18 New Books to Watch For in October

Ronan Farrow’s exposé about power, stories by Zadie Smith,
a former C.I.A. agent’s tell-all and more.

By Joumana Khatib

It’s another big month for books.

Ronan Farrow’s book — coming on the heels of “She Said,” by the Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — exposes systems of power that enable predators. Other titles speak to our disjointed times, in one way or another: The MSNBC host Rachel Maddow investigates the corrosive effects of the gas and oil industry; the cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams offers an insightful new consideration of race in America; Jeanette Winterson explores Brexit, virtual reality and more in her contemporary riff on “Frankenstein.” Elizabeth Strout brings back her beloved character Olive Kitteridge, and Zadie Smith releases her debut collection of short stories. Here’s a look at the titles we’re watching for most closely. See the full list at The New York Times.