Summer reading 2025

At UKREiiF this year a few people asked me what I had been reading lately. I shared a short list on LinkedIn but Paul asked me to say a little more about them. So as we come crashing in to the summer, these are my recommendations - a couple on the subject of leadership and change, one that reads like a tech thriller, and a novel I keep recommending to anyone living in London (or anywhere to be honest).

Here’s what’s been on my list:

Same As Ever by Morgan Housel

This one really stayed with me. Housel’s core idea is simple but powerful: we’re not very good at predicting what will change, but we’re surprisingly good at recognising what stays the same. Instead of chasing trends or trying to forecast the next big thing, he encourages us to focus on timeless behaviours - how people respond to risk, trust, incentives, fear. It’s a useful perspective, especially in a world that’s constantly shifting. In development, like in life, understanding the constants can be more valuable than guessing the variables.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

My crush, Mr Sinek. Start With Why is still part of my every day so will read anything he publishes. I actually got this one in one of those free book exchanges in a pub so it is quite sticky.

Despite the title, this book felt much more about culture than leadership in the conventional sense. Sinek explores how trust and safety inside teams are built and why they matter. When people feel like they belong, when they feel supported, they perform better. Simple as that. I happened to be reading this alongside Same As Ever, and the two books echoed each other in surprising ways. Both ask us to focus less on the new and more on what’s always been true about how people work together.

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World by Parmy Olsen

This one reads like a global tech thriller. It charts the race to dominate AI, from DeepMind to OpenAI and beyond, and it moves at a pace that keeps you turning the pages. But beneath the drama is a deeply thoughtful exploration of what AI means for society, business, and geopolitics.

I think it was the FT Business Book of the Year, and it’s not hard to see why. If you’re curious (or even uneasy) about how fast this world is evolving, it’s a fascinating read.

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan

And finally, a novel set right here in London. Caledonian Road captures the contradictions and tensions of the city in a way that’s both sharp and deeply human. It explores class, race, power, and cultural identity, all through a story that’s as readable as it is insightful. If you live in London, you’ll recognise the geography, and probably a few of the characters too. It’s one of those books that feels like it was written exactly for the moment we’re living in.

Plus my wife used to live in the basement of a house on 'Thorners'. She wasn't inspo for the character in the book I hope.

Enjoy, and send me any recommendations!