A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide for high-net-worth investors and consumers. Sign up To receive future editions delivered directly to your inbox.
Today’s workaholic rich rarely have time to sit down and read a good book—except for a few weeks in August. That’s why JPMorgan Chase Private Bank releases its summer reading list every May, often acting as a book club for billionaires.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the list, now called the J.P. Morgan Summer Reading List. These 10 books have been carefully selected to meet the tastes and concerns of J.P. Morgan’s wealthy clients. This year’s list includes books on effective communication, artificial intelligence, Formula One racing, whiskey, hidden vacation spots and the art collections of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
J.P. Morgan created the list by surveying its more than 35,000 client advisors and employees around the world and asking clients what topics they talk about and think about most. This year, consultants sent more than 700 recommended titles, which the committee whittled down based on timeliness and appeal.
“Our clients run the gamut from business owners and entrepreneurs to philanthropists and art collectors,” said Darin Oduyoye, chief communications officer at JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management. He has been the leader of the list since its inception. “There are books for every group.”
Customers receive an elegant J.P. Morgan-branded box containing one or two books from a list of books specially recommended by client advisors. The advisor also included a handwritten note and a commemorative bookmark.
This checklist can help advisors connect with clients during the off-peak summer months. It also helps with client events, as writers on the list often agree to host special dinners or speaking engagements for JPMorgan clients.
Authors also like being on the list because J.P. Morgan purchases thousands of books to distribute and clients often recommend the books to others.
“This is a list that customers, colleagues and our community are looking forward to,” Oduyoye said.
This year’s 25th anniversary edition features a special “Anniversary Spotlight” highlighting the charity Water.org, founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, and their book The Value of Water 》(The Worth of Water).
Below is the 25th annual summer reading list and book summaries provided by J.P. Morgan:
Superspreaders: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection Author: Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg shares the latest research on how to make conversations effective, revealing how we can improve our communication and build stronger connections. Whether it’s a segregated jury room or the way CIA officers recruit foreign agents, Duhigg uses examples to illustrate how we can do this by recognizing and leveraging the three layers of every conversation—the practical, the emotional, and the social. – to deliver effective messages. Duhigg takes us from the writers’ room of one of television’s most successful sitcoms to the couch of a hot-shot marriage counselor, showing us that we all have super communicators within us.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Reinvention of Childhood Is Leading to the Epidemic of Mental Illness Author: Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt raises pressing facts and a clear call to action to draw attention to the global epidemic of mental illness among adolescents. Haidt believes that the widespread use of smartphones and a dozen other mechanisms has contributed to “the great reinvention of childhood.” He argues that these technologies have profound negative impacts on children’s social and neurodevelopment and explores what can be done to reverse the significant rise in sleep deprivation, distraction, loneliness, addiction and social comparison. Importantly, Haidt called for collective action and outlined the steps we all must take to end this pandemic.
“Giants: Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys The Art of the Dean Collection” Fiden Publishing
Featuring a world-class collection of art from music and cultural icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean), Giants highlights 100 works by nearly 40 generations of black American, African and African diaspora artists. Curated by the Brooklyn Museum for its first major exhibition, the Dean Collection features works by legendary and emerging artists including Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Odili ·Donald Odita and Kennedy Janko. And “Giant” Includes exclusive conversations between Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, and curator Kimberli Gant, as well as interviews with 10 notable artists.
“Brave New Words: How Artificial Intelligence Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)” Salman Khan
Salman Khan, the visionary behind the non-profit Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming learning in education and the workplace. He demonstrates how AI will not replace human interaction, but enhance it through tools that encourage creativity and problem-solving. He shows how AI can adapt to each student’s individual progress while identifying strengths and areas for improvement. . Khan outlines how emerging technologies are creating more accessible education systems, provides practical implications for administrators, consultants, and hiring managers, and provides thoughtful insights into how we use artificial intelligence in an increasingly digital world.
Love and Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniels, His Master Distiller Nestor Green, and the Incredible Rise of Uncle Nestor by Fawn Weaver
Entrepreneur Fawn Weaver reveals the untold story of one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands. Set in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Love & Whiskey follows Weaver as he explores life on Nearest Green. played a key role in the development process. Weaver travels through layers of history to uncover the truth about Greene’s contributions to the spirits industry and his friendship with Daniels, uncovering a story that connects generations. Her discovery inspired a new way forward, and Weaver spearheaded the creation of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to honor and celebrate Greene’s legacy for generations to come.
“Formula: How gangsters, geniuses and speedsters remade F1 into the world’s fastest growing sport” Author: Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
In “The Formula,” The Wall Street Journal’s Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell a compelling story of how Formula One’s fearless reinvention led to a breakthrough in America. “Formula” tells the story of how F1 racing “suddenly” landed in the United States. It was actually a story that had been brewing for decades. Robinson and Clegg have unrestricted access to F1’s most legendary teams and icons, from Ferrari to Mercedes, giving readers an exciting look at the drivers, drivers, and players who defined the world’s fastest growing sport. Companies, cars and risk.
“Secret Accommodations: Pioneer Hosts of the New Fashion” Authors: Melinda Stevens, Issyvon Simson, and Tabitha Joyce
Curated by Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce, Secret Accommodation is a fascinating exploration of 22 A hidden gem that reflects the dynamic evolution of modern travel. This coffee table book from cultural luxury brand Assouline highlights charming properties and the people who own them—from a secluded Croatian monastery to a Japanese machiya townhouse—revealing a one-of-a-kind experience that was born out of a A renewed faith in genuine, customized hospitality. Through stunning photography and engaging narrative, “Secret Stops” takes a fresh look at the diverse and evolving face of travel today.
“In Search of Fortunato: How a Peruvian Adventure Inspired the Sweet Success of a Family Chocolate Business” Adam Pearson
In Finding Fortunato, Adam Pearson takes us on a journey through the jungles of northern Peru to tell the inspiring story of an entrepreneurial family who strike for gold and discover the legendary country’s white cocoa beans (previously known as thought to be extinct). Realizing that their success depended on disrupting traditional, unethical supply chains and instead trading directly with local Peruvian farmers, the family founded Fortunato Chocolate, a company that would later become known as the “Rolex of Chocolate.”
“Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Well-Being” Author: Laura Mae Martin
Every day, tens of thousands of Googlers, from interns to executives, rely on executive productivity consultant Laura Mae Martin to make the most of their time. In “Uptime,” Martin provides easy-to-follow steps to increase productivity, prevent burnout, and achieve a better work-life balance. Whether you’re faced with a deluge of email, an overloaded calendar, or difficult-to-facilitate meetings, Martin’s strategic approach lays out specific steps to help you manage your time effectively, stay focused on priorities, and maintain effective systems and routines.
“The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles” Jake Gyllenhaal and Greta Caruso
The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles is a whimsical and heartwarming graphic novel from Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his childhood best friend Greta Caruso book, celebrates the unique and fun role aunts and uncles play in children’s lives. Humorously exploring the call to adventure that being an aunt or uncle can bring – from flexible bedtimes to activities with a “healthy dose of danger” – this book paints a loving portrait of these special relationships .
Anniversary Spotlight: “The Value of Water: Our Story of Finding Solutions to the World’s Biggest Challenges” Gary White and Matt Damon
Celebrating 225th On the anniversary of the founding of J.P. Morgan’s earliest predecessor, the Manhattan Corporation, which began as a water company, we’re proud to focus on Gary White and Matt Damon’s The Value of Water. These two unlikely allies share a mission to end the global water crisis, taking readers on a journey to provide communities and families with the tools to address drinking water shortages. White and Damon outline their trial-and-error approach to finding workable solutions and show how the water crisis can be solved through collective action.
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