A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide for wealthy investors and consumers. Sign up to receive future issues straight to your inbox.
Today’s wealthy workaholics rarely have time to sit back and read a good book—except perhaps for a few weeks in August. That’s why JP Morgan Private Bank releases its summer reading list every May and often serves as a book club for billionaires.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the list, now called the JP Morgan Summer Reading List. The 10 books have been carefully curated to suit the tastes and interests of JP Morgan’s wealthy clients. This year’s list includes books on effective communication, artificial intelligence, Formula 1, whiskey, hidden vacation spots and the art collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
JP Morgan created the list by surveying its more than 35,000 relationship managers and employees worldwide and asking them about the topics customers are talking and thinking about the most. This year, consultants submitted more than 700 recommended book titles, which a committee narrowed down based on relevance and appeal.
“Our customers range from business owners and entrepreneurs to philanthropists and art collectors,” said Darin Oduyoye, chief communications officer of JP Morgan Asset and Wealth Management, who has been at the top of the list since its inception. “There are suitable books for each of these groups.”
Customers receive an elegant box with the JP Morgan logo and one or two books from the list that their relationship manager has specifically recommended. The guide also comes with a handwritten note and a reminder bookmark.
The list helps advisors connect with clients during the slow summer months. It also helps with client events, as authors on the list often agree to host special dinners or speaking events for JP Morgan clients.
Authors also love being on the list, as JP Morgan buys thousands of books to distribute and customers often forward the books to others.
“The list is something that both customers, colleagues and our communities are looking forward to,” Oduyoye said.
This year’s 25th anniversary edition features a special “Anniversary Spotlight” highlighting Water.org, the charity founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, and its book “The Worth of Water.”
Here is JP Morgan’s 25th Annual Summer Reading List along with summaries of the books provided by the bank:
“Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection” by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg shares the latest research into what makes conversations effective and reveals how we can improve our communication and create stronger connections. Whether it’s a divided jury room or the way a CIA officer recruits a foreign agent, Duhigg illustrates with examples how we can deliver effective messages by recognizing and leveraging the three levels of every conversation – practically , emotional and social. Duhigg takes us from the writers’ room of one of television’s most successful sitcoms to the couches of sought-after marriage counselors and shows us that we all have super communicators within us.
“The Anxious Generation: How the Great Restructuring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out urgent facts—and a clear call to action—to draw attention to the global epidemic of mental illness among teenagers. Haidt sees the ubiquitous use of smartphones and over a dozen other mechanisms as contributing to the “great rewiring of childhood.” He argues that these technologies have had profound negative impacts on children’s social and neurological development and examines what can be done to reverse the significant rise in sleep deprivation, fragmented attention, loneliness, addiction and social comparison. Importantly, Haidt calls for collective action and outlines steps we must all take to end this epidemic.
“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection by Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” published by Phaidon
“Giants” celebrates selections from the world-class art collection of music and cultural icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and presents 100 works by nearly 40 multi-generational Black American, African and African Diaspora artists. Curated by the Brooklyn Museum for its first-ever major exhibition, the Dean Collection features works by legendary – but also emerging – artists, including Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Odili Donald Odita and Kennedy Yanko. “Giants” also includes exclusive conversations between Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys and curator Kimberli Gant, as well as interviews with 10 of the renowned artists.
“Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)” by Salman Khan
Salman Khan, the visionary behind the nonprofit Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform learning in both education and the workplace. He shows how AI will not replace human interaction, but rather enhance it with tools to promote creativity and problem solving. It shows how AI can adapt to each student’s individual pace while identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Khan outlines how new technologies can create a more accessible education system, offering practical implications for administrators, consultants and human resources managers, as well as thoughtful insights into how we can all leverage AI in an increasingly digital world.
“Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Unlikely Rise of Uncle Nearest” by Fawn Weaver
Entrepreneur Fawn Weaver reveals the untold story of one of America’s most famous whiskey brands. Set in Lynchburg, Tennessee, “Love & Whiskey” follows Weaver’s search for the life of Nearest Green, a 19th-century African-American distiller who played a pivotal role in the development of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. Weaver navigates the layers of history to uncover the truth about Green’s contributions to the liquor industry and his friendship with Daniels, uncovering a story that connects generations. Her insights inspire a new path forward, with Weaver spearheading the development of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey to honor and celebrate Green’s legacy for generations to come.
“The Formula: How Villains, Geniuses and Speed Freaks Made Formula 1 the Fastest Growing Sport in the World” by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
In “The Formula,” The Wall Street Journal’s Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell the compelling story of how the fearless reinvention of Formula One led to its breakthrough in America. With fast cars, engineering geniuses, driver rivalries and glamorous settings, “The Formula” details how Formula One’s “sudden” arrival in the United States actually took decades. With unlimited access to Formula 1’s most legendary teams and icons from Ferrari to Mercedes, Robinson and Clegg give readers a thrilling look at the drivers, companies, cars and risks that have shaped the world’s fastest-growing sport.
“Secret Stays: Pioneering Hosts of the New Chic” by Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce
Secret Stays, a fascinating journey of discovery curated by Melinda Stevens, Issy von Simson and Tabitha Joyce, introduces 22 hidden gems that reflect the dynamic evolution of modern travel. This coffee table book from Assouline, the luxury cultural brand, highlights fascinating properties and the people who own them – from a secluded Croatian monastery to a Japanese machiya townhouse – and reveals unique experiences that come from a reinvigorated belief in real, bespoke Hospitality. Through stunning photography and compelling narrative, Secret Stays takes a fresh look at the diverse and ever-evolving side of travel today.
““Finding Fortunato: How a Peruvian Adventure Inspired the Sweet Success of a Family Chocolate Business” by Adam Pearson
In Finding Fortunato, Adam Pearson takes us on a journey into the northern Peruvian jungle and tells the inspiring story of the entrepreneurial family that struck gold and discovered the legendary Nacional white cacao bean, once thought to be extinct. Realizing that their success rested on breaking a traditional, unethical supply chain and instead trading directly with local Peruvian farmers, the family founded Fortunato Chocolate, a company later referred to as “the Rolex of chocolate.”
“Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Well-Being” by Laura Mae Martin
Every day, tens of thousands of Google employees, from interns to C-level managers, rely on an executive productivity consultant – Laura Mae Martin – to make the most of their time. In Uptime, Martin offers easy-to-follow steps to increase productivity, prevent burnout, and achieve a better work-life balance. Whether you’re faced with an email avalanche, a crowded calendar, or a difficult-to-lead meeting, Martin’s strategic approach lays out concrete steps to help you manage your time efficiently, focus on priorities, and maintain effective systems and routines.
“The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles” by Jake Gyllenhaal and Greta Caruso
“The Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles,” a whimsical and heartwarming picture book by Oscar and Tony Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his childhood best friend Greta Caruso, celebrates the unique, entertaining role that aunts and uncles play in children’s lives. This book humorously explores the call to adventure that being an aunt or uncle can bring – from flexible bedtimes to activities with a “healthy dose of danger” – and paints a loving portrait of these special relationships.
Anniversary Spotlight: “The Value of Water: Our Story of Finding Solutions to the World’s Greatest Challenge” by Gary White and Matt Damon
To mark the 225th anniversary of JPMorgan Chase’s earliest predecessor – the Manhattan Company, which was founded as a water company – we are proud to spotlight “The Worth of Water” by Gary White and Matt Damon. These two unlikely allies with a shared mission to end the global water crisis take readers on a journey to equip communities and families with tools to address their drinking water shortages. White and Damon outline their trial-and-error approach to finding a workable solution and show how the water crisis can be solved through collective action.
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2024-05-26 13:00:01
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