As the seasons change, it’s a perfect time to pick up a new book. To help inspire your next read, we asked Point72 senior leaders to share the books and podcasts that have influenced their thinking. Their recommendations, spanning AI, history, and human resilience, reflect the breadth of curiosity that we value at Point72.
Jennifer Cohen, Chief Human Resources Officer: I recently listened to the book Streetwise: Getting to and Through Goldman Sachs by Lloyd Blankfein. Having spent part of my career at Goldman Sachs, it was a trip down memory lane — particularly the portrayal of how to navigate intense pressure on a trading floor. The book also underscores that those who rise to the top can come from varied backgrounds, with different experiences and leadership styles. It gives the reader a sense of Goldman Sachs over a long period of time through a compelling lens.
Gina DiMento, Chief Compliance Officer: Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi. A gift from my brother who recommended the book as a reminder of the importance of slowing down and appreciating the world around us. Beyond the emotional impact, the book explores messages of grace, empathy, and the power of listening and human connection. In an ever-growing and scaling technology-reliant world, the art of listening, human connection and the power of kindness resonate even more.
Mike Fisher, Chief Risk Officer: Bernoulli’s Fallacy: Statistical Illogic and the Crisis of Modern Science by Aubrey Clayton is a slightly technical book (though it has barely any equations). It’s a polemic against the understanding of “significance” in modern science. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the replication crisis in social science.
Also, The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig captures the vanished life of European writers and artists before WWI through WWII, exploring how they dealt with destruction in real time. Zweig died in exile while writing the book during WWII and never knew the book’s outcome.
Ilya Gaysinskiy, Chief Technology Officer: The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby is a compelling, well-researched account of the rapid rise of modern AI. It explains complex technical ideas like deep learning and reinforcement learning in a clear, accessible way while still telling an engaging human story about ambition, discovery, competition, and risk. The book also balances the science, business, and ethical stakes of AI, making it an important read for understanding one of the defining technological shifts of our era.
Mohammed Grimeh, Head of Global Macro: While not business-related, Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi was very different and refreshing. The book follows Agassi’s life as an up-and-coming tennis player both on and off the court. What I found most interesting was that he excelled at something (tennis) that deep down he hated for 20+ years without anyone knowing.
Geoffrey Lauprete, Head of Cubist Systematic Strategies: The Matter with Things by Iain McGilchrist explores how different ways of paying attention shape what we see, understand, and ultimately create. Drawing on neuroscience, philosophy, and history, he argues that we often default to narrow, analytical thinking when the world requires context, judgment, and a broader view. It is a demanding book, but a worthwhile read and useful for anyone interested in decision-making, creativity, and how we make sense of complexity.
Gavin O’Connor, Executive Vice President: The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John Bacon was riveting. The book revisits the 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior and shows the strategic and economic importance of the Great Lakes. After reading it, I came away with a far greater appreciation for the Great Lakes, and I enjoyed the book’s description of the American Rust Belt during the prior century.
Shinji Ogawa, Head of Japan: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami is a diary-style memoir centered on the act of running. What struck me most is how Murakami frames running not as a hobby, but as a daily discipline that sustains the physical and mental stamina required to write long-form fiction. The book’s deeper argument is that creative excellence comes less from bursts of talent and more from an unyielding commitment to routine and resilience.
Harry Schwefel, President and Co-Chief Investment Officer: On the heels of SpaceX’s IPO, Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson feels especially timely. The book gives a glimpse into how Musk thinks, how he solves problems, and how he leads companies in pursuit of highly ambitious goals. I came away with a better understanding of Musk’s approach to risk-taking and building businesses, and it’s eye-opening to read about the role his work ethic and persistence played in his achievements.
Eric To, Head of Hong Kong: Out of the Gobi by Weijian Shan is an autobiography that follows the trials and tribulations of growing up during the Cultural Revolution. In Hong Kong, many readers will be familiar with PAG and the team that Shan has built. Reading this book and learning about how he grew up to where he is now is a great example of what is possible. The persistence and discipline he showed throughout that period of his life is inspirational.
For those interested in podcasts, I also recommend The Knowledge Project, particularly episodes labeled “Outliers.” A recent episode featuring Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung painted a picture of his life and how he stuck to a philosophy and moral goal, which enabled him to stretch and push that business beyond what others could imagine at the time. It’s an important reminder for anyone building and maintaining a differentiated business in a competitive space.