Summer is the perfect time to indulge in the rarest luxury: time to read. No packed schedules, no notifications buzzing every two minutes (hopefully). Our team has put together a list of 10 books worth slipping into your suitcase or keeping on your bedside table: novels, essays, and ideas that might just change your perspective – or at the very least give you a few enjoyable hours in the sun. If you’re wondering what to read these days, you might just find the book for you here.
The Singularity Is Nearer (Ray Kurzweil, 2024)
Twenty years after the publication of The Singularity Is Near – with many of his predictions already beginning to come true – Kurzweil returns to examine advances in AI and biotechnology. He predicts this “singularity,” the moment when artificial intelligence is expected to surpass human intelligence, will be reached around 2029. The book combines technological optimism with a critical assessment of the challenges that lie ahead.
Edible Economics (Ha-Joon Chang, 2022)
In Edible Economics, renowned economist Ha‑Joon Chang uses the world of food to explain the forces that shape our economies, pairing everyday ingredients with surprising insights into globalization and growth. Witty and accessible, the book turns complex ideas into bite‑sized, memorable stories.
The Crisis of Narration (Byung-Chul Han, 2024)
Byung-Chul Han argues that authentic storytelling is vanishing, replaced by superficial and commodified narratives. He contends that we now live in an era where collective storytelling has been displaced by fleeting digital content designed purely for consumption. The South Korean–born philosopher, long based in Germany, calls for a return to ancient forms of narration as a means to mend social bonds and restore shared meaning.
The Intelligent Investor (Benjamin Graham, 1949)
Considered the foundational text of value investing, The Intelligent Investor was praised by Warren Buffett as “the best book on investing ever written.” In it, Graham teaches readers to separate emotions from investment decisions and to use a “margin of safety” to protect capital. A technical yet accessible classic, it remains ideal for those who want to master the principles of responsible investing.
The Richest Man in Babylon (George S. Clason, 1926)
Through timeless parables set in ancient Babylon, the book imparts five enduring principles for building wealth and managing money wisely. Clear, engaging, and practical, it’s an ideal read for anyone beginning to save or seeking a strong foundation in financial literacy, rooted in balance and discipline.
Am I a Liberal? (John Maynard Keynes, 2023)
Written between 1919 and 1946, these essays capture Keynes’s youthful struggle with the tensions between capitalism and social justice. He examines the contradictions of liberalism, which in his view could function only by nurturing a deeply human vice: auri sacra fames, the greed for money. Both personal and philosophical, this collection offers invaluable insight into the mind of one of the fathers of modern economics.
Parable of the Sower (Octavia E. Butler, 1993)
A powerful dystopia set in the near future, the novel follows Lauren Olamina, a young woman with “hyperempathy,” who founds a new religion centred on adaptation and community in a world ravaged by violence and climate crisis. It explores racism, survival, and individual resilience with a prophetic realism that resonates disturbingly with the present.
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller, 1961)
Heller’s masterpiece satirises the absurdities of war through the misadventures of a group of American airmen stationed in Italy during World War II. At its heart is the infamous “Catch-22,” a regulation that perfectly captures the no‑win logic of military bureaucracy. The novel’s legacy endures, reinforced by its celebrated adaptation into a TV series directed and produced by George Clooney.
Money on your Mind (Vicky Reynal, 2025)
Psychotherapist Vicky Reynal, an expert in the complex relationship between mind and money, examines how emotions, past experiences, and unconscious patterns shape our financial decisions. Drawing on real-life cases, she offers readers practical tools to build a healthier relationship with money, breaking free from dysfunctional habits and self‑sabotaging behaviours.
King of the world (David Remnick, 1999)
Pulitzer Prize–winning New Yorker editor David Remnick chronicles Ali’s meteoric rise from Olympic gold medalist to cultural icon against the backdrop of 1960s America. With a rich mix of sociological insight, fight reportage, and sharp cultural history, it vividly portrays a young Cassius Clay transforming into the man the world would come to know as Muhammad Ali.
*As with all investing, financial instruments involve inherent risks, including loss of capital, market fluctuations and liquidity risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. It is important to consider your risk tolerance and investment objectives before proceeding.
