FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2025 — the longlist | FT #shorts

Key Concepts

• FT Shroers Business Book Award
• Long List (16 books)
• Short List
• Themes: Geopolitics, Genius, Growth
• Specific Books: Breakneck (Dan Wang), Abundance (Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson), Consumed (Sabira Chowdery), The Genius Myth (Helen Lewis)
• Key Figures: Sam Altman (OpenAI), Jensen Huang (Nvidia)
• Criteria for Winning: Compelling and enjoyable, stands the test of time

FT Shroers Business Book Award Long List Reveal

The FT Shroers Business Book Award has announced its long list, comprising 16 books. While no specific book is being tipped for the top spot, Andrew highlights three overarching themes that dominate the selection: Geopolitics, Genius, and Growth.

Geopolitics

This category features several books examining the United States' relationship with the rest of the world, with a particular focus on China. "Breakneck" by Dan Wang is mentioned as one of the books falling under this theme.

Genius

The "Genius" theme explores individuals and the concept of genius itself. Books in this section delve into the lives of prominent figures like Sam Altman of OpenAI and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Notably, Helen Lewis's book, "The Genius Myth," is included, which challenges and debunks the traditional notion of genius.

Growth

The theme of "Growth" addresses critical questions surrounding economic expansion and its implications. "Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson is cited as an example of a book exploring how to achieve growth. Conversely, "Consumed" by Sabira Chowdery is highlighted for its examination of the consequences of growth, specifically focusing on pollution, particularly plastic pollution.

Selection Process and Criteria

The selection process involves judges identifying the most compelling and enjoyable business book of the year. An additional, albeit difficult, criterion is whether the book will "stand the test of time." The short list will be decided by the judges on Wednesday, September 24th. The speaker notes that predicting the eventual winner is challenging and that their own predictions are often incorrect.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The FT Shroers Business Book Award long list for this year reflects a strong focus on contemporary global issues, with geopolitics, the nature of genius, and the dynamics of economic growth being the dominant themes. The selection process prioritizes both immediate appeal and lasting relevance, with the judges facing the complex task of identifying the most impactful business book from a diverse range of titles.