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Vlad Tenev, chairman and chief executive officer, Robinhood
Book: "A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living" by Joseph Campbell and Diane K. Osbon
Why: "Summer is a time when I am at my most reflective. In a world of rapid change, and with so much instant gratification, this book can help you pause and consider what it's all about."
Michael Saylor, founder and executive chairman, Strategy
Book: "An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought" by Murray Rothbard
Why: "It is a sweeping intellectual history of economics that examines how ideas about money, property, markets, banking, inflation, and state power developed over centuries. Rothbard challenges the conventional narrative and shows that economic progress is not simply a technical exercise; it is inseparable from philosophy, politics and competing views of human freedom. For anyone trying to understand Bitcoin, the book provides valuable context. bitcoin is not merely a new technology or asset. It is the latest chapter in a much older debate over sound money, monetary sovereignty, property rights and the proper relationship between the individual and the state."
Arjun Sethi, co-CEO, Kraken
Book: "Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World" by Adam Tooze
Why: "Tooze shows 2008 for what it was: a system so opaque that even those running it couldn't see the risk building. A few insiders knew, but everyone else paid. That's stayed with me. Markets work better when participants are put on equal footing and play by the same rules."
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Anne Boden, founder, Starling Bank
Book: "The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the Quest for Superintelligence" by Sebastian Mallaby
Why: "Reading "The Infinity Machine," I found myself wanting to explain protein folding to everyone I met. It is both a compelling portrait of a remarkable person and a lucid introduction to some of the defining scientific and technological ideas of our age. Few books make complex ideas feel so exciting."
Yi He, co-CEO, Binance
Book: "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck
Why: "Carol Dweck's "Mindset" demonstrates how abilities aren't fixed; they're developed through effort and learning, making failure a source of insight over a final verdict on your identity. Binance was built on this principle, and reflects our journey of building in a new industry where there was no map and at a global scale. Every stage of our evolution required learning, resilience and reinvention. This is the foundation of building anything that lasts, changing the world or finding success, without being destroyed by the attempt."
Anthony Scaramucci, founder and managing partner, SkyBridge Capital
Book: "1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World" by Liaquat Ahamed
Why: "Ahamed made central bankers riveting in "Lords of Finance;" now he does it for the crash of 1873 — the speculative mania, deflation, and populist backlash that followed. Every parallel to today is unmistakable. History doesn't repeat itself, but this one rhymes loudly. This book is a perfect beach read for market watchers."
Arthur Hayes, co-founder at BitMEX and chief investment officer at Maelstrom
Book: "Neuromancer" by William Gibson
Why: "This book is the winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards. Nothing like a good AI sci-fi thriller to get you in the mood to punt AI stonks over the summer."
Pascal Gauthier, chairman and CEO, Ledger
Book: "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov
Why: "I first read it as a teenager and have been working inside its logic ever since. Asimov's insight, that outcomes at scale are governed by mathematics rather than by any single institution's discretion, still explains more about technology and power than most business books do."
Diana Layfield, group CEO, Monzo
Book: "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver
Why: "A masterclass in storytelling. Brilliantly reimagining Dickens in modern Appalachia, it tackles addiction and institutional failure with extraordinary heart, grit and humour. It's a profoundly moving, essential read on human resilience that stays with you long after the last page."
Mike Belshe, co-founder and CEO, BitGo
Book: "The Fixer" by Bradley Tusk
Why: "It's a sharp, practical read on what builders eventually learn: technology alone is not enough. Lasting innovation requires navigating regulation, public trust, and politics with discipline, especially in industries moving faster than the rules around them."
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Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, CEO, Bitpanda
Book: "The ONE Thing" by Gary Keller
Why: "In digital finance, we're conditioned to track a million variables at once. This book is a masterclass in the exact opposite: ruthless prioritization. Reading it offers the ultimate summer luxury — permission to finally close your 50 open browser tabs."
Keith A. Grossman, president, MoonPay
Book: "A Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Why: ""A Long Walk to Freedom" is one of the greatest books on leadership ever written. Nelson Mandela shows that true leadership is forged through humility, resilience and the discipline to put purpose above personal retribution. It is a timeless lesson in serving people, uniting others and doing what is right."
Brandon Lutnick, chairman and CEO, Cantor Fitzgerald
Book: "Trillion Dollar Coach" by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle
Why: "Bill Campbell coached some of the most successful leaders in Silicon Valley not by managing results, but by first building trust and truly understanding people. Ruth Porat recommended this book to me, and the lesson has stuck with me ever since: the best leaders build people, not just results."
--With assistance from Vildana Hajric and Muyao Shen.
