It has become a habit for me to recommend books I enjoyed at the beginning of the summer. Looking through the list of books I have read since the beginning of 2026 (for many years now, I have kept a list of the books I read and assigned each a rating out of five stars), I realize that I greatly enjoyed quite a few of them.
In fact, I gave a rating of four stars or more to more than one-third of the 35 books I have read since the beginning of the year. Am I being too generous? It is possible, but I believe instead that my tastes have become more refined over my years of reading and that I have become more selective in my choices. I have developed preferences for certain authors and certain types of books. I also often buy books that are mentioned or recommended in the books I read, which increases the likelihood that I will enjoy them.
I would add that many books never make it onto my reading list simply because I abandon them along the way.
Here are seven books that I particularly enjoyed this year. Some, in my view, will help deepen your knowledge as an investor; others will entertain you while helping you better understand our world.
“1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History – and How It Shattered a Nation,” by Andrew Ross Sorkin (★★★★⯪). This book provides a better understanding of the 1929 stock market crash and the factors that helped turn a market crisis into the Great Depression. It is an excellent case study of bubbles, excessive leverage, conflicts of interest, and crowd psychology. It reminds us that the greatest risks are often invisible at the peak of a bull market.
“Le vent en parle encore,” by Michel Jean (★★★★★). I have read several books by this Quebec author and have enjoyed every one of them. This one offers a moving perspective on the abuse suffered by Indigenous children in Canada’s residential school system.
“The Proving Ground,” by Michael Connelly (★★★★⯪). While entertaining, this book also illustrates some of the risks associated with the misuse of artificial intelligence. Despite its extraordinary potential, AI also carries significant risks related to legal liability, reputation, regulation, and governance.
“History Matters,” by David McCullough (★★★★★). This author (1933–2022) was an American historian and biographer, notably known for his biographies of John Adams and Harry Truman. He was a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. History Matters is a posthumous collection of essays on the importance of history, leadership, character, and understanding the past to illuminate the present. We must not forget history and the lessons it can teach us. As Harry Truman, quoted by McCullough, reminded us: “The only thing really new in the world is the history you don’t know.”
“The Winter Warriors,” by Olivier Norek (★★★★★). This book is a historical novel about the war between the Soviet Union and Finland in 1939–1940. It tells the story of the extraordinary resistance of a small country against the aggression of an overwhelming power. Are there parallels to be drawn between that conflict and the contemporary wars between Russia and Ukraine, or between the United States and Iran? As the saying often attributed to Mark Twain goes, history does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.
“The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes,” by Zachary D. Carter (★★★★⯪). This substantial work is an intellectual biography of John Maynard Keynes and the evolution of his economic ideas. It is not an easy read, but I recommend it if you want a better understanding of the role of governments and central banks, as well as the influence of fiscal and monetary policies on the economy. I also wrote a blog post based on this book last April: “Should Governments Intervene or Let Things Be?”
“The Third Chimpanzee,” by Jared Diamond (★★★★★). Several years ago, I read another book by this author, Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I greatly enjoyed and intend to reread. In The Third Chimpanzee, Diamond explores human evolution and the origins of human behavior. I never tire of reading about human nature: collective behavior, biases, cooperation, conflict, and incentives—all factors that influence financial markets.
I hope these brief reading recommendations will inspire you during the summer season. Feel free to share your own reading recommendations with me!
Have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to reconnecting with you in September!
Philippe Le Blanc, CFA, MBA
Chief Investment Officer at COTE 100
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This article is also published on 
(in French)
