← Giving GuideRead · Reflect · Discuss
Book Club
Good stories. Big ideas. Fresh perspectives on AI, money, climate, philosophy, and the kind of life we want to build.
Reviewed October 17, 2026
Start with our October 2026 selection, Empire of AI. Ten books. Different ways to see the world. Our selections mix documented reader demand with topic variety. The first three are editorial starting points, not a sales ranking. Edition details and demand sources checked October 17, 2026.
Book of the Month · October 2026
Empire of AI
Karen Hao
Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI
NYT bestseller, per publisher
Publisher claim; not a current weekly sales measure. Checked 2026-10-17. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
Buy now on Bookshop.org ↗ (opens a new tab)A reported journey through the AI race: the people building it, the resources behind it, and the communities living with its consequences.
Bring these questions to the conversation.
- Which people or places bear costs that the benefits of AI do not automatically repay?
- What evidence would help you evaluate a data center’s effects on energy, water, and the local community?
- Where could giving, volunteering, or public action help—and which responsibilities should remain with companies and government?
Original Book Club discussion prompts, not quotations from the book.
Penguin Books · 2026 paperback
ISBN 9780593657522
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Self-help & attention
How to Be Good at Life
Ben Meer
Simple Systems to Achieve More and Stress Less
New chart entry · 14,451 US print copies in debut week
Week ended 2026-10-10. Circana BookScan US tracked print edition; not all-format or worldwide sales. Checked 2026-10-17. First chart appearance; no earlier comparable observation, so no growth rate is claimed. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
A practical way to turn good intentions into routines that survive busy weeks. Read it with a question in mind: how could helping others become part of an ordinary week?
A question to take with you
What small system would make volunteering or giving easier to keep doing?
Avery · 2026 hardcover
ISBN 9798217046799
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Habits & everyday action
Atomic Habits
James Clear
An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
25M+ copies sold, per publisher
Cumulative publisher-reported worldwide title sales; all editions/languages as stated by publisher, not sales of this ISBN alone. Checked 2026-10-17. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
Small changes, repeated often, can shape a life. This approachable habit book provides a starting point for making generosity more consistent.
A question to take with you
Which existing routine could you pair with one helpful action?
Avery · 2018 hardcover
ISBN 9780735211292
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Money & meaning
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
10M+ copies sold, per publisher
Cumulative publisher-reported worldwide title sales; all editions/languages as stated by publisher, not sales of this ISBN alone. Checked 2026-10-17. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
Short stories about the emotions and experiences behind financial decisions. A useful way to think about enough, freedom, and the place of generosity in a good life.
A question to take with you
What would having enough let you do for other people?
Harriman House · 2020 paperback
ISBN 9780857197689
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Philosophy & self-help
The Courage to Be Disliked
Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
13M+ copies sold worldwide, per publisher
Cumulative publisher-reported worldwide title sales; all editions/languages as stated by publisher, not sales of this ISBN alone. Checked 2026-10-17. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
A dialogue about approval, personal freedom, and how we relate to others. Its provocative ideas offer plenty to agree with, challenge, and discuss.
A question to take with you
How would your choices change if recognition were no longer the reward?
Atria Books · 2024 paperback
ISBN 9781668065969
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Climate & solutions
Not the End of the World
Hannah Ritchie
How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet
Editorial pick · climate solutions · No verified sales total.
Buy now on Bookshop.org ↗ (opens a new tab)A data-led case for tackling environmental problems without giving in to despair. Pair it with the AI books to ask which changes to energy and consumption deserve the most attention.
A question to take with you
Which environmental action would you prioritize after checking its likely effect?
Little, Brown Spark · 2024 hardcover
ISBN 9780316536752
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
AI & the physical world
Atlas of AI
Kate Crawford
Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence
Editorial pick · AI and the planet · No verified sales total.
Buy now on Bookshop.org ↗ (opens a new tab)Follow AI beyond the screen to minerals, labor, and natural resources. This deeper read grounds questions about data centers and their environmental footprint in the physical systems they depend on.
A question to take with you
What should a data-center operator show a community about resource use and local benefits?
Yale University Press · 2022 paperback
ISBN 9780300264630
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Global prosperity
Factfulness
Hans Rosling with Ola Rosling & Anna Rosling Rönnlund
Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World—and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
NYT bestseller, per publisher
Publisher claim; not a current weekly sales measure. Checked 2026-10-17. Read the demand source ↗ (opens a new tab)
Stories and data challenge familiar assumptions about poverty and progress. Read it as a tool for asking better questions, then check current data before deciding where to help.
A question to take with you
Which belief about global poverty would you test before choosing a cause?
Flatiron Books · 2018 hardcover
ISBN 9781250107817
Publisher’s description & edition ↗ (opens a new tab)
Book links open the selected edition on Bookshop.org. Summaries are original editorial descriptions informed by the linked publishers, not personal reviews. Cover artwork belongs to its respective owner. Check format, availability, price, delivery, and seller terms before buying. You can also look for these titles through your library.
