LONDON (AP) 鈥� Books about the perilous state of our world, our food and our relationship with technology are in the running for Britain鈥檚 leading non-fiction book award, the Baillie Gifford Prize.
The 13-book long list announced Wednesday includes Vancouver-based John Vaillant鈥檚 look at the reality of climate change, 鈥淔ire Weather鈥�; Chris van Tulleken鈥檚 dietary warning 鈥淯ltra Processed People鈥�; and 鈥淧ower and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity鈥� by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson.
Best-selling American author David Grann is nominated for the stirring seafaring yarn 鈥淭he Wager,鈥� while physician-writer Siddhartha Mukherjee is in the running with 鈥淭he Song of the Cell.鈥�
British journalist Hannah Barnes is on the list for 鈥淭ime to Think,鈥� which charts the demise of Britain鈥檚 controversial Tavistock gender clinic for children.
Other contenders examine key moments in history, including Tania Branigan鈥檚 look at China鈥檚 Cultural Revolution, 鈥淩ed Memory,鈥� and Katja Hoyer鈥檚 portrait of East Germany, 鈥淏eyond the Wall.鈥�
Six finalists for the 50,000 pound (US$63,000) prize will be announced Oct. 8 and the winner revealed Nov. 16.
Founded in 1999, the prize recognizes English-language books from any country in current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts. It has been credited with bringing an eclectic slate of fact-based books to a wider audience.
Last year鈥檚 winner was Katherine Rundell鈥檚 poet biography 鈥淪uper-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne.鈥�
The Associated Press
