2026-06-05
Back from a vacation in France, one of my favorite visits in Lyon was to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (above).
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2026-05-20
Beware of Unusually High Profit Margins
Some observers point out that today’s valuations are not comparable to those of the year 2000...
2026-05-15
Several psychological biases at work
During his lifetime, Charlie Munger often referred to the concept of “Lollapalooza.” The term...
2026-05-08
Investor or portfolio manager?
The distinction is somewhat like the difference between an entrepreneur and a corporate...
2026-05-01
When the Most Profitable Companies Lay Off Employees
In normal circumstances, layoffs occur when finances deteriorate: demand slows, margins...
My current recommendation
By Michael Connelly, 400 pages, 2025, Little, Brown and Company
This author, whose books I devour, tackles a more than timely subject in this novel: artificial intelligence. This undisputed thriller master brings us into the world of AI and its potential excesses. As AI becomes entangled in the murder of a young woman and a lawsuit is filed against the AI company involved, an investigation full of twists and turns unfolds. A very tightly crafted story that, while written to entertain, nonetheless provokes reflection on issues that are becoming less and less hypothetical.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Michael Connelly, 400 pages, 2025, Little, Brown and Company
This author, whose books I devour, tackles a more than timely subject in this novel: artificial intelligence. This undisputed thriller master brings us into the world of AI and its potential excesses. As AI becomes entangled in the murder of a young woman and a lawsuit is filed against the AI company involved, an investigation full of twists and turns unfolds. A very tightly crafted story that, while written to entertain, nonetheless provokes reflection on issues that are becoming less and less hypothetical.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Robert B. Cialdini, 592 pages, 2021, Harper Business
This book, recommended by Charlie Munger several years ago, is a classic in the art of persuasion. The author, a respected scientist, lays out the principles of convincing others — but also of resisting attempts at influence. I even drew from it a blog series focused on the principles of this information-rich book. What one learns from it can be applied in both professional and personal spheres, which makes it doubly interesting.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Stefan Zweig, 258 pages, 2024, Plon
IN FRENCH ONLY
This book brings together texts written between 1909 and 1941. In today’s time, it feels especially important to revisit what unfolded in Europe during the 20th century—from the lead-up to the First World War to the events preceding the second. In these essays, Zweig passionately advocates for peace and a return to humanist values. A book our leaders should read.
Recommended by Phillipe
By Doris Kearns Goodwin, 944 pages, 2004, Simon & Schuster
Written by a renowned historian, this biography explores the life of Abraham Lincoln—president during the U.S. Civil War and the one who abolished slavery in the country. It captures the unfolding of his political genius and the impact of a presidency that undeniably shaped American and human history. One can’t help but wonder: is he the very opposite of a certain contemporary president?
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Serge Bouchard, 232 pages, 2021, Bibliothèque québécoise
IN FRENCH ONLY
With lyrical and poetic writing, this anthropologist takes us on a journey through Borealia and across the Americas, offering a fresh perspective on history. Along the way, he helps us appreciate the beauty of Quebec and Canada, while highlighting the importance
