Microsoft employees wondered whether OpenAI was committing “largest theft of labor in human history” (This week in books)

This week! Books!

Microsoft and OpenAI Workers Worry About ‘Largest Theft of Labor’ in History (gift link) – Karen Weise and Mike Isaac, New York Times – Microsoft and OpenAI workers were taking notes during a criminal conspiracy, namely Microsoft employees wondering whether OpenAI was busy committing the largest labor theft in history. (Yes! They were!)

The 2026 National Book Awards Longlists – The New Yorker – Congrats to the National Book Award longlisters!

EXCLUSIVE: Author Jerry Falade Reflects on Losing His Book Deal and Being Accused of Using AI. – Kathleen Schmidt, Publishing Confidential – Author Jerry Falade, whose multi-million dollar book deal fell through when his previous agents dropped him over suspected AI use, wonders whether his “Yorùbá-inflected voice” triggered AI-detection software.

Bourdain’s ’90s gangster novels couldn’t escape the kitchen – Francesca Giangiulio, Salon – Anthony Bourdain, crime fiction writer? Yes, indeed. His old crime novels are getting a re-release. The kitchen is never far away.

Execution is More Important than A Great Book Idea – Sean deLone, Dear Head of Mine – Your regular reminder, this time from a book editor, that execution matters way more than a good premise.

Can You Identify These Places That Nurtured Writers? (gift link) – J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times – A fun quiz for NYC literary types about some fixtures in various lit scenes.

Syrian man uncovers library hidden behind wall for 15 years – Al Jazeera – Now that the Assad regime has fallen, a Syrian man was able to tear down the wall hiding his secret library.

In Memory: Author Jane Yolen – Gayleen Rabakukk, Cynsations – Legendary author Jane Yolen passed away earlier this year, and on Cynthia Leitich Smith’s blog, Gayleen Rabakukk rounds up some of the advice she dispensed over the years.

This week in bestsellers

Here are the top five NY Times bestsellers in a few key categories. (All links are affiliate links):

Adult print and e-book fiction:

1. Fury In Death by J.D. Robb
2. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
3. Burn of the Everflame by Penn Cole
4. The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
5. The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

Adult print and e-book nonfiction:

1. The Counterrevolution by Victor Davis Hanson
2. How to Eat an Elephant by Sarah Longwell
3. Plot Twist by Harlan Coben
4. American Scoundrel by Kai Bird with Susan Goldmark
5. Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Young adult hardcover:

1. Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
2. Espíritu by Aiden Thomas
3. Barbie: Dreamscape by Alex Aster
4. Wings of Reverie by Anna Bright
5. Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

Middle grade hardcover:

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
3. Kiki and the New Magic by Eiko Kadono
4. Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
5. Forbidden Mountain by Brandon Mull

This week on the blog

In case you missed them, here are this week’s posts:

• How long does it take to sell a novel?

And keep up with the discussion in all the places!

• Follow me on Threads, Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

And finally:

Susan Te Kahurangi King’s Way of Seeing – Laura Preston, The New Yorker – Artist Susan Te Kahurangi King doesn’t speak, read, or write, but her lifetime of work has attracted serious interest in the art world.

Have a great weekend!

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Photo: “Rocks Amid Crashing Waves” by Yamaato Kakurei at LACMA, Los Angeles, CA. Follow me on Instagram!