My fifth annual summer reading list

Like many people, I look forward to the opportunity every summer to take advantage of some downtime with a few great books. And every year since 2017, I’ve shared the titles on my summertime to-do list here on LinkedIn. As usual, my latest selections span a range of genres and styles – and while there isn’t really a thread that connects them all, there are a few common themes that I outlined below. I usually read three or four books at a time, so the variety keeps me interested and turning the pages.

The must re-read

• Devil Take the Hindmost: A History of Financial Speculation by Edward Chancellor: A career in financial services has taught me that the wisdom of crowds can be misguided at least as often as it’s correct. This is a rollicking journey though centuries of market hysteria and the big bets and bubbles that fuel it. I first read it in 1999 when it was published, just before the tech bubble burst, and I’m looking forward to revisiting its enduring lessons.

The must finish

• At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends by Dwight D. Eisenhower: A heroic military leader and symbol of wholesome Americana, our 34th President is among the towering figures of the 20th Century and a defining icon of our country’s post-World War II period. Yet, as he explains in this revealing memoir, Eisenhower was also a man who was keenly attuned to his own feelings, who believed in leading by example, and who valued a well-timed joke. This is a great set of short stories to snack on with a cocktail at hand, and I’m committed to finishing it this summer. Special thanks to my good friend Colonel David Sutherland for a first edition.

The trailblazers

One of the best parts about my career is the opportunity I often have to meet and interact with some extraordinary leaders whose personal stories and worldviews are fascinating and inspiring.

• All In by Billie Jean King: If you only know her as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, you only know half of her story. A champion on the sport’s biggest stages (and a longtime friend to UBS), Billie Jean has had a greater impact as a pioneer in the fight for social justice and gender equality. Her story is one of groundbreaking triumphs both on and off the court.
• Value(s): Building a Better World for All by Mark Carney: For a recent UBS virtual client event, I had the opportunity to interview a man whose career in public service has been marked by his success in handling a series of monumental global crises. A former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Mark’s new book draws on his own insights and experiences to call for building an economy based on human values rather than pure market values.

The gifts

The only thing better than a book recommendation from someone whose judgment you trust and value is when that person gives you the book directly.

• Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule: Another recommendation from Dave Sutherland, this book follows a historian’s journey as he grapples with the lessons and beliefs that defined his own upbringing and heritage. Seidule, a former professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and retired US Army Brigadier General, takes an unvarnished view of the place race and rebellion have in our nation’s complicated history.
• Pappyland by Wright Thompson: The whiskey revolution of the past 20 years means that even the casual connoisseur whispers the name Pappy Van Winkle in reverent tones. But as my colleague Pat Corry said when he gave me this book, the story behind one of the rarest and most coveted bourbons in the world is about more than what’s in the bottle – this is a tale of family, tradition, pride, and the nobility of fine craftsmanship.
• First Friends by Gary Ginsberg: Despite its power and prestige, the Presidency has been described as the loneliest job in the world. This book, a gift from my colleague Jennifer Gabrielli, highlights the important but often invisible confidantes of US Presidents throughout history. I expect it’ll be a fascinating look at how leaders rely on their closest friends, away from the spotlight, to provide counsel and advice in a way no staffer or family member could.

Just for fun

Sometimes, you just want a book to help let your mind wander.

• Black Ice by Brad Thor: A good book can excite, transfix, and entertain all at once. Brad Thor, an established master of the spy genre, delivers on all three accounts with the latest installment in the Scot Harvath series. In this tale of intrigue and espionage, the tension rises as the temperature drops in an Arctic adventure that threatens global peace and security.
• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse by John Stage and Nancy Radke: Last year my wife, Wendy, bought me a Traeger Pellet Grills LLC smoker, which ignited a new passion and an ongoing search for the very best barbeque recipes. If you’re hanging out in the Traegerhood and looking for inspiration on how to do low-and-slow the right way, the legendary Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has a few unbeatable suggestions.