Insights

July 15, 2025

Books

“Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey. It’s a great book that challenges leaders to think about the work they need to do to evolve and then work with their teams. It’s a book I revisit to evaluate my personal and company growth.” – Carol Harrison, president, Global Gateway Advisors

“Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman. I am teaching Global Social Enterprise in the fall and it is the basis of my course. Needed now more than ever.” – Julie Meyer, founder, Eat Well Global

“For the heart: Ina Garten’s Be Ready When the Luck Happens. For the beach: Casey McQuiston’s Red White and Royal Blue. For the brain: Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last. – Théa Iacovelli, managing director, strategic growth, Global Gateway Advisors

What else?

• Abundance by Ezra Klein: An exploration of how technological advancements could reshape society, economy and human potential in a future of radical abundance.
• Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum by Elaine Sciolini: A guide to experiencing the Louvre’s art and history through personal stories and insider tips, inviting readers to connect deeply with the museum.
  
• The Art Thief by Michael Finkel: A true story of Stéphane Breitwieser, a prolific art thief who stole over 300 artworks from European museums, driven by obsession rather than profit.
  
• The Beauty of the End by Lauren Stienstra: In a dystopian future facing extinction, two sisters navigate ethics, ambition and survival in a government-run reproduction program.
• Black Friend by Ziwe: A humorous collection of essays from comedian Ziwe, reflecting on race, identity and pop culture through her incisive and irreverent lens.
  
• Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams: A historical narrative exploring the reckless ambition and moral decline of Jazz Age figures.
  
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: An oral history of a 1970s rock band, chronicling their rise to fame, interpersonal dramas and eventual dissolution.
  
• Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden by Zhuqing Li: A memoir of two sisters separated by the Chinese Civil War, tracing their divergent paths and resilience amid political upheaval.
  
• Death Is Our Business: Russian Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare by John Lechner: An investigative account of Russia’s Wagner Group and the rise of private military companies reshaping modern warfare.
  
• Empire of AI by Karen Hao: A deep dive into the global race for artificial intelligence dominance, examining its technological, ethical and geopolitical implications.
  
• Everyday Life in the Spectacular City: Making Home in Dubai by Rana AlMutawa: An ethnographic study of Dubai’s residents, revealing how they navigate identity, community and belonging in a rapidly transforming urban landscape.
  
• Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz: A look at the rise of internet influencers and the cultural, economic and social forces shaping digital fame.
  
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano: A family saga about four sisters, inspired by Little Women, exploring love, loyalty and the bonds that endure through tragedy.
  
• How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur: An accessible guide to moral philosophy, blending humor and practical advice to navigate ethical dilemmas in everyday life.
  
• How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price: A practical, science-backed guide to reducing smartphone addiction and reclaiming time, attention and mental well-being.
  
• In a Free State by V.S. Naipaul: A collection of interconnected stories exploring displacement, identity and the complexities of freedom in a postcolonial world.
  
• James by Percival Everett: A reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective, blending humor and tragedy to explore race and humanity.
• Nazi Billionaires by David de Jong: An investigative exposé of dynastic families who amassed wealth under the Third Reich and their lingering influence in modern Germany.
  
• Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari: A history of how information networks, from ancient writing to AI, have shaped human civilization and power dynamics.
  
• Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri: A collection of short stories set in Rome, exploring themes of migration, identity and belonging through the lives of diverse characters.
  
• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins: A motivational guide encouraging readers to release control over others’ actions and focus on personal growth and empowerment.
  
• The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House: A detailed portrait of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and his ambitious, controversial efforts to modernize the kingdom.
  
• Say It Well by Terry Szuplata: A practical guide to effective public speaking, drawing on the author’s experience as a speechwriter to inspire confidence and clarity.
  
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett: A fantasy mystery set in a decaying empire, where a brilliant investigator and her assistant unravel a conspiracy tied to a magical plague.
  
• We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor: A sci-fi adventure following Bob, a former engineer whose consciousness is uploaded into a spacecraft, exploring the galaxy while replicating himself.
  
• What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman: An exploration of owl biology, behavior and cultural significance, grounded in cutting-edge scientific research.
  
• When McKinsey Comes to Town by Michael Forsythe and Walt Bogdanich: An investigation of McKinsey’s controversial role in shaping global business and government.
  
• Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service edited by Michael Lewis: A collection of essays highlighting the unsung heroes of public service and their critical roles in shaping effective governance.

Movies and TV

“Adolescence. Wow. Amazing. It was gripping, terrifying of course, and carried an important message. It was also acting, writing, directing and producing at its very best.” – David Neibart, principal, The Neibart Group

“Paradise is a series that teaches that utopia is not perfect. Orchestrated life based on the opinion of a few does not prevent curiosity.” – Vanessa N. Quijano, senior public affairs and communications advisor, NeighborWorks America

“Handmaid’s Tale and America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. In their own, unique ways, both series illustrate the strength, grit and complex inner thoughts and motivations of women. I would recommend watching both series in tandem, alternating between shows based on your mood.” – Sareena Roy, account executive, Global Gateway Advisors

What else?

• Anora: A young Brooklyn sex worker’s whirlwind romance and impulsive marriage to the son of a Russian oligarch is threatened when his parents attempt to annul the union, leading to a chaotic journey through New York.
  
• Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything: A documentary exploring the groundbreaking career and personal life of the legendary journalist.
• Call Her Alex: A two-part documentary series about Alex Cooper, the host of the massively successful podcast “Call Her Daddy,” exploring her rise from a self-conscious teenager to a media mogul.
  
• Dept Q: A brash but brilliant cop becomes head of a new police department, where he leads an unlikely team of misfits in solving Edinburgh’s cold cases.
  
• Formula 1: Drive to Survive: A docuseries giving viewers exclusive, intimate access to the people in one of the world’s greatest racing competitions.
  
• Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure: A docuseries following the everyday people who risked their lives chasing Fenn’s fortune.
  
• My Mom Jayne: In her feature film directorial debut, Mariska Hargitay grapples with the public and private legacy of her mother, Jayne Mansfield.
  
• My Octopus Teacher: In a South African kelp forest, a filmmaker forms a remarkable bond with an octopus as she reveals the wonders of her underwater world.
• Nothing Compares: A documentary covering Sinéad O’Connor’s rise to fame and how her iconoclastic personality led to her exile from the pop mainstream.
• The Four Seasons: Starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, this comedy-drama follows three longtime couples whose decades-old friendship is shaken when one pair divorces, upending their cherished tradition of quarterly weekend getaways.
  
• Shrinking: A grieving therapist starts breaking the rules, with comedic and heartfelt consequences.
  
• Sirens: Taking place over a single weekend at a lavish beach estate, the series delves into issues of gender, power and social class.
  
• Special Ops: Lioness: A covert CIA program uses female operatives to infiltrate terror networks in this thriller.
  
• The Bear: A series about food, family and the insanity of the restaurant industry grind.
• The Better Sister: A thriller about two estranged sisters, Chloe and Nicky, who are forced to reunite after Chloe’s husband, Adam, is murdered.
  
• The Rehearsal: Nathan Fielder stages elaborate simulations to help people prepare for life’s toughest moments.
• The Studio: Seth Rogen stars as the newly appointed head of a movie studio.