Toronto, ON September 17, 2025 — Three compelling books exploring economic transformation, corporate power struggles, and financial market history have been selected as finalists for the 2025 National Business Book Award, marking the 40th anniversary of Canada’s premier literary recognition for business writing. The shortlisted authors will compete for the $30,000 prize—one of the largest non-fiction awards in Canada—with the winner announced on October 21 at a ceremony in Toronto.
“This year’s finalists demonstrate the breadth and depth of Canadian business writing,” said Deirdre McMurdy, Award Adjudicator and Chair of the Jury. “From understanding our post-pandemic economic reality to exposing the dynamics of family-controlled empires, these authors tackle the forces reshaping business and society.”
The 2025 finalists are:
A Map of the New Normal: How Inflation, War and Sanctions Will Change Your World Forever
By Jeff Rubin | Allen Lane Canada
A comprehensive foundation of what the new normal was and how it got that way. Rubin dives into the reactive economic re-ordering that took place in response to the pandemic and helps us understand the future we are confronting. He explains how the pandemic broke supply chains and how subsequent global tensions have served to exacerbate the problem. “But amidst all the uncertainty that surrounds us, one thing has become increasingly clear: as we sail farther along the course of seemingly inevitable global conflict and accompanying profound economic change, there is no turning back to the we once knew. It simply no longer exists.” Jeff Rubin won the Award in 2010 for Why Your World is About to Get a Lot Smaller.
Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada’s Telecom Empire
By Alexandra Posadzki | McClelland & Stewart
A rare behind the scenes look at a dramatic battle for control of Canada’s dominant wireless carrier, exposing the perils of family control over assets of such critical economic importance. As an entrepreneur, founder Ted Rogers took business risks and exerted significant personal control over the business. In the aftermath of his death, succession and conflicting visions for the future led to a public family brawl over who would run the company and how it would be run. In the end it is the story of a company struggling to find its way after the death of its legendary founder. Alexandra Posadzki is a Globe and Mail business reporter who covered Canada’s telecommunications industry.
To Make A Killing: Arthur Cutten, The Man Who Ruled the Markets
By Robert Stephens (1948-2025) | McGill-Queen’s University
Arthur Cutten was a small-town Canadian boy who played a key role in shaping the U.S. commodities business in its early days.To Make A Killing provides the context for many of the rules and regulations that exist today, many of them developed in response to Cutten’s market dominance. Robert Stephens captures the frenetic trading that took place prior to the 1929 stock market crash and the low key Canadian who was at the centre of the drama. Stephens is a former journalist who spent 10-years researching Arthur Cutten.
ABOUT THE AWARD
Established in 1985, the National Business Book Award recognizes Canadian authors whose work demonstrates exceptional research, originality, and relevance to contemporary business challenges. Evaluating each submission is an independent jury chaired by Deirdre McMurdy, Adjudicator: Anna Porter, author, and publisher; Bobby Siu, PhD, Professor, Management Consultant and 2022 NBBA shortlisted author; Senator Pamela Wallin; Stephen Poloz, 2023 winner and former governor of the Bank of Canada; and, Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, CEO of BlackNorth Initiative. Canada’s National Business Book Award is generously sponsored by Presenting Partner Stephen J.R. Smith and Smith Financial Corporation, BMO, RBC, The Globe and Mail, and The Walrus. Past winners include Stephen Poloz, Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis & Julie Beun, Stephen R. Bown, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Jeff Rubin, Gordon Pitts, Naomi Klein, Minister of Transport Chrystia Freeland, Daniel Levitin, and Andrea Benoit.
Follow on LinkedIn and visit nbbaward.com for the full list of past winners.
For further information please contact:
Mary Ann Freedman, Freedman & Associates Inc.
416-523-8681 | maf@freedmanandassociates.com
