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
