Big Think’s 5 favorite nonfiction books of 2026 (so far)
We’re only halfway through 2026, and already, the year has been filled to bursting with amazing books on any subject you’d care to learn about. Our book coverage alone has run the gamut, touching on subjects as diverse as mental health, dinosaurs, social connections, chaos theory, love, Greek myths, science fiction, and economies. And then there were the many histories about things like war,…
1) The Score by C. Thi Nguyen
This book delves into the pervasive influence of scoring systems in various aspects of life. Author Nguyen posits that these external standards foster a disconnect between actions and personal values, leading to value capture. While acknowledging the usefulness of metrics, Nguyen warns against becoming overly reliant on them, as they can dictate goals and targets without proper consideration.
The author contrasts the use of scoring in games, which encourages self-efficacy and diversity of meanings, with their use in real-life situations like work and health. Nguyen's argument underscores the importance of maintaining a playful approach towards scoring systems, rather than surrendering to their dictates.
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