Here are 16 books VCs are reading this summer

‘Supercommunicators’ by Charles Duhigg

Thomas Diehl, an associate at Notion Capital, picked Charles Duhigg’s “Supercommunicators,” which explores the art of communication.

“For anyone who ever wondered why certain people were so effective at communicating with others, ‘Supercommunicators’ was filled with fascinating case studies and research revealing the science behind great communication and how small changes can materially improve the way we interact and communicate,” Diehl told BI.

‘The Spy and the Traitor’ by Ben Macintyre

Diehl also chose “The Spy And The Traitor,” a non-fiction work by British historian Ben Macintyre.

“The amazing true story of Oleg Gordievsky who led the double life of a KGB insider recruited by MI6 during the Cold War,” Diehl said. “A real page-turner and must-read for anyone interested in Cold War espionage!”

‘Among the Braves’ by Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin

Cherry Ventures partner Dinika Mahtani’s choices included “Among the Braves,” cowritten by her sister, the journalist Shibani Mahtani.

It focuses on the activists of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and provides an overview of the territory’s trajectory since it was returned to China in 1997 after more than a century of British rule, culminating in the 2019 protests against China’s authoritarian crackdown.

‘Poverty, by America’ by Matthew Desmond

Mahtani also picked “Poverty, by America” by sociologist Matthew Desmond.

Desmond argues that even progressive Americans who are wealthy benefit from the economic system that keeps a certain population in poverty — and the book describes the types of large-scale solutions needed to tackle this issue.

‘AI 2041’ by Kai-Fu Lee

Mahtani’s final pick was written by the former president of Google China, Kai-Fu Lee.

It’s a sci-fi novel that explores AI permeating every facet of human life and affecting everything in the social order, from medication to education and entertainment.

‘The Three-Body Problem’ by Liu Cixin

Andreas Riegler, partner at APEX Ventures, picked this sci-fi novel, which recently became a major Netflix series.

It depicts how Earth interacts with an alien species in a nearby solar system.

“For somebody investing in deep tech startups and also active in astronomy, this book presents an intricate blend of advanced scientific concepts and exploration of extraterrestrial life, reflecting the innovative thinking required in both fields,” Riegler told BI. “The novel’s themes are strategic planning, adaptability, and ethical consideration.”

‘Build’ by Tony Fadell

Riegler also picked “Build” by engineer and investor Tony Fadell, who has worked with APEX Ventures. Riegler said it offered startup founders “invaluable insights from a veteran who helped create the iPod, iPhone, and Nest Learning Thermostat, providing practical advice on leadership, product development, and navigating the challenges of the tech industry.”

Riegler added that, for investors, the book “delivers a deep understanding of what makes a successful product and company, drawn from Fadell’s 30-plus years of firsthand experience in Silicon Valley.”

‘Ada or Ardor’ by Vladimir Nabokov

Michael Treskow, a partner at Eight Roads Ventures, picked the 1969 novel “Ada or Ardor” by Russian-American writer Vladimir Nabokov.

Nabokov was the author of “Lolita” and is famed as a cultural powerhouse across the Russian-speaking world and the United States, where he was a professor of Russian literature at Cornell University for over a decade. In “Ada or Ardor,” his longest novel, he tackles themes of family, religion, and sibling relationships.

‘Ender’s Game’ by Andrew Scott Card

Justina Chung, from Bessemer Venture Partners, picked the military science fiction novel “Ender’s Game,” which was published in 1985, and adapted into a movie starring Harrison Ford in 2013.

The book deals with humanity’s fights against alien invasion, where children, including the eponymous Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, are trained to become military officers.

‘The School of Life: An Emotional Education’ by Alain de Botton

Yusuf Ozdalga, from QED partners, chose British philosopher and author Alain de Botton’s “The School of Life: An Emotional Education.”

In it, de Botton seeks to compile his school’s learnings of his social media organization, the School of Life, over its first decade to help better understand issues like anxiety, work, relationships, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

‘Up From Slavery’ by Booker T. Washington

Rob Moffat, partner at Balderton Capital, chose Booker T. Washington’s 1901 autobiography, “Up From Slavery.”

It describes Washington’s enslavement as a child and life during the Civil War. It describes how he became an educator and speaker, and eventually a key voice in African-American issues.

‘Klara and the Sun’ by Kazuo Ishiguro

Ara Yeromian, from Teacher’s Venture Growth, chose Karuo Ishiguro’s most recent novel, “Klara and the Sun.”

It’s narrated by Klara, an AI “friend” who is chosen by a sick child named Josie. Klara’s viewpoint shows how non-human sentient beings might see and understand the human condition, including love, mortality, and consciousness.

‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle

Tom Mendoza, a partner at EQT Ventures in London, chose “The Power of Now,” a 2001 work by German-born author Eckhart Tolle.

The book focuses on the virtues of living in the now, providing a manual for managing the thoughts and emotions that emerge from this process. Tolle’s work suggests that peace and fulfillment come not from outside ourselves but from being present in each moment.

‘Why We’re Polarized’ by Ezra Klein

Mendoza also recommended Ezra Klein’s “Why We’re Polarized,” a 2020 work that former US President Barack Obama also chose as one of his summer reads.

The book charts the factors behind the rise of deep division between US voting groups, focusing on race, religion, and gender. Klein analyzes the history of the country’s two main political parties as a way of understanding the US’s current polarized electoral landscape.