Cory Doctorow’s The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI has retained the No. 1 position on the Canadian nonfiction bestseller list for a seventh consecutive week, according to cbc.ca, citing data compiled by Bookmanager from more than 260 independent bookshops across the country.
The book’s continued dominance comes amid intensifying public debate over artificial intelligence’s economic impact.
Published by MCD, the work introduces the concept of the “reverse centaur,” a worker compelled to operate at an unsustainable pace because of technological demands.
Doctorow, who uses AI in his daily work, warns that the global economy could face severe disruption if the technology fails to deliver on the substantial investment surrounding it. The book traces the development of AI and examines how society might harness it for public benefit rather than corporate extraction.
The bestseller rankings, covering the period from August 1 to August 8, were compiled by Bookmanager using weekly sales data from independent stores nationwide.
In Canadian fiction, Shari Lapena’s thriller Getting Away with Murder held the top position for a second week. Published by Doubleday Canada, the novel centres on a couple whose apparently ideal life unravels when a bad investment leaves them contemplating murder after a wealthy family member dies.
In children’s literature, Cassandra Calin’s graphic novel First Crush remained at the top of the chart for a twelfth consecutive week. Published by Graphix, the middle-grade work follows a young immigrant navigating adolescence, friendship and romance in Montreal.
•Images by cbc.com