2023 summer reading guide

Here’s what I’m reading this summer.

Homayoun Hatami

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Senior partner and managing partner, global client capabilities, McKinsey

This is the fascinating story of little-known US president James A. Garfield, who didn’t want to be president but was nominated against his will at the convention anyway–very dissimilar to the expensive, glitzy president-nominating process the whole world is watching in the United States today. The book details how campaigns were run in the late 1880s, how far away from that process we are now, and the implications this has for US society.

Chelsea Stoner

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General partner, Battery Ventures

In times both good and bad, Seinfeld reminds us to appreciate the silver linings and find levity in unexpected moments. This is a lighthearted read that provides a witty break from daily life–and plenty of great laughs.

Brian Doubles

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President and CEO, Synchrony

A reminder that our society may be doing many things incorrectly, and it just takes strong willpower to push for a better way.

Ariela Safira

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Founder and CEO, Real

I love learning from great leaders, and this book adds so much about family and culture, too.

Marc Rosen

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CEO, JCPenney

It doesn’t matter what circumstance you’re born into; this book speaks to the importance of role models in your life–and particularly male role models for a young black man. It also cements why I believe the ‘skills first’ movement creates opportunities in a world where so many have the aptitude but not the access to succeed.

Ginni Rometty

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Former chair and CEO, IBM; cochair, OneTen

The fascinating story of the Baez sisters–Joan and Mimi–Richard Fariña, and Bob Dylan in the New York folk-music scene of the early 1960s. A compelling and entertaining picture of some of the remarkable personalities who came to play defining roles in both folk and rock music.

Pierre Gentin

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Senior partner and chief legal officer, McKinsey

The role of art, identity, and self-reflection are all explored in this concise but vivid book. The author spends a solitary night in the Punta della Dogana museum, in Venice, where historic art-works help her understand her own past. This is a book to read to reflect on the roles that art, writing, work, and family play in forging identity. Entire sentences are like works of poetry.

Mina Al-Oraibi

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Editor in chief, National

Here’s what I’m reading this summer.

Homayoun Hatami

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Senior partner and managing partner, global client capabilities, McKinsey

V. V. Ganeshananthan’s novel masterfully weaves journalistic reporting and narrative writing to recount the dreams, hopes, and losses of ordinary Sri Lankans during the country’s civil war. Growing up in Nepal during the peak Maoist insurgency years, I was particularly drawn to the cultural elements in this story, which keeps coming back to family and friendships—and food—throughout.

Anup Kaphle

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Editor in chief, Rest of World

A riveting and incisive exploration of America’s prison system. A must-read for anyone seeking profound insight into the intersection of race, capitalism, and freedom.

Lucy Yu

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Owner, Yu and Me Books

A fire devastated this bookstore in early July. Learn more.

As an immigrant to the United States, I am always fascinated by immigrant stories. I am looking forward to reading this new novel about a Chinese immigrant who comes to the US with big dreams and optimism, has some bumps along the way, and, in the end, positively finds his way.

Shefali Razdan Duggal

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US ambassador to the Netherlands

An older book left to me by my maternal grandfather. I just found it while moving some stuff. He loved the old West and would recite these to me on car rides as a kid. In particular, the Yukon-focused poems, ‘The Shooting of Dan McGrew’ and ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee,’ are favorites.

Bob Sternfels

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Global managing partner, McKinsey

My wife turned me onto this book, which subsequently won the Pulitzer Prize. I am excited to read it during our summer vacation. I only know it to be a modern-day David Copperfield set in one of our country’s poorest, most misunderstood, and maligned regions.

David Kramer

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President, United Talent Agency

This hilarious novel about a woman’s struggle to be seen as equal in an age of inequality feels like both a reminder of how far we’ve come and, with less than 2 percent of venture capital dollars going to female-led companies today, how far we still need to go with our work at Rethink Impact.

Jenny Abramson

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Founder and managing partner, Rethink Impact

I read and loved Hamnet during the pandemic. This is O’Farrell’s latest and is the perfect mix of history, art, and humanity for a holiday read.

Tracy Francis

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Senior partner and chief marketing officer, McKinsey

A powerful short story about doing the right thing.

Steve Grove

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CEO and publisher, Star Tribune Media Company

I’ve read almost every single book, translation, and short story by Ken Liu. All his work is incredibly thought provoking and engrossing, and the touching moments sneak up on you in the best way. Speaking Bones is Liu’s fourth book in a truly epic series that mixes Chinese history with science and fantasy.

Sisi Wei

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Editor in chief, The Markup

A novel about partnership, relationships, success, identity, technology, and struggles across time. A tale that resonates in these tumultuous times.

Alisa Miller

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Cofounder and CEO, Pluralytics

This historical novel—focused on Wall Street in the 1920s and then the Depression—has been on my list for a while, and I can’t wait to dig into it. It features a ‘novel within a novel’ and, I’ve read, some disorienting literary tricks that keep the reader guessing.

Chelsea Stoner

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General partner, Battery Ventures

A fictional story about a 1920s Wall Street tycoon and his wife told through three different lenses. Diaz is one of the most original writers around, and this compelling story will really make you think about the word trust.

Rodney Zemmel

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Senior partner, McKinsey

Yellowface is a gripping novel that takes you on a journey through twisted identities, dark humor, and unexpected consequences. With its timely exploration of diversity, cultural appropriation, and the perils of social media, this book will leave you questioning everything.

Lucy Yu

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Owner, Yu and Me Books

A fire devastated this bookstore in early July. Learn more.

This book reinforces why we must focus on stewarding good tech. As Kissinger has said, history shows that when people are fearful of something and they don’t understand it, they revolt. AI is at that moment. I’m a believer that AI has a great upside and will change every job for the better, but it matters how we implement it.

Ginni Rometty

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Former chair and CEO, IBM; cochair, OneTen

Here’s what I’m reading this summer.

Joydeep Sengupta

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Senior partner, McKinsey (Singapore)

Mustafa is the rare entrepreneur who has founded not one but two major AI companies, and I’m so thrilled that he’s sharing his deep thinking with us all, rooted in his desire to uplift and improve humanity.

Reid Hoffman

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Cofounder, LinkedIn; partner, Greylock

A great explanation of the defining role of energy in shaping the modern world and a reflection on what it will take to really change the energy system to a low-carbon intensive one. Critical for humankind to achieve, but we should not be naive about the challenges.

Piyush Gupta

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CEO, DBS Bank

I cannot recommend this enough to understand the physical reality of how the world works—so critical to decision making and often neglected.

Sven Smit

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Senior partner and chair of insights and ecosystems, McKinsey; chair, McKinsey Global Institute

This book came out only a short time before the generative-AI wave but is even more relevant today when we talk about human talent in an age of smart machines.

Alisa Miller

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Cofounder and CEO, Pluralytics

A fascinating look at the history of YouTube. From its upstart origins to the inevitable challenges of being engulfed by its new owner, Google, Bergen uses this page-turning history to ask—and provide answers to—the big questions about the internet and democracy.

Steve Grove

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CEO and publisher, Star Tribune Media Company

We’re in a moment of incredible technological change, but what we’ve seen throughout history is that the benefits of technology are often intensely concentrated in the hands of a privileged few. In this salient read, Acemoglu and Johnson tell that story and challenge us to ensure that the benefits of innovation are truly enjoyed by everyone—a challenge we can and must rise to.

Mark Suzman

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CEO and board member, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

It’s great to see Jen—someone who has been fighting her entire career for a government that works for the people—lay out her vision so clearly and practically so that we can all see the road map to a more efficient and productive government.

Reid Hoffman

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Cofounder, LinkedIn; partner, Greylock

While AI has been part of Alight’s ecosystem for years, this book examines how AI will change the way we work, but not necessarily destroy the way we work.

Stephan Scholl

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CEO, Alight

I am reading this book because I think Rudd is deeply thoughtful on the topic of US–China relations.

Tracy Francis

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Senior partner and chief marketing officer, McKinsey

Richard’s clear-eyed appraisals of US foreign-policy priorities are always required reading. Here, having concluded that ‘the most urgent and significant threat to American security and stability stems not from abroad but from within,’ he charts out the obligations vital to strengthening our democracy.

Alyssa Ayres

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Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Chup, which means silent in Hindi, is a book that questions the everyday norms that make women feel invisible, wrapped under the femininity of selflessness. The author highlights the deep-rooted patriarchy that makes even supportive men inadvertently complicit. Everyday culture and norms ensure that most women believe the glass ceiling is too high or they can never shatter it.

Zubaida Bai

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President and CEO, Grameen Foundation

This is a must-read for all defenders of democracy. Through investigative reporting, the Nobel laureate’s inspiring account documents her fight to hold authority responsible, her refusal to be silenced, and offers solutions toward a free, fair, and informed future for us all.

Antonio Zappulla

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CEO, Thomson Reuters Foundation

This topic is very relevant to me personally. America’s immigration policy helped spur the country’s exceptionalism and global leadership. Today, the system needs repair. Europe, the Arab world, and East Asia are grappling with this topic, and the conclusion will determine their trajectories.

Hassan El-Houry

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Chairman of the Board; Menzies Aviation

A profound political theorist and classicist, Professor Allen was my dean when I received my PhD, and I have long admired her intellectual rootedness in theory and practice.

Alyssa Ayres

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Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Here’s what I’m reading this summer.

Joydeep Sengupta

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Senior partner, McKinsey (Singapore)

With timeless relevance, Plato powerfully reminds us that politics is grounded in justice, the common good, and selfless leadership. Leaders must possess the intellectual and moral qualities necessary to make rational decisions for the benefit of all society rather than the few.

Antonio Zappulla

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CEO, Thomson Reuters Foundation

I am a firm believer that it is in our nature to be good, but evidently, context matters, and Moisés Naím’s analysis of today’s political context sheds an interesting light on the mounting challenges facing modern-day democracies. And that’s before AI hit the scene!

Diego de Sola

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President and CEO, Grupo de Sola, El Salvador

This year marked 20 years since the US war in Iraq. Much has been written about it, but few writers have captured the complexity of events and emotions that went with it. This is the one book to read about the 2003 war and its effects on both ordinary people and the geopolitical order we live in. It is part autobiography, part history book, with detailed coverage, nuance, empathy, and even some humor. The beautifully intricate doodles are an extra bonus.

Mina Al-Oraibi

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Editor in chief, National

The Supreme Court has, in recent years, become a more prominent part of the polarized, sometimes chaotic politics of the United States. Michael Waldman deftly explores how this moment relates to both the history of the high court and the implications of the current conservative supermajority for the foreseeable future.

Jelani Cobb

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Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism, Columbia Journalism School

Strategy is essential to success in any key leadership role, and this book digs deep into what makes good strategy—and what does not. Full of case studies and anecdotes, and quick to read, it is a great orientation, or refresher, to successful strategic thinking and planning.

Kat Downs Mulder

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Senior vice president and general manager, Yahoo News

This is an essential contribution in how we can lead nonprofits to thrive—a must-read for our sector and far beyond.

Henry Timms

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President and CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

A critical, timely, and practical book. I’m a big admirer of Octavia and her work, and I found this both eye-opening and educational.

Henry Timms

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President and CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

I’m deep into Claire Hughes Johnson’s Scaling People, which is the smartest and most useful book I’ve read on management this year.

Nicholas Thompson

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CEO, Atlantic

I believe that the only thing a manager can actually rely on in times of crisis is their team. Building and growing the Kyiv Independent team amid the war [in Ukraine] solidified this belief for me. It’s always a challenge to not only find the best talent but also give them enough space for their own decision making, as well as the necessary tools to grow. This book offers good, hands-on insight into how to identify talent and interview promising, yet sometimes overlooked, potential hires.

Daryna Shevchenko

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CEO, Kyiv Independent