This year marks the 25th anniversary of the list, now called the JP Morgan Summer Reading List. The 10 books are carefully selected to suit the tastes and interests of JP Morgan's affluent clients. This year's list includes books on effective communication, artificial intelligence, Formula 1, whiskey, hidden vacation spots, and the art collections of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
JPMorgan compiles the list by surveying more than 35,000 client advisors and employees around the world about the topics their clients are talking about and thinking about most. This year, advisors submitted more than 700 book recommendations, which the committee narrowed down based on timeliness and appeal.
“Our clients range from business owners and entrepreneurs to philanthropists and art collectors,” says Darin Oduyoye, chief communications officer at JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management, who has spearheaded the list since its inception. “There's a book for each group.”
Clients receive an elegant JP Morgan-branded box containing one or two books from their list that have been highly recommended by their client advisor, who also includes a handwritten note and a commemorative bookmark.
The list helps advisors connect with clients during the slow summer months, and it also helps with client events, as authors on the list often agree to host exclusive dinners or speaking engagements for JPMorgan clients.
Authors are also pleased to be on the list, as JPMorgan purchases thousands of books for distribution and its clients often recommend the books to others.
“This listing is something our customers, colleagues and our community can look forward to,” Oduyoye said.
This year's 25th anniversary edition features a special “Anniversary Spotlight” focusing on Water.org, the charity founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, and their book, “The Worth of Water.”
Below is JPMorgan's 25th annual summer reading list, along with a summary of the books the bank provided.
“Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection” Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg shares the latest research on making conversations more effective while revealing how we can raise the level of our communication and build stronger connections. Whether it's a divided jury room or a CIA officer recruiting a foreign agent, Duhigg uses examples to show how to get your message across effectively by recognizing and leveraging the three layers of every conversation: the practical, the emotional, and the social. From the writers' room of TV's most successful sitcom to the couch of a popular marriage counselor, Duhigg shows us that there is a super-communicator inside of us.
“The Anxious Generation: Massive Rewiring of Childhood Leads to Epidemic of Mental Illness” Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt offers urgent facts and a clear call to action to bring attention to the global epidemic of teen mental illness. Haidt says that the widespread use of smartphones and more than a dozen other mechanisms are contributing to a “great rewiring of childhood.” He argues that these technologies are having a profoundly negative impact on children's social and neurological development, and explores what can be done to reverse the massive increases in sleep deprivation, divided attention, loneliness, addiction, and social comparison. Importantly, Haidt calls for collective action and outlines the steps we all must take to end this epidemic.
“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys Published by Phaidon
“Giants” is a curated collection of works from the world-class art collections of music and cultural icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean), featuring 100 works by nearly 40 multigenerational Black American, African and African Diaspora artists. The first major exhibition organized by the Brooklyn Museum, the Dean Collection features work by legendary and emerging artists, including Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Odili Donald Odita and Kennedy Yanko. “Giants” features: The album features exclusive conversations with Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, and curator Kimberli Gant, as well as interviews with 10 other notable artists featured.
“Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That's a Good Thing).” Salman Khan
Salman Khan, visionary at the nonprofit Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform learning in both education and the workplace. He demonstrates that AI does not replace human interaction but rather augments it with tools that foster creativity and problem-solving, and shows how AI can identify strengths and areas for improvement while adapting to each student's individual pace. Outlining how emerging technologies can create a more accessible education system, Khan offers practical implications for administrators, counselors, and hiring managers, as well as thoughtful insights into how we can all leverage AI in our increasingly digital world.
“Love & Whiskey: The True Story of the Astonishing Success of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller, Nearest Green, and Uncle Nearest” By Fawn Weaver
Entrepreneur Fawn Weaver reveals the untold story of America's most iconic whiskey brand. Set in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Love & Whiskey follows Weaver's journey to explore the life of Uncle Nearest Green, a 19th century African-American distiller who played a key role in the development of Jack Daniel's whiskey. As she unravels the layers of history and uncovers the truth about Green's contributions to the spirits industry and his friendship with Daniel, Weaver uncovers a story that connects generations. Her discoveries blaze a new trail, leading Weaver to spearhead the creation of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey as a way to honor and celebrate Green's legacy for the next generation.
“Formula: How rogues, geniuses and speed freaks transformed F1 into the world's fastest-growing sport” Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
In The Formula, The Wall Street Journal's Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell the riveting story of how F1's bold reinvention led to its breakthrough in the United States. With fast cars, brilliant engineers, driver rivalries and glamorous settings, The Formula details how F1's “sudden” arrival in the U.S. was actually decades in the making. With unfettered access to F1's most legendary teams and icons, from Ferrari to Mercedes, Robinson and Clegg give readers a thrilling inside look at the drivers, companies, cars and risks that have defined the world's fastest-growing sport.
“Secret Stays: Pioneering Hosts of New Chic” Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson, Tabitha Joyce
A fascinating exploration curated by Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce, Secret Stays presents 22 hidden gems that reflect the dynamic evolution of modern travel. From a secluded Croatian monastery to a Japanese townhouse, this coffee table book focuses on enchanting properties and their owners, revealing unique experiences born from a revived belief in authentic, bespoke hospitality, published by Assouline, the luxury cultural brand. Through stunning photography and compelling storytelling, Secret Stays offers a fresh look at today's diverse and ever-evolving travel landscape.
“Finding Fortunato: How a Peruvian adventure led to sweet success for a family-run 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 struck gold and discovered the legendary Nacional White cocoa bean, once thought to be extinct. Realizing that the key to success was to disrupt traditional, unethical supply chains and work directly with local Peruvian farmers, the family founded Fortunato Chocolates, a company that would become known as the “Rolex of Chocolate.”
“Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Happiness” Laura Mae Martin
Every day, tens of thousands of Googlers, from interns to C-suite executives, turn to executive productivity advisor Laura Mae Martin to make the most of their time. In “Uptime,” Martin shares easy-to-follow steps to boost productivity, prevent burnout, and improve work-life balance. Whether you're dealing with inundated email, a packed calendar, or difficult meetings, Martin's strategic approach offers concrete steps to efficiently manage your time, focus on your priorities, and maintain effective systems and routines.
“The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles” Jake Gyllenhaal and Greta Caruso
A quirky, heartwarming picture book from Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his childhood best friend Greta Caruso, “A Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles” celebrates the unique and joyful role that aunts and uncles play in children's lives. A humorous exploration of the adventurous invitations that come with being an aunt or uncle, from flexible bedtimes to “moderately risky” activities, the book paints a loving portrait of these special relationships.
Anniversary Spotlight: “The Value of Water: Our Story in Pursuing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenges” Gary White and Matt Damon
In celebration of our 225th anniversaryNumber To celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Manhattan Company, founded as a water company and precursor to JPMorgan Chase, we feature “The Worth of Water” by Gary White and Matt Damon. With a shared mission to end the global water crisis, these two unlikely allies take readers on a journey to provide communities and families with the tools to address drinking water shortages. Outlining a trial-and-error approach to finding workable solutions, White and Damon demonstrate that the water crisis is solvable through collective action.
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