JPMorgan Summer Reading List

Ritholtz Wealth Management's Josh Brown recently revealed he'll be reading German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra this summer. If you're not interested in knowing what an Übermensch is and would prefer something less abstruse, even if it comes with fewer bragging rights, JPMorgan's 20th summer reading list, described as the "most diverse" since its inception, may have a title for you.

"Every year, our teams look forward to curating summer reading collections that offer clients distinctive opportunities to explore new worlds, new tastes and new ideas," said Darin Oduyoye, chief communications officer for JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management. "Now – two decades in – we continue that tradition hoping to spark curiosity and conversation with an eclectic mix of books meant to educate, motivate and inspire."

Here's are the 10 books advisors from JPMorgan offices think you should pick up:

1.Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America, by Weijian Shan.

With a foreword by none other than former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, this memoir written by economist and financier Weijian Shan recounts his journey from a laborer in the Gobi desert to a powerful figure in global finance.

JPMorgan points out why this book may be particularly timely. "At a time when two of the world’s largest and most influential nations—China and the United States—face off in a delicate and tense economic showdown, one man’s journey sheds a revealing light on both countries and their current interactions," it wrote on its website.

2.The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution, by Susan Hockfield.

American neuroscientist Susan Hockfield describes her thesis that technological breakthroughs achieved by observing biological processes in nature will be key to helping humanity survive the depletion of resources.

"From bionic limbs to computer engineered agriculture, new biology-rich innovations offer an exciting glimpse at our future," said JPMorgan.

3.Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, by Tracey Bashkoff. 

Alongside the books on this list is a catalogue published for a Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum exhibition that ran from October 2018 to April 2019. Titled Paintings for the Future, it was the first major solo exhibition in the U.S. devoted to the Swedish artist Hilma af Klint.

Klint painted these works over a century ago but insisted on not showing them to the public for a long time. She is now known as the first abstract painter in the Western world. "This catalogue delves into the thematic evolution of her artistry, the influences within her life, and the impact she has had on modern art—ensuring the artist and her work are a secret no more," said JPMorgan.

4.The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, by Melinda Gates.

Melinda Gates was a product manager at Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) before she married then CEO Bill Gates in 1994 and subsequently left the company to focus on her charity work. In her first book, the world's sixth most powerful woman according to Forbes, tells readers about the importance of empowering women and the women who have inspired her.

"The book is a reminder of both the power of story and the need for change, and proof that when women succeed, we all succeed," said JPMorgan.

5.Literary Places (Inspired Traveller’s Guide), by Sarah Baxter and Amy Grimes. 

Travel journalist Sarah Baxter takes the reader on a tour of 25 interesting locations that are settings in iconic novels, and Amy Grimes has provided hand-drawn illustrations.

"Baxter offers a distinctive and informative guide through time, geography, and the human experience with our surroundings," said JPMorgan.

6.The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty, by Clayton Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon.

As the title says, the co-authors of this book make the argument that entrepreneur-led innovation, not government aid, is key to raising the standard of living in the world's most impoverished places.

The book offers "an alternative route to sustainable development, using innovative proven models from around the world," says JPMorgan.

7. My Mexico City Kitchen: Recipes and Convictions, by Gabriela Cámara. 

44-year-old Gabriela Cámara is perhaps Mexican cuisine's most celebrated chef today, and her restaurants in Mexico City and San Francisco were featured in a Netflix documentary. With My Mexico City Kitchen she gives home cooks a chance to make 150 of her dishes and learn some more about how she sees food through a dozen essays.

8.Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein. 

With this New York Times bestseller, journalist Epstein makes the case that you are more likely to succeed in life if you are a jack-of-all-trades and master of none than a specialist who focused on developing a few skills.

JPMorgan recommends this book because it "spotlights the fact that it is not necessarily when we start, but more often how starts, failures and restarts fuel our agility, determination and ultimate success."

9.D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II, by Sarah Rose. 

In this page-turner, journalist Sarah Rose tells the true story of 39 women recruited as spies by Britain in 1942 and the role they played in the outcome of the second world war.

JPMorgan called this book "a much-needed spotlight on some of the unsung heroines of the war." 

10.Atlas Obscura: Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid, by Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco.

While this book is technically meant for a younger audience, JPMorgan says it will "captivate and charm readers young and old" with its "perfect blend of consumable facts, illuminating history, geography and culture."

Written by Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras and science writer Rosemary Mosco with illustrations by Joy Ang, it describes 100 places to visit that you won't find in your regular travel guide books.