29 books Goldman Sachs execs from around the world think everyone should read this fall
"The Road to Character" by David Brooks
"Daisy Jones & The Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Picked by: Beth Hammack, Corporate Treasury, New York
Hammack said: "The characters are completely captivating as is the era, their relationships and the shifting perspectives. It's got it all – sex/drugs/rock and roll, pursuit of perfection, and female empowerment."
"The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World" by Melinda Gates
Picked by: Anna Skoglund, Investment Banking, London
Skoglund said: "Gates blends her personal journey of discovery with those of her heroes; pioneers working in vulnerable communities around the world to empower women to drive change in their own lives and beyond."
"Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America" by Weijian Shan
Picked by: Iain Drayton, Investment Banking, Hong Kong
Drayton said: "This is a story of someone who never gave up his dream to get an education. For years, he risked his life to study secretly by candlelight in the Chinese countryside, at a time when studying was outlawed. Shan says, 'To give up was to commit a sin against myself.'"
"The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Picked by: Zheng Li, Investment Banking, Hong Kong
Li said: "This is a story of generational change with socio-economic and political transformation during the period between the Great World Wars... The questions raised by the transformation are all very relevant today and lead to introspection of life purpose and the human quest of identity."
"Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness" by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Picked by: Asahi Pompey, Executive Office, New York
Pompey said: "This data-driven book is based on years of study and explores how to find joy in your everyday surroundings – from the mundane to the substantive."
"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Picked by: John Goldstein, Executive Office, San Francisco
Goldstein said: "I love reading fiction that is diverting, engaging and a definite change of pace. The Night Circus is a charming book – full of beauty, magic and whimsy."
"Machines Like Me" by Ian McEwan
Picked by: Carey Halio
Halio said: "It tells the story of Adam, one of a first batch of practically human robots. It was a bit unnerving to imagine and think about what it means to be a person in a world of artificial humans."
"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
Picked by: Jo Natauri, Merchant Banking, New York
Natauri said: "I thought it was interesting because the general view is that the Valley is filled with very smart people and investors. In this case, these same smart investors were willing to suspend disbelief and get swept up in the aura of Elizabeth Holmes."
"The Silo Effect: The Peril of Expertise and the Promise of Breaking Down Barriers" by Gillian Tett
Picked by: Akiko Koda, Human Capital Management and Executive Office, Tokyo
Koda said: "In our modern world of echo chambers and filter bubbles, the book is a timely reminder of the dangers of over specialization and the importance of collaboration across an organization."
"Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup" by John Carreyrou
Picked by: Christina Ma, Securities, Hong Kong
Ma said: "I thought it was interesting because the general view is that the Valley is filled with very smart people and investors. In this case, these same smart investors were willing to suspend disbelief and get swept up in the aura of Elizabeth Holmes."
"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles
Picked by: Amanda Hindlian, Global Investment Research, New York
Hindlian said: "The characters are fascinating and there are multiple story lines that persist throughout the book against the backdrop of the changing political and economic landscape in Russia."
"Concept of the Corporation" by Peter F. Drucker
Picked by: Michael Bartsch, Compliance, Frankfurt
Bartsch said: "Drucker studied the process of management to find out what really made a business tick... By shifting his focus, he was able to explain what contributes to the success of a company. "
"TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking" by Chris Anderson
Picked by: Rita Chan, Investment Banking, Hong Kong
Chan said: "I have always enjoyed TED Talks but dissecting the analysis of why these talks are so powerful is eye-opening. Many practical tips that would certainly inspire us to develop a new presentation style."
"West with the Night" by Beryl Markham
Picked by: Amit Sinha, Investment Banking, San Francisco
Sinha said: "From her childhood in Africa, to her relationships with English royalty, to her many aviation records, Beryl Markham's tale is the portrayal of a life lived to the fullest."
"Educated" by Tara Westover
Picked by: Jennifer Davis, Investment Banking, New York
Davis said: "I loved this memoir by Tara Westover as a reminder of what can be accomplished through pure grit and perseverance. After a harrowing childhood on so many levels, she overcame all odds to become a tremendous success."
"IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
Picked by: Shubha Iyer, Technology, Bengaluru
Iyer said: "What is your reason to jump out of bed each morning? This little book shares the experiences of people from the Japanese island of Okinawa, which has the largest population of centenarians in the world."
"Legacy" by James Kerr
Picked by: Christian Johnston, Investment Banking, Melbourne
Johnston said: "This is a book about the success of the All Blacks, the New Zealand rugby team which is arguably the world's most successful sporting team. I'm not a huge rugby enthusiast but I found this book offered great insights into what it takes for sustained elite success and it is applicable for other sports, business and life in general."
"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow
Picked by: Eric Neveux, Investment Banking, Chicago
Neveux said: "While a bit lengthy, this biography provides great perspective around A. Ham and shows the brilliance of Lin-Manuel Miranda's adaption to the stage."
"The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000" by Paul Kennedy
Picked by: Takashi Yoshimura, Compliance, Tokyo
Yoshimura said: "This book offers a broad perspective that helps us to understand not only the past, but also the events developing in front of us right now. It provides a perspective on the universal nature of history and the subtle balance of power between nations."
"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl
Picked by: Rohini Eapen, Operations, Bengaluru
Eapen said: "This book is an outstanding classic to emerge from the Holocaust and a story of his struggle for survival in Nazi concentration camps... Reading this book is truly inspirational and encourages us to find greater meaning and purpose in our lives, feel positively about and imagining the outcome."
"A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth
Picked by: Niharika Cabiallavetta, Securities, London
Cabiallavetta said: "Despite, it being one of the longest books to be printed in English in one volume, I think the length contributes to its success, where it's nearly impossible to read it without developing a real love for the wonderfully drawn cast of characters."
"Destined For War: Can America and China Escape Thucydide's Trap" by Graham T. Allison
Picked by: Dirk Lievens, Investment Banking, London
Lievens said: "I read Destined for War when it was first published back in the summer of 2017 and felt myself wanting to re-read it again this summer in light of the current trade war between China and the US. The title of the book refers to the historian Thucydides who in the 5th century BC, writing about the Peloponnesian War that devastated ancient Greece, explained: 'It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.'"
"Measure What Matters" by John Doerr
Picked by: Amanda Creak, Technology, London
Creak said: "The book not only helps with describing how to create/measure great [Objectives and Key Results] but also provides really interesting insights into the tech companies he's experienced."
"Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom" by David W. Blight
Picked by: Erika Irish Brown, Human Capital Management, New York
Brown said: "Born a slave, Frederick Douglass endured the horrors of slavery, escaped, developed into a great abolitionist, orator and writer and ultimately became a Presidential Advisor. Prophet of Freedom raises issues of race, gender and politics that feel all too relatable in the current environment (or in this century)."
"He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter’s Quest to Know Him" by Mimi Baird
Picked by: Kim Posnett, Investment Banking, New York
Posnett said: "My dear friend's step-mom wrote He Wanted the Moon. It is a brilliant and beautifully-written memoir. It is also a profoundly tragic and disturbing lens into mental illness and what so many people have suffered from. I was deeply touched when I read the book and couldn't put it down."
"The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life" by David Brooks
Picked by: Ashok Varadhan, Securities, New York
Varadhan said: "I recommend the book because David Brooks eloquently describes his transformation from being motivated by individual accomplishments, attention, and recognition to being driven by a desire to serve and to be part of community. I found his perspective provocative, accurate, and inspiring."
"Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" by David Goggins
Picked by: Nicole Pullen Ross, Consumer and Investment Management, Philadelphia
Ross said: "While traveling with a senior partner of the firm, he shared this book with me, and it was as inspirational a read as he promised it would be. David Goggins is an example of how to be the best of ourselves, beyond imagination."
"The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames" by Kai Bird
Picked by: Michael Casey, Investment Banking, Houston
Casey said: "In addition to being a fascinating read about an interesting period of time in history that shapes modern day issues, Ames' approach to his craft provides insight that can be applied in the business world as well."
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