May 29th 2026

The Economist Today Our best journalism, handpicked each day

Annie Crabill Senior digital editor

From history to fiction, science to finance, our journalists are always scouring the shelves for new good books. This week we round up some of our favourites from the first half of 2026 to share with you. Elon Musk has created some incredible companies. None of that constructive energy is to be found in his politics, our Lexington columnist argues this week. Rather than revolutionary entrepreneurship, Mr Musk has chosen the path of division and cynicism—making politics, among other things, “just plain dumber”. Have you been following the news? End the week by testing your knowledge in our short weekly quiz.

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Editor’s picks A selection of must-read articles

Stack attack The best books of 2026 so far Whether you are tight on time or have loads of it, here are our ideas for summer reading

→ Six books about how conflicts end—or don’t

Lexington Why can’t Elon Musk do for politics what he’s done for industry? So much for advancing civilisation

The world’s wars The dangerous delusion of modern warfare Our defence editor assesses how conflict has changed in recent years

→ Smart tech is making war a dumber choice

An uncomfortable chair Kevin Warsh’s troublesome inflation in-tray The new Fed chair will struggle to appease his colleagues, the market and Donald Trump all at once

Southern inhospitality Too much time with colleagues can sour social interaction  A study of an Antarctic crew finds that eventually time together breeds conflict

More of our coverage ▸ What to watch this weekend. We found faults in a much-touted film about art and in a drama series. Instead, we recommend you try a classic comedy, a striking documentary or an elegant religious drama. ▸ The dangers of oil spills in Hormuz. A spill west of Kharg island, Iran’s main crude-export terminal, is now visible from space. It and other recent oil leaks have prompted fears that the war could lead to an environmental disaster. ▸ Japan’s beloved Indian restaurants are under threat. While Japan has little immigration, Indian eateries are everywhere. But they have become a casualty of the country’s crackdown on immigration.

Tracking Donald Trump Our latest numbers The American president’s net approval rating Find out

Podcast Checks and Balance California’s chaotic race for governor