What are the industry's best and brightest reading this summer?

What are the industry's best and brightest reading this summer?
Top literary picks for when you want to improve your business or enjoy a fun beach read.
MAY 17, 2015
By  Ellie Zhu
As the summer begins, it's time to pull together the definitive summer reading list for advisers. InvestmentNews has collected book recommendations from some of the leaders of the industry to help advisers prepare for their downtime. Below, find the 24 books these thought leaders are buzzing about, split between more professionally focused reads and just-for-fun books to help pass this summer's free time.
  • Ruediger Adolf
    Ruediger Adolf
    Founder and CEO, Focus Financial Partners
    Professional Read
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    Name: What it Takes
    Author: Charles D. Ellis
    Reason for Recommending: “Creating, growing, and inspiring a successful professional services firm is a daunting challenge, and Charles provides fascinating insights by learning from the very best.”
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: Civilization, The West and the Rest
    Author: Niall Ferguson
    Reason for Recommending: “With the emergence of China as an economic and political powerhouse, the West has to recommit to the values that have made our civilization so successful, and success is about more than just economics.”
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Ron Carson
  • Ron Carson
    Ron Carson
    Founder and CEO, Carson Wealth Management Group
    Professional Read
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    Name: Enough
    Author: John Bogle
    Reason for Recommending: "John Bogle approaches our profession from the heart in trying to serve others, and this book puts everything in perspective."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: Pillars of the Earth
    Author: Ken Follett
    Reason for Recommending: "It's amazing to go back in time and understand just how hard it was for people to live during the Dark Ages."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Alexandra Armstrong
  • Alexandra Armstrong
    Alexandra Armstrong
    Founder and chairman, Armstrong Fleming & Moore
    Professional Read
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    Name: The Checklist Manifesto
    Author: Atul Gawande
    Reason for Recommending: "Any good adviser should have great processes for staff and clients. This is an easy read, well written, and applicable to any aspect of business or life."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: The Wright Brothers
    Author: David McCullough
    Reason for Recommending: "I have read every one of his books, had the pleasure of meeting him in person and love all his books, perfect for the person who likes to read about interesting people."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Shirl Penney
  • Shirl Penney
    Shirl Penney
    President and CEO, Dynasty Financial Partners
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99707522.PNG"
    Name: The Innovator's Dilemma
    Author: Clayton M. Christensen
    Reason for Recommending: "I like this book because it keeps you focused on the need to consistently innovate, evolve, and adapt in business. Be the business that is the change agent, don't let it happen to you!"
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: The Essays of Warren Buffett
    Author: Warren Buffett and Lawrence A. Cunningham
    Reason for Recommending: "A very worthwhile read to learn life, economic, and business perspective from one of the finest minds of our generation."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Amy Webber
  • Amy Webber
    Amy Webber
    President, Cambridge Investment Research
    Professional Read
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    Name: Traction
    Author: Gino Wickman
    Reason for Recommending: "This book presents actual tools and strategies that a leadership team can use and implement to thrive, all while also having fun. The same tools give us the ability to reduce complexity in our business, stay focused on the end game, and make strong, effective decisions faster."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: The Hunger Games Trilogy
    Author: Suzanne Collins
    Reason for Recommending: "My husband, my daughter and I all read the series at the same time and all had a very hard time putting the books down. It sparked deep conversations around morality, choices and consequences. In our busy world, I will take every chance I get to engage on that level with my family."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Bob Doll
  • Bob Doll
    Bob Doll
    Chief market strategist, Nuveen Investments
    Professional Read
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    Name: Every Good Endeavor
    Author: Tim Keller
    Reason for Recommending: "Tim Keller reviews the purpose and pursuit of work and how an enlightened perspective on work is to serve others, not ourselves. A comprehensive and insightful read."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: The Accidental Super Power
    Author: Peter Zeihan
    Reason for Recommending: "A welcome read amidst all the doom and gloom about the U.S., this book discusses why the U.S.'s geographic position, march toward energy independence, and our relative youth make us better able to thrive and prosper than many other countries."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Scott Curtis
  • Scott Curtis
    Scott Curtis
    President, Raymond James Financial Services
    Professional Read
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    Name: Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
    Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
    Reason for Recommending: "Not a business book per se, but it includes leadership lessons regarding listening, patience, managing multiple personalities and the value of diverse perspectives while trying to move the nation forward."
    Link to Amazon
    Pleasure
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    Name: Into Thin Air
    Author: Jon Krakauer
    Reason for Recommending: "This personal, eyewitness account provides vivid descriptions of experienced and inexperienced climbers attempting to ascend and descend the world's tallest peak. Remains the only book I've read that made my palms sweat."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Dale Brown
  • Dale Brown
    Dale Brown
    President and CEO, Financial Services Institute
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99682521.PNG"
    Name: From Concept to Scale
    Author: Steve Graves, Dave Blanchard and Josh Kwan
    Reason for Recommending: "The book is a practical and inspirational guide for building an organization and integrating your faith deeply into your work."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99683521.PNG"
    Name: Return to Tobacco Road
    Author: Charlie Fiveash
    Reason for Recommending: "It is a fun and provocative story, especially for those of us in the 'fast lane' who may long for a return to our roots."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Bob Rice
  • Bob Rice
    Bob Rice
    Managing partner, Tangent Capital
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99712522.PNG"
    Name: The Second Machine Age
    Author: Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
    Reason for Recommending: "Great summary of how technology advances are fundamentally changing society, and therefore business and investing."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99686521.PNG"
    Name: Why Nations Fail
    Author: Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson
    Reason for Recommending: "Tremendous history and economics lessons that provide important warnings for us. Worth reading just for the rise and fall of Venice."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Wayne Bloom
  • Wayne Bloom
    Wayne Bloom
    CEO, Commonwealth Financial Network
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99713522.PNG"
    Name: The Extra 2%
    Author: Jonah Keri
    Reason for Recommending: "As a baseball fan and a financial industry professional, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of three guys who took a small market team from the cellar to the World Series simply by applying some Wall Street-like strategies."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: Half the Sky
    Author: Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
    Reason for Recommending: "Although it can be a difficult book to read, it is also inspirational. The more we in First World countries are aware of human rights issues like these, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to eradicate them."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: John W. Rogers Jr.
  • John W. Rogers Jr.
    John W. Rogers Jr.
    Chairman and CEO, Ariel Capital Management
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99691521.PNG"
    Name: Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics
    Author: Richard Thaler
    Reason for Recommending: "Professor Thaler offers an extraordinary introduction to this groundbreaking field of study, and highlights the importance of being a contrarian in both investing and academia."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: Give and Take
    Author: Adam Grant
    Reason for Recommending: "Professor Grant provides empirical and anecdotal evidence that proves what my college basketball coach, Pete Carril, taught me long ago: Helping others is the path to success. This is one of my favorite books!"
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Bernie Clark
  • Bernie Clark
    Bernie Clark
    Head of advisor services, Charles Schwab & Co.
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99693521.PNG"
    Name: Success and Succession
    Author: Eric Hehman, Jay Hummel, and Tim Kochis
    Reason for Recommending: "The book takes a look at the transition process of leaders from the successor's point of view and outlines strategies that lead to a better future for the business."
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
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    Name: Fighting for Common Ground
    Author: Olympia Snowe
    Reason for Recommending: "Her perspective on Washington coupled with her personal experiences made for a very compelling read."
    Link to Amazon
    Next: Joe Duran
  • Joe Duran
    Bernie Clark
    CEO,United Capital
    Professional Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99700522.PNG"
    Name: Awareness
    Author: Anthony de Mello
    Reason for Recommending: “This book has so many “aha” moments that have changed my perspective about myself and the people around me. It's most important lesson? You can't effectively manage the world around you if you can't manage yourself.”
    Link to Amazon
    Fun Read
    /assets/docs src="/wp-content/uploads2015/05/CI99701522.PNG"
    Name: A Widow for One Year
    Author: John Irving
    Reason for Recommending:“A beautifully written book about human frailty and loss that makes me ache, laugh, think and get lost in a great story by an incredible author.”
    Link to Amazon
Interactive design by Ellie Zhu

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