Seven Summer Reads for Forward-Thinking Investors, Chosen by EQT
Heading on vacation for a little well-earned rest? Try taking one of these reads to the beach with you, recommended by EQT staff.
With summer truly here, at least in the northern hemisphere, we’re hoping you get the chance for at least a little time off to rest and recuperate.
Here are seven classic non-fiction books recommended by colleagues from across EQT to help while away an afternoon on the beach or at a terrace cafe.
The Price of Time
By Edward Chancellor
“An in-depth analysis of the history and ramifications of interest rates across time. The book provides deep insight into how this fundamental metric drives our everyday lives,” says Russell Petrie, head of student housing for Europe in EQT’s Real Estate team.
The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail – But Some Don’t
By Nate Silver
“Drawing on his own groundbreaking work, Silver examines the world of prediction, investigating how we can distinguish a true signal from a universe of noisy data. Most predictions fail, often at great cost to society, because most of us have a poor understanding of probability and uncertainty. Both experts and laypeople mistake more confident predictions for more accurate ones. But overconfidence is often the reason for failure. If our appreciation of uncertainty improves, our predictions can get better too. This is the ‘prediction paradox’: the more humility we have about our ability to make predictions, the more successful we can be in planning for the future,” says Gautam Nadella, CEO of EQT’s U.S. private equity operating company.
The Tipping Point
By Malcolm Gladwell
“The Tipping Point might be a bit dated (it was published over two decades ago) but I still find it incredibly relevant, especially through the lens of venture and growth investing. Gladwell’s ideas around how small, well-timed changes can trigger outsized impact – and how certain individuals or dynamics can accelerate that – map closely to what we look for when assessing breakout potential. Whether it is spotting early signs of virality, understanding how network effects kick in, or realizing that growth often isn’t linear, the book offers a mental model that resonates deeply. It has helped me think differently about how influence spreads, what catalyzes adoption, and where true inflection points often lie – insights that are surprisingly durable even in today’s very different tech and consumer landscape,” says Queenie Wong, a director in EQT’s Hong Kong Growth Portfolio.
More From Less
By Andrew McAfee
“A data-driven, upbeat, ‘innovation will save us’ take that still feels fresh. McAfee shows how advanced economies are beginning to ‘dematerialize’, growing GDP while using fewer raw inputs, thanks to technology, market signals and regulation working in tandem,” says Sven Törnkvist, global co-head of EQT Digital.
Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things That Last
By Wright Thompson
"Pappyland follows Julian van Winkle III's quest to preserve his family's bourbon legacy. After discovering rare barrels from the original distillery, he created a world-renowned whiskey that eventually ran out. The book captures Julian's commitment to maintaining Pappy's legendary taste while exploring universal themes of craftsmanship, heritage and honoring one's legacy,” says Marah Marshall, EQT’s head of private wealth global partnerships and strategy.
Politics on the Edge
By Rory Stewart
“The account of a former British politician’s entry into and rise through government, observations on power and ultimately his disillusionment with the party system and the political process. There are some fascinating and often quite amusing anecdotes about his interactions with notable public figures and world leaders. But what really sets Stewart’s writing apart from the traditional political memoir is the way he sheds light on what he sees as having gone wrong with modern politics and government in Britain and the West through his personal interactions and experiences in high office. The sections on his initial attempts to land a parliamentary seat, elevation to a ministerial role and encounters with former British prime ministers David Cameron and Liz Truss are particularly insightful and very revealing about what you have to do to get your foot in the door of the political establishment,” says Peter Hall, production lead on EQT’s Content team.
How to Make the World Add Up – Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers
By Tim Harford
“How to Make the World Add Up is not just about understanding data; it’s about understanding ourselves through data. It’s a smart, readable and hopeful book that encourages curiosity over cynicism. Harford encourages us to engage with the world not just logically, but wisely,” says Emily Tedder, EQT’s social media specialist.
Andrew Rummer is an editor for ThinQ by EQT. He has spent two decades in media, including as managing editor at Bloomberg and executive editor at The Block.
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