Newsmax Rising Bestsellers – Week of March 27, 2023

Examine sports from two sides: from the perspective of someone who was considered one of America’s greatest sports legends, and another who captured America’s heart as one of college basketball’s most enthusiastic and loyal fans. More serious considerations include how America fell off its perch as the world’s greatest superpower and how to win the title back, and a fiction offering telling the story of a grieving father convicted of killing his own son who escapes from prison to prove his innocence. And there also is a cautionary tale of AI — or artificial intelligence: where we’re at and where we’re going. “Alexa, can you help us out here?”

“I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique,” by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (Harvard Business Review Press)

Artificial Intelligence is already invading nearly every facet of our lives, helping employers determine who to hire, nudging us to purchase one product over another, and even who we should date. “I Human” is psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic’s 12th book, which he says is “about the behavioral consequences or impact of artificial intelligence, including the dark side of human behavior and what we should do to upgrade ourselves as a species.” He adds, “The book is written at a time that, in my view, could only be described as the AI age. Humans have always relied on technological inventiveness and innovation to shape their cultural and social evolution, and I think there can be very little doubt that the definitive technology of today is artificial intelligence, or AI.” AI will create the greatest societal changes since the industrial revolution, and as it becomes smarter, more powerful, some of the changes it creates will enhance our lives, still others will have the capacity to dehumanize us. We need to be prepared. (Nonfiction)

“I Will Find You,” by Harlan Coben (Grand Central Publishing)

David Burroughs was so wracked with guilt when his son Matthew was murdered in the night just down the hall from where he lay asleep that he barely contributed to his own defense when he charged with his murder. The result was predictable: he was found guilty of murdering the son he was devoted to and sentenced to life in prison. Five years after sentencing he receives a visitor at the maximum security prison where he serving his time. She presents evidence that Matthew wasn’t killed at all and is still alive. That prompts him to risk a daring escape and embark upon a quest to find Matthew and clear his name, with the FBI hot on his trail at every step. (Fiction)

“The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson,” by Jeff Pearlman (Mariner Books)

We can all recall the Nike TV commercials, called “Bo knows,” where fellow athletes proclaim, “Bo knows baseball,” “Bo knows football,” and “Bo knows basketball.” Jeff Pearlman tells what he knows of the sports legend himself — Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson. Jackson’s star shone for nearly a decade, from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, during which he demonstrated to the world that he was America’s undisputed most versatile athlete of all time. He’s the only professional athlete in history to be selected for the all-star games in both the National Football League and Major League Baseball. Video games were designed around him, TV commercials and magazine ads featured him, and he amazed everyone with his speed, strength, and agility. And then, suddenly he was gone. “A legendary tome on a legendary athlete,” wrote Chris Herring, author of “Blood in the Garden” of this New York Times bestseller. (Nonfiction)

“Superpower in Peril: A Battle Plan to Renew America,” by David McCormick (Center Street)

David McCormick, who formerly served as CEO at Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest investment management firms, sees a country in harm’s way, due, in no small part, to the Biden administration’s mismanagement. McCormick said during a recent interview that “I believe the future of the country depends on putting new conservative policies and principles in place. I think we’re at risk of really going in the wrong direction.” But the book isn’t merely a complaint about the direction America is heading. McCormick, who graduated from West Point, fought in the first Gulf War, served as U.S. Treasury undersecretary, and held senior posts on the National Security Council, offers a blueprint to get the country back to its former position of greatness. "Dave McCormick's ‘Superpower in Peril’ is a must-read for anyone trying to understand the most pressing issues of our time,” wrote John Ratcliffe, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence. “Dave correctly asserts the need for American leadership that boldly and smartly confronts an expansionist China, bent on imposing its will and oppressive values on the free world.” (Nonfiction)

“Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years,” by Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, with Seth Davis (Harper Select)

College basketball fans all know the author as simply “Sister Jean,” Loyola Chicago’s most devoted fan who cheered her team to its historic run to college basketball’s Final Four in 2018. The 103-year-old nun takes her newfound celebrity in stride: “Let’s face it, people love little old ladies!” she says.

In this book readers will discover: