The humour and enthusiasm of Pope Francis’s mould-breaking memoir; the case for stalemate in Taiwan; the many faces of Hinduism; the German royal dynasty who collaborated with the Nazis; music’s value in healing neurological conditions; Hiromi Kawakami’s sci-fi eco-fantasy of a distant future; Alain Mabanckou’s novel of French colonialism in Africa — plus Alex Clark’s pick of audio books and Nilanjana Roy on inauguration day poetry
Stephan Malinowski on why the relationship became a matter of intense public debate
A fun insight in the use of music to help neurological conditions
Manu S Pillai’s deft exploration of four centuries of the faith reveals its underlying complexities
A compelling look at the small island caught between Chinese power and the vagaries of US politics
This mould-breaking memoir leaves questions unanswered, but its humour and enthusiasm are hard to resist
Paul Strathern’s tour of 17th-century thinkers is ambitious — but does it answer his own question about our world’s future?
Peter Frankopan on a book that argues that Sunni Islam has reversed the declining influence of religion on Turkish society
Eva Dou’s authoritative account of the secretive tech company that has become a flashpoint in US-China relations
Michel Krielaars’ illuminating account of the composers and performers who navigated the repressive Soviet system
Two incisive studies of the Chinese president reveal a complex figure who is all too aware of the capricious nature of power
Lewis is the travel writer’s travel writer — and John Hatt’s new collection of his work is perfect
Documentary-maker Julian Evans rekindles a 30-year romance with the country and finds warmth in desperate circumstances
From war and tech, to biographies on Taylor Swift, the Pope and Bill Gates — plus new fiction from Adam Haslett and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a preview of some of the titles to look out for in the coming year
An exploration of the history and legacy of this manipulative genre manages to navigate the silly and the serious
Michael Downes’ Story of the Century dives into the making of the composer’s monumental and controversial work
Simon Bradley steams through 200 years of British train history in this enjoyable survey of railway milestones
The Hitler diaries that he claimed to have unearthed were crude forgeries
The historian unearths a rich trove of artefacts and records to tell the tale of the ordinary lives of Vikings
The moral philosopher’s account of the short brutal life of factory-farmed fowl is more just than a vegan polemic
Alejandro Zambra explores the ups and downs of fatherhood in this collection of essays, poems and stories
Two books, by Will Eaves and Simon Critchley, explore how we can broaden our minds through religion, mysticism or music
Fredric Jameson’s enthralling survey emphasises context and considers the impact of European ideas on the US culture wars of today
A selection of some of the best titles shedding light on the conflict and its place in the wider power struggles across the Middle East
AI could instantly open up a huge range of books in different languages — but fiction really does require that human touch
