Zombies: A Cultural History by Roger Luckhurst
From videogames such as Resident Evil to films like World War Z, the walking dead are enjoying a new lease of life. This history tracks zombies, from 19th century Caribbean writing to B-movies to their presence in modern depictions of the apocalypse. (Reaktion Books, August 15)
The Silo Effect by Gillian Tett
Every organisation has its own structures, usually as an attempt to boost efficiency. But Tett, using examples from Facebook to Sony, shows how these “silos” can lead to tunnel vision, tribalism and disastrous mistakes. She also outlines how this structural fog can be cleared. (Yale, August 15)
Paper Tiger: Inside the Real China by Xu Zhiyuan
The author has been described by artist Ai Weiwei as the “most important Chinese intellectual of his generation”. In these essays, he writes on themes such as Beijing’s Silicon Valley to scandals that outsiders have never heard of. (Head of Zeus, August 13)
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F H Batacan
It is not every day a crime novel is set in the Philippines. But this work about a serial killer terrorising Manila’s Quezon City offers a glimpse into a desperately poor neighbourhood. Itfollows two Catholic priests who take up the hunt for the killer. (Soho Crime, August 18)
Boy on the Wire by Alastair Bruce
John left South Africa after a tragedy befell his younger brother. When he makes plans to have his own family in London, his life is disrupted when another brother arrives from South Africa. Peter had forgotten the events of that day but now says his memory is returning. So John returns to his homeland to confront the past. (Clerkenwell Press, August 6)
New American Stories by Ben Marcus
From masters such as Lydia Davis and Don DeLillo to younger stars like Rachel B Glaser and Rebecca Curtis, this is a survey of 10 years of the best American literature. The collection is a literary portrait of the US after 9/11, questioning its role in the world. It Includes an introductory essay by Marcus. (Granta, August 6)
