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Two of the historians shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction appear to have a surprising amount in common when talking about lessons learned and fears for the future.

Peter Frankopan’s compelling book The Silk Roads: A New History of the World was widely acclaimed for the breadth and depth of its insight. Now, only three years later, the world has changed so much that he has published an updated version.

Sir Anthony Seldon believes that artificial intelligence will create the biggest change in education for 500 years. In his latest book, he explains how the future has already arrived in some parts of the world, and why we need to embrace it.

Andrew O’Hagan explores the porous border between cyberspace and the ‘real world’ in The Secret Life: Three True Stories. The author, who is editor-at-large of the London Review of Books, also owns Sam’s Cafe in Primrose Hill, where he met Malcolm Borthwick to discuss the book.

Minority groups around the world are finding a voice. As renowned political economist Francis Fukuyama explains, this is positive for segments of the population that have been ignored, but there are inherent risks to the democratic process.

Over the coming years, China will face major challenges, says George Magnus, an economist, author and speaker whose latest book considers the four significant barriers President Xi Jinping must overcome.

Technology presents both threats and opportunities, says Jamie Susskind, whose book explores the developments that will shape our lives in the coming years, and suggests what we can do to retain control.

David France triumphed in the 2017 Baillie Gifford Non-Fiction Prize. He was subsequently commissioned to write an extra chapter, discussing what he has learned since winning the award. He presented his views in a special lecture at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Nicholas Stern has been visiting the same village in India for several decades and has charted its evolution. In a book that he has co-authored, he describes the research process and explains why he is generally optimistic for India’s future.

Adam Tooze believes the story that is commonly told of the 2008 global crash is inaccurate. In his latest book, the economic historian analyses what really happened.

Bruno Maçães has combined his findings from an epic six-month overland journey with the insights he gained as a minister in the Portuguese government. The result is an original and interesting view of where the world is headed.

A visit to Italy’s immigrant reception centre in Lampedusa gave author Hsiao-Hung Pai an insight into the conditions that await those seeking refuge in Europe. However, what she saw does not fill her with optimism.

When Leila Aboulela talks about homesickness, she is drawing on her personal experience. However, as she explained on a visit to Baillie Gifford’s office, the Aberdeen-based author found that writing helped overcome her yearnings to be with family in Sudan.

Linda Yueh’s latest book addresses a complex subject in an accessible style. In it, she revisits the theories of the great economists of history and asks how they would apply their ideas to address the economic concerns currently exercising their modern counterparts.

In her latest book, award-winning author Anne Applebaum has captured the grim reality of famine in Ukraine and Stalin’s determination to prevent a break-up of the Soviet Union. And, she notes, some of the behaviours from that era continue in modern Russia.

Lindsey Fitzharris is a medical historian and author of The Butchering Art. Her latest book tells the story of Joseph Lister, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery whose work on germ theory continues to save lives today.

Richard Dawkins was in typically forthright form when he appeared at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival. Controversial, thought-provoking, eloquent and with a sharp turn of wit, the renowned biologist did not disappoint, writes Colin Renton.

Lizzie Collingham has earned a reputation for making history accessible by associating it with food. Her latest book, The Hungry Empire, offers a fresh perspective on the British Empire.

Alexander McCall Smith is a prolific writer, known for his bestselling series Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. He found time in a packed itinerary to offer an insight into what drives is prodigious output.

Judy Murray is mother to Jamie and Andy, whose rise to the top of the tennis world was driven by their determination and talent, as well as the unerring guidance of a mother whose inspirational story is told in her book, Knowing the Score.

David France discusses How to Survive a Plague.

Dr Rangan Chatterjee, a GP, star of the BBC programme Dr in the House, and bestselling author of The 4 Pillar Plan: How to Relax, Eat, Move, Sleep, talks about his quest to make us all healthier.

The renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman talks to Jemima Kiss about innovation and why the creative genius is a myth.

Tim Marshall, the former diplomatic editor of Sky News, discusses his latest book which explores the growth in the number of walls and boundaries being built around the world and considers the potential implications of this trend, what is driving it, and why it is unlikely to reverse soon.

Dame Katherine Grainger talks about the new direction her life is taking after 20 years as an elite athlete, and the satisfaction she derived from writing her autobiography.

Finbarr Livesey believes that globalisation has peaked. He has written a well-researched book that explains why he considers that the days of outsourcing are gone, citing examples of major companies that have seen the benefits of returning the manufacturing process to the local market.

Increasing numbers of people have turned to mindfulness as a means of countering the stresses of modern living. Author Rohan Gunatillake explains why he believes that there is still much room for growth among a younger audience.

Mary Harper is the BBC’s Africa editor and author of 'Getting Somalia Wrong?'. Ahead of her appearance at the Hay Festival, she outlines some of the common misconceptions and explains why much of the blame for the lack of incisive reporting rests with her own industry.

Gender stereotyping is happening at an alarmingly young age, and is having a detrimental impact on innovation, according to Dame Athene Donald.

Advances in technology have revolutionised medicine and show no signs of slowing down, as Consultant Transplant Surgeon, Mr Kourosh Saeb-Parsy, explains.

From Monty Python to his legendary travels, Michael Palin’s life and career has been built around that wonderful thing called curiosity.