My reading recommendations
Most of my job is to read, think, and write to help other investors achieve their most important goals. For a reading enthusiast, it's hard to find better! Join me here every week to discover my ideal library.
My current recommendation
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
Recommended by Phillipe
By Cal Newport, 304 pages, 2016, Grand Central Publishing
We now live in a world of constant demands on our attention, with endless distractions pulling us in all directions. This book offers practical insight into developing the discipline to fully focus on what truly matters—and to let go of what doesn’t. Since reading it, I’ve been trying to maximize my deep-focus hours at work—not always easy!
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Michael Connelly, 432 pages, 2025, Little, Brown and Company
I always enjoy Connelly’s books, but I have to say this one stood out. Part of the appeal lies in the lead character—a female investigator—which brings a fresh perspective. What I especially appreciated, though, is that instead of focusing on a single case, the story follows several investigations unfolding at once. It gives the novel a sense of realism, reflecting the way detectives likely juggle multiple files in real life.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Guillaume Lavallée, 240 pages, 2024, Les éditions du Boréal
IN FRENCH ONLY
The Québécois author takes us deep into the heart of Gaza as it was before October 7, 2023. This enclave, marked by a fragile existence and the absence of lasting peace, is portrayed with clarity and nuance. In a media and literary landscape largely shaped by Israeli and Western narratives, this powerful book offers a rare and compelling perspective from within Gaza—one that centers the Palestinian experience.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Serge Bouchard, 216 pages, 2022, Les éditions du Boréal
[In French only]
This collection of texts, read by the author on the radio, is sublime. His poetic prose is rich and filled with the wisdom of this anthropologist. He uses the black spruce as an anchor to explore themes that have always inspired him. Allow yourself to be carried away by his reflections on the meaning of our lives.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Stefan Zweig, 78 pages, 2022, Independently published
Knowing the past to better understand the present: the three stories in this book provide an objective look at Soviet Russia in the 1920s. The first text recounts Lenin’s return from exile, the second details the author’s trip to Russia, and the last is an essay on the author Maxim Gorky. Through these texts, Zweig sheds light on the Russian people and their characteristics, which we can still observe today.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Gregory Zuckerman, 384 pages, 2019, Penguin Random House
I read this book for the second time after the announcement of Jim Simons’ death in the summer of 2024. It tells the remarkable story of this secretive mathematician and pioneer of the algorithm who achieved extraordinary success, surpassing every other well-known major investor. The author, a journalist from the Wall Street Journal, recounts Simons’ entrepreneurial journey and the way he built his firm, although he unfortunately does not reveal any secrets about how he managed it. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating story.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Brian Johnson, 1068 pages, 2023, Heroic Blackstone
Be the best you can be at every moment—that’s what you can aspire to when you read this guide. This hefty book is filled with valuable concepts and tips for self-improvement. It’s essentially a training program for the soul, and I have learned a lot from it and applied some of the concepts in my life. My kids should read it!
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Amin Maalouf, 336 pages, 2020, World Editions
This essay captivates with its clear examination of recent human history and the pitfalls that threaten it. The author provides an in-depth historical analysis of the Middle East and offers several observations, primarily based on his own experiences but largely as a historian. His vision is admittedly pessimistic, yet it remains sadly realistic given the current state of the planet.
Publisher’s website
Recommended by Phillipe
By Victor Hugo, 286 pages, 2018, Createspace Independent Publishing
In this tragic plea for the abolition of the death penalty in 19th-century France, Victor Hugo reveals nothing about the identity of the condemned man or the crime he committed. Instead, he allows us to experience the thoughts and emotions of this silenced individual, taking a critical look at a punishment that continues to provoke debate almost 200 years after the novel was written. In short, this is a masterful work that remains relevant today.
Publisher’s website
