This week's Booksletter offers a diverse selection of books covering a wide range of subjects, from 18th-century history to the future of artificial intelligence. The review highlights five books that each provide unique insights into current global issues, from historical exploration to modern political and technological challenges. The first book, The Traveller: The Revolutionary Life of George Forster and His Search for Humanity by Andrea Wulf, delves into the life of George Forster, a young naturalist who joined his father on James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific in 1772. After returning to England, Forster published a detailed account of the journey that is now regarded as more comprehensive than Cook's own records. His work included a hypothesis on how the Pacific islands were settled, a theory later confirmed by genetic research. He also critically analyzed the impact of European contact on indigenous populations and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society at the young age of 22. The second book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, provides an in-depth look at Trump's second presidency, particularly his persistent belief that the 2020 election was stolen from him. The authors, both journalists from the New York Times, describe Trump's attempts to retaliate against judges, lawyers, journalists, and officials who opposed him during his first term. The book offers a behind-the-scenes view of the political and legal battles that defined his time in office. The third book, La bola by Daniel Verdú, investigates the enigmatic life of Mar de Marchis, the reclusive editor of the online cultural magazine Jot Down, who died in 2022 without ever revealing her face. The book reveals that Mar de Marchis was actually María Jesús Marhuenda Irastorza, a divorced mother suffering from agoraphobia who was known by the nickname "la bola," meaning "the black ball" in billiards. She directed the magazine from the shadows for over a decade, attracting prominent contributors despite her isolation. The final two books tackle more futuristic and speculative topics. Biological War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen explores the potential for a biological war, focusing on the manipulation of bacteria in a laboratory. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander in the British military specializing in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense, calls the scenario "perfectly plausible." The book discusses advances in genetic engineering and the challenges faced by health authorities in preparing for deliberate biological attacks. Meanwhile, The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI by Cory Doctorow examines the future of artificial intelligence and the idea of the "reverse centaur," where humans assist machines rather than the other way around. Doctorow argues that the discussion on AI should focus on power dynamics rather than purely technical progress.