AEV Chairman and Aboitiz Eyes’ resident explainer on world economic affairs Endika Aboitiz shares with us his recommended reading list for 2021. Are any of these on your shelves? If so, we're inviting you to share with your fellow A-People what you think of them by emailing us at aboitiz.eyes@aboitiz.com. We may even feature your book reviews in the near future!

All blurbs below are lifted from each title's description via Amazon.com

The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy by Stephanie Kelton

“Stephanie Kelton's brilliant exploration of modern monetary theory (MMT) dramatically changes our understanding of how we can best deal with crucial issues ranging from poverty and inequality to creating jobs, expanding health care coverage, climate change, and building resilient infrastructure.”

Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman

“The first definitive history of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF’s targeted killing programs, hailed by The New York Times as ‘an exceptional work, a humane book about an incendiary subject.’”

Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

“Dalio shares what he’s learned over the course of his remarkable career. He argues that life, management, economics, and investing can all be systemized into rules and understood like machines. The book’s hundreds of practical lessons, which are built around his cornerstones of ‘radical truth’ and ‘radical transparency,’ include Dalio laying out the most effective ways for individuals and organizations to make decisions, approach challenges, and build strong teams.”

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

“Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble.”

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr

“In crackling, fast-paced prose, [Immerwahr] reveals forgotten episodes that cast American history in a new light. We travel to the Guano Islands, where prospectors collected one of the nineteenth century’s most valuable commodities, and the Philippines, site of the most destructive event on U.S. soil.”

Diversity Delusion by Heather Mac Donald

“Compiling the author’s decades of research and writing on the subject, The Diversity Delusion calls for a return to the classical liberal pursuits of open-minded inquiry and expression, by which everyone can discover a common humanity.”

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

“START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way -- and it's the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.”

Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America by Christopher Leonard

“Just as Steve Coll told the story of globalization through ExxonMobil and Andrew Ross Sorkin told the story of Wall Street excess through Too Big to Fail, Christopher Leonard’s Kochland uses the extraordinary account of how one of the biggest private companies in the world grew to be that big to tell the story of modern corporate America.”

Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators, Fading Empires, and the Coming Collision of the World's Superpowers by Simon Winchester

“In telling the story of the Pacific, Simon Winchester takes us from the Bering Strait to Cape Horn, the Yangtze River to the Panama Canal, and to the many small islands and archipelagos that lie in between. He observes the fall of a dictator in Manila, visits aboriginals in northern Queensland, and is jailed in Tierra del Fuego, the land at the end of the world. His journey encompasses a trip down the Alaska Highway, a stop at the isolated Pitcairn Islands, a trek across South Korea and a glimpse of its mysterious northern neighbor.”

Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most by Steven Johnson

“Through compelling stories that reveal surprising insights, Johnson explains how we can most effectively approach the choices that can chart the course of a life, an organization, or a civilization. Farsighted will help you imagine your possible futures and appreciate the subtle intelligence of the choices that shaped our broader social history.”

In the Dragon's Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century by Sebastian Strangio

“Drawing on more than a decade of on-the-ground experience, Sebastian Strangio explores the impacts of China’s rise on Southeast Asia, the varied ways in which the countries of the region are responding, and what it might mean for the future balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.”

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World—and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling (with Anna Rosling Rönnlund and Ola Rosling)

“In Factfulness, Professor of International Health and global TED phenomenon Hans Rosling, together with his two long-time collaborators, Anna and Ola, offers a radical new explanation of why this happens. They reveal the ten instincts that distort our perspective―from our tendency to divide the world into two camps (usually some version of us and them) to the way we consume media (where fear rules) to how we perceive progress (believing that most things are getting worse).”

Social Value Investing: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships by Howard W. Buffett and William B. Eimicke

“Drawing on lessons and observations from a broad selection of collaborations, this book combines real life stories with detailed analysis, resulting in a blueprint for effective, sustainable partnerships that serve the public interest. Readers also gain access to original, academic case material and professionally produced video documentaries for every major partnership profiled — bringing to life the people and stories in a way that few other business or management books have done.”

Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis by Jared Diamond

“Diamond compares how six countries have survived recent upheavals — ranging from the forced opening of Japan by U.S. Commodore Perry's fleet, to the Soviet Union's attack on Finland, to a murderous coup or countercoup in Chile and Indonesia, to the transformations of Germany and Austria after World War Two. Looking to the future, Diamond examines whether the United States, Japan, and the whole world are successfully coping with the grave crises they currently face.”

Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert B. Cialdini

“What separates effective communicators from truly successful persuaders? With the same rigorous scientific research and accessibility that made his Influence an iconic bestseller, Robert Cialdini explains how to prepare people to be receptive to a message before they experience it. Optimal persuasion is achieved only through optimal pre-suasion. In other words, to change ‘minds’ a pre-suader must also change ‘states of mind’.”

The Healing Power of Essential Oils: Soothe Inflammation, Boost Mood, Prevent Autoimmunity, and Feel Great in Every Way by Eric Zielinski

“From lavender, peppermint, and frankincense to tea tree and ylang ylang, essential oils are God’s gift to those seeking to take control of their physical and mental health. Whether you’re new to essential oils or you’re ready for advanced techniques, Dr. Z’s thorough, evidence-based approach equips you with the knowledge to build daily rituals that fit your unique needs—and lead to amazing results!”