children adore rocks: They find them in jacket pockets, on windowsills, in cars, in hiding spots, and, most commonly, clutched in tiny hands. This book celebrates the charm and versatility of rocks, paired with the presentation of genuine types of rocks and their playful attributes.
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