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Whether you are relaxing on the beach or carving out some time at home, the summer is the perfect time to catch up on some reading.
To provide some inspiration, we thought we would share some of our top summer book recommendations so you can try something new.
Tiziana Maida – American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings
The first book on the list is Tiziana’s selection, American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings. This 2020 novel tells the story of a woman forced to flee Mexico for the United States after her journalist husband exposes a local criminal.
Although it has a dramatic premise, Tiziana says, “it’s a novel that could easily be a true story and reading it feels like going on an adventure. I wish I hadn’t read it so I could read it again”.
Richard Page – The Fisherman by Chigozie Obioma
Richard’s selection is the 2015 debut novel by Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
According to Richard, The Fisherman is “an incredibly well written and gripping story about the coming of age of four brothers in Nigeria during the 1990’s. The novel recounts the perspective of one brother and twists and turns through family life in Nigeria at this time before a dark turn keeps you interested in the outcome for one brother”.
Jonathan Blain – Good to Great by Jim Collins
Jim Collins is a business expert, consultant, speaker, and author of many successful books. His 2001 publication, Good to Great, is Jonathan’s pick for the summer reads list.
This excellent management book explores what differentiates a good business from a great one –using some brilliant examples – and considers why so many companies struggle to reach new heights.
Jonathan says it is “an entrepreneur’s bible useful for anyone in business but also translates to many other areas of life. Watch out for the powerful Hedgehog Theory, which we think about consistently when building IPS”.
Matthew Hunt – A Short History of Financial Euphoria by John Kenneth Galbraith
Matthew’s selection is another insightful non-fiction title that could be useful reading for any investors.
“As the title suggests, this is a short book, by the renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith, which documents the notable financial crashes of the last 400 years.
“In entertaining style, he highlights the themes that are common to each crash, from the tulip mania of 1635 to the stock market crash of 1987 – greed, leverage and the suspension of any recognition of valuation. Since those who do not learn the lessons of history seem doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past, this is essential reading for all investors, young and old.”
This one is a must-read, especially as we are currently experiencing a period of market volatility similar to the events described in the book.
Simon Moriarty – The Last Days of New Paris by China Miévelle
Simon’s pick – The Last Days of New Paris by China Miévelle – may be one of the most unique options on the list.
Miévelle is known for writing “engaging stories about the unreal in the real” and according to Simon, “The Last Days of Paris is no different following a handful of characters based in an alternate history where the Nazis still hold Paris in the 1950s.
“The main plot follows Thibaut, a Parisian. He joins forces with Sam, a photographer, to fight the occupying Nazis in a landscape dominated by “manifs” – real-world manifestations of surrealist art.
“Think Paris but reimagined by Salvador Dali!”
Julia Young – Yellowface! by Rebecca F Kuang
Julia first read her selection, Yellowface! by Rebecca F Kuang after receiving it as a Secret Santa gift. She was pleasantly surprised by the novel, which won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, and countless other accolades.
In Julia’s words, the novel is “a real page tuner about a failed writer who sees her rival die in a freak accident and goes on to publish her manuscript as her own work… Gripping!”
Anne McClean – May Contain Lies by Alex Edmans
Finally, Anne’s pick, May Contain Lies by Alex Edmans is one that we could all benefit from reading in the digital age.
The book is a “fascinating dive into truth versus lies in culture and decision making. Edmans picks apart how data is obfuscated to support nonsense claims and how these things grow to become facts.
“Very helpful if you want to think more critically about the world around you. Everyone should read before venturing onto any social media platform!”
Which of our recommendations will you read this summer?
