As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, ANZ’s executive committee share the stories that have resonated with them throughout the year—and those they plan to explore during the upcoming break.
We hope you enjoy these suggestions! Stay tuned for more recommendations in January.
This Christmas break will be my first holiday this year. Our daughter started her first year at University and we were all a bit unsure as to what that required so decided to leave all vacations until year end. By now we are all very much looking forward to a break.
We will be in Rome, surrounded by art and history at every turn. It inspires me to read - I try and avoid screen time as much as possible for obvious reasons (to make it feel like a “break!).
My book selection this year will sound very dry to most but these are the books that have been gathering dust on my bedside table, as they all fall in to the category of “too long to read over a few nights”.
There are three themes to the collection – they are all historical – two Middle Eastern history, two American biographies and one Wall Street historical classic (to re-read). They will undoubtedly be augmented with a few crime thrillers along the way (I am a big fan of Jack Reacher and the like!):
No blogs, no podcasts, but undoubtedly some TV and movies with my wife and daughter, but I lost the rights to the remote years ago…..
My theme for the summer is to reboot my health & wellness routine. I exercise 4-5 times a week and eat (relatively) healthily, but feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut.
Like many people I’ve already consumed books like Outlive by Peter Attia and listen to the Huberman podcasts, but I’m increasingly curious about whether following all male related health routines makes sense … as the saying goes “women are not just small men”.
So on my list are:
I am really looking forward to reading the latest from Australian crime author, Gary Disher entitled Sanctuary.
Set in Disher’s childhood home of the Adelaide Hills, all the reviews I have read suggest this is a page turning rural crime novel from arguably Australia’s greatest living crime writer.
I really owe a huge thank you to one of last year’s ANZ Risk Graduates who pointed me in Disher’s direction and I still can’t believe I hadn’t come across him earlier.
Writing in a similar vein is bestselling Australian author and former journalist Chris Hammer. His latest novel, The Valley, involves the return of two detectives from his earlier novels to investigate the murder of an Australian entrepreneur in a remote mountainous valley.
I am really hoping that will be in my Christmas stocking this year.
Another book that I can’t wait to sit down and read comes from renowned historian, Yuval Noah Harari. I have thoroughly enjoyed some of his previous books like Sapiens (A Brief History of Humankind), Homo Deus (A brief History of Tomorrow) and I can’t wait to sit down and read his latest Nexus.
The book centres around the fact that for the last ~100,000 years, we Sapiens have accumulated enormous power. But despite all our discoveries, inventions and conquests, we now find ourselves in an existential crisis.
The world is on the verge of ecological collapse. Misinformation abounds. And we are rushing headlong into the age of AI – a new information network that potentially threatens to annihilate us. If we are so wise, why are we so self-destructive?
Finally, I have read pretty much every Frederick Forsyth novel and I am really looking forward to finally watching the TV Series The Day of the Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.
Despite so many people talking to me about it unfortunately I just have not had the time to see this yet but will find the time to binge it over the holidays.
My top five books for 2024 explored some old classics and some new finds.
In no particular order:
On the music front, I am currently listening to a South African House music DJ Black Coffee. So good, best back drop for a dinner party.
I’ve joined the rest of the world and started listening to podcasts on my walk to work.
I have listened to lots of old episodes of Malcolm Gladwell’s “Revisionist History". Season 8 has a number of episodes on guns and gun violence which are worth a listen. And for Kiwis of a certain age, “Juggernaut: The Story of the Fourth Labour Government” will take you back to the 1980s.
As for books, “By Any Other Name” by Jodi Picoult is a good one for the feminists out there. It tells the story of an Elizabethan woman who many believe wrote some of Shakespeare’s plays, alongside a contemporary writer struggling for credit as a playwright.
Another book along the same lines is “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, about a Vietnam War nurse.
Richard Osman of “Thursday Murder Club” fame has started a new series which is equally as excellent called “We Solve Murders”.
Finally for novels, the author of one of my other favourite series, Lucinda Riley of “Seven Sisters” fame has sadly died, but her son has been updating some of her old material. “The Hidden Girl” is worth a read for fans.
The two books that rocked my world this year were Freedom’s Forge and The Sympathizer.
You cannot read Freedom’s Forge and fail to find parallels in the world of today. We are trying to do too much -- decarbonisation, deglobalisation, defence and dwellings. We need to prioritse and sacrifice some.
The Sympathizer is a challenger for my favourite South East Asian novel.
Over the holidays I have a few themes I am planning to catch-up on.
As an oceanophile, Richard Powers Playground and Wallace Nichols Blue Mind are top of the list. Blue Mind was my win from a team Kris Kringle and promises an exploration of “How water makes you happier, more connected and better at what you do”. I don’t need to be told twice!
Building A Ruin by Yakov Feygin talks about the USSR’s failure to convert from a production to a consumer economy. What can China learn from the experience? What Is To Be Done is an 1863 novel that I have been told is a must read. I’m not convinced, but let’s see.
I have a renewed enthusiasm for Michael Robathan and Elizabeth Strout. Both are what they are (at opposite ends of the literature spectrum!), but do them superbly.
My watching list is a Season-2-fest: The Diplomat, Lioness, and Silo. I also need to get through this year’s quality English-language Asian product: Cigarette Girl, 3 Body Problem and Shōgun.
I've enjoyed lots of fantastic content over 2024, from books to television to podcasts. Here are some of my favourites:
Books:
Shows:
Podcasts:
I have pulled together some books I'm keen to read in January. On the list at the moment are:
And for something a bit lighter - I am keen to get into the novel Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway, John Le Carre's son. Having loved the Slow Horses series on Apple TV, I am also tempted to start reading the books by Mick Herron.
On the screen front, I have the second series of the Diplomat lined up and will most likely go watch Gladiator 2 with the kids.
My book highlight for 2024 was Zone to Win: Organising to Compete in an Age of Disruption by Geoffrey Moore. Moore is a consultant and advisor to several large technology firms, and has written a number of business books. Zone to Win looks at how large companies can address the challenge of scaling a new business while running the core business for performance and productivity. While the concepts are simple, there are obvious parallels for ANZ as we look at scaling ANZ Plus and managing the business.
And what I am excited to read over the summer is the new Jack Reacher - In Too Deep.
Did you know that a study published in 2019 of major US art museums found that 87% of artworks were by men and 85% by white artists? Currently, women artists make up just 1% of London’s national gallery collection. Progress is happening though and I’m looking forward to reading The story of art without men by Katy Hessel to provide an insight into some of the non-male artists who have contributed to the ‘story of art’.
I tend to go to non-fiction when reading books and leave the fiction to digital streaming, however over summer I enjoy immersing myself in a good fiction book when there are not as many distractions as during the year. This summer I have started reading There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. A story of one lost poem, two great rivers and three remarkable lives – all connected by a single drop of water. It was recommended by a good friend who is an avid reader and ex English teacher.
I recognise that podcasts have been around for a while now, however I am really getting into them… I think it is because I can do two things at once.
I enjoyed listening to a few series over the last couple of years such as Alec Baldwin Here’s the thing and Dr Louise Newson's podcast, especially the episode on how to stay active and strong in menopause.
I am loving a podcast when going for a drive or a long walk and at the same time learning so much about of a topic of interest. This summer break I am curious about American politics and disruptive tech. I have started listening to the series Honestly with Bari Weiss from the Free Press. Bari is a former New York Times and Wall Street Journal Journalist. Some of the recent topics include ‘How not to die in 2025’, an interview with Bryan Johnson who is at the cutting edge of human aging. Another I found fascinating was 'Sam Altman on his feud with Elon Musk and the battle for AI’s future', where Bari interviews Sam Altman to understand his side of the story.
Lastly, a couple of management books on the top of my list to read in the first part of this year:
I am looking forward to engaging with lots more fantastic content over the summer. Here are just a few at the top of my list:
Our book club has recently read The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. It covers three generations in Kerala, India. It’s not a light read – the audio book is 31 hours long – but it’s worth the investment. A beautiful story with rich characters that will stay with you.
I’ve also just finished reading The Women by Kristin Hannah, a challenging but powerful read about an American nurse who served in the Vietnam War, with all the struggles she endured both while there and when coming home to a nation that just didn’t want to know.
I organise a monthly book club that simultaneously meets in-person at ANZ’s 833 Collins Street foyer and virtually by dial-in for remote participants. The book club started with ANZ staff in 2014, has met over 100 times, and expanded to include members whether part of ANZ or not. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to contact me at kevin.lee2@anz.com
Here are some book club highlights of 2024:
And finally, here is a book I am looking forward to reading over the summer:
The views and opinions expressed in this communication are those of the author and may not necessarily state or reflect those of ANZ.
