Every year, we share a list of books from around the world that our team has read and enjoyed. For 2024, we decided to do something different: We asked influential decision makers at global companies ā from TikTok to iFood to Shein ā to share the books theyāre reading and why they think you should read them, too. Here are 12 books that you should put on your reading list this year.
- Memoir
- The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI
- By Fei-Fei Li
Michelle Huang
Special Projects at TikTok
Fei-Fei Liās memoir is particularly moving, as it puts humans at the center of artificial intelligence. Itās more than just a memoir: She weaves her personal story as a Chinese immigrant to the U.S. with the history of AI development. A truly inspirational tale.
Review:Ā Financial Times
- Non-fiction
- The Anarchy
- By William Dalrymple
Rishi Jaitly
Senior Advisor, OpenAI
Iāve always enjoyed the work of British historian William Dalrymple, but my affinity for it grew with The Anarchy, his recent book about the rise of the East India Company. It also pairs well with Empire, the podcast he hosts with Anita Anand, which chronicles the empires of Russia, Persia, and China. Itās made me think about my own career, and how to enter international markets in a āright and respectfulā way.
Review:Ā The Guardian
- Non-fiction
- The Beginning of Infinity
- By David Deutsch
Kuo Zhang
CEO, Alibaba.com
Artificial intelligence has not yet become as fearful as it could be because we donāt fully know the workings of creativity or its origin. This book delves into the power of creativity and critical thinking in expanding our knowledge and approaching the essence of reality. Facing the infinite, our choice is between perpetual ignorance or knowledge, fallacy or truth, demise or existence. As a rational optimist and an inspiring mentor, the author offers guidance for entrepreneurs, researchers, and goal-driven individuals.
Review:Ā The New York Times
- Non-fiction
- The Algebra of Happiness
- By Scott Galloway
Patrick Lassauzet
Head of Corporate Communications, Shein Mexico
Our education system is focused on sharing knowledge, but it leaves out emotional education; we donāt teach children how to be happy adults. Iām surprised by the development of this unsatisfied and unhappy generation, addicted to quick dopamine hits. This book of life advice from noted professor and pundit Scott Galloway changed my life at a time when I saw no meaning.
Review:Ā Vox
- Fiction
- Demon Copperhead
- By Barbara Kingsolver
Kalsoom Lakhani
Founder, Invest2Innovate
Barbara Kingsolverās novel, Demon Copperhead, is a book that I think should ā and will be ā taught in English classes as a modern-day David Copperfield, and a commentary on the opioid epidemic in the United States. Itās not an easy read by any means, but itās an important one. The ending was tied up a bit too neatly for me ā no spoilers ā but I guess Iāll forgive that given how difficult the subject matter was.Ā
Review:Ā The Washington Post
- Fiction
- Torto Arado
- By Itamar Vieira Junior
Diego Barreto
Vice President of Strategy, iFood
The story of Torto Arado (titled Crooked Plow in English) delves deeply into the life and traditions of Brazilian rural communities, addressing themes such as family, tradition, and the struggle for identity. These themes are universal and resonate with all of us Brazilians. Furthermore, the book is notable for exploring more about the fight for land and survival in Brazil.
Review:Ā Americas Quarterly
- Non-fiction
- Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity
- By Bill Gifford and Peter Attia
Rahul Chari
Co-founder and CTO, PhonePe
Weāve all heard the sayings, āItās more important to live a healthy life than a long oneā and āPrevention is better than cure.ā This book seamlessly brings the two together to provide a practical guide to healthy living and extending your life span by avoiding the root cause of many ailments. It simplifies the science behind it all to make a strong argument for seemingly ordinary things like a better nightās sleep. A must-read for all.
Review:Ā The Wall Street Journal
- Non-fiction
- AI 2041
- By Chen Qiufan and Kai-Fu Lee
Jenny Q. Ta
Founder and Managing Director, WEAL28H
Iād describe AI 2041 as a compelling fusion of imaginative storytelling and technical insight, offering a stimulating glimpse into the future of artificial intelligence. It encourages readers to envision a world where technology serves the betterment of humanity.
Review:Ā Los Angeles Review of Books
- Non-fiction
- The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap
- By Mehrsa Baradaran
Fernanda Ribeiro
Co-founder and CEO, ContaBlack
A very interesting read to understand the gaps between the concentration of income between Black and non-Black communities in the U.S. It details how the founding of Black banks was a strategy used by the community for financial emancipation over time. Although the American post-abolition context is completely different from the Brazilian one, there are many similarities regarding the financial impact on the diaspora over time. This is a book I reread from time to time for new insights.
Review:Ā LSE Review of Books
- Fiction
- Atlas Shrugged
- ByĀ Ayn Rand
Felipe Vallejo Dabdoub
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Bitso
I read Atlas Shrugged some 15 years ago. Itās still relevant in regard to technology and entrepreneurship because of its exploration of individualism, innovation, and the consequences of suffocating creativity. In Latin America, a highly collectivist region, this book puts on the table the other extreme. Perhaps there is a middle point through technology, which, paradoxically, is the main driver of the mass production of products that were previously available for a select few.
Review:Ā The Guardian
- Non-fiction
- Factfulness
- By Hans Rosling with Anna Rosling Rƶnnlund and Ola Roslin
Osvaldo GimƩnez
President of Fintech, MercadoLibre
The media tends to focus on negative news, generating a distorted view of reality. Armed with data, the authors show the huge advancements the world has made in terms of health, education, and poverty reduction in the past century. Plus, they do so in a very entertaining way, beginning the book with 10 questions to test the readerās understanding of the world today.
Review:Ā Financial Times
- Fiction
- Fourth Wing
- By Rebecca Yarros
Odun Eweniyi
Co-founder and COO, PiggyVest
Fourth Wing was recommended to me by a friend, and it is a deeply fun book. Fiction represents an escape from real life, and this book offers a lot of escapist adventure via an engaging and compelling story. I enjoyed how the author weaved emotional depth into her charactersā journeys, offering valuable lessons on the human aspects of leadership like empathy and motivation.
Review:Ā Paste
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