2026 Summer Reading List

Recommended by Matt Buscone, Co-Chief Investment Officer

The book provides a narrative history of the stock market crash, tracing the greed, speculation, policy failures, and human drama that fueled Wall Street’s collapse and reshaped American finance. Drawing on extensive archival research, including Federal Reserve records, the book connects the era’s unchecked optimism and “democratization of finance” to recurring risks in modern markets.

Recommended by Sean Paul, Software Engineer

The book presents a new economic model centered on a "doughnut" diagram, which visualizes a space for humanity between a social foundation (minimum human needs) and an ecological ceiling (planetary boundaries). The book critiques mainstream economics for its emphasis on GDP growth and proposes seven key shifts in thinking to create regenerative and distributive economies that meet everyone's needs within the planet's limits, moving beyond outdated 20th-century models.

Recommended by Abi Ingalls, Senior Investment Product Strategist

This novel examines the intersection of homelessness, mental illness, and community belonging through the story of a young woman navigating life on the margins of San Francisco. The novel shows how gaps in housing access, behavioral health services, and social support systems leave vulnerable individuals exposed to instability and isolation, while emphasizing the role of community support and resilience. It highlights the need for investing in affordable housing, accessible mental healthcare, and coordinated social services to improve long-term outcomes.

Recommended by Kelly Silva, Director of Corporate Sustainability

In this historical fiction novel, the author’s portrayal of the 1930s Dust Bowl serves as a powerful comparison for contemporary issues such as climate change, ecological degradation, social and economic justice, and food insecurity. While there are so many prevailing themes in this novel, it highlights the interconnectedness of nature and livelihood. At its heart, the story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of family in the face of extraordinary hardship. The author reminds readers that environmental crises are never just about the land and they profoundly shape communities, economies, and the lives of future generations.

Recommended by Rob Fernandez, Director, Sustainable Research

The book explores the largely hidden “cold chain” that preserves and transports food from farms and factories to stores and refrigerators. Combining history, science, and firsthand reporting, the author shows how refrigeration transformed diets, agriculture, global trade, and expectations of year-round freshness. Ultimately, the book argues that refrigeration is one of the most influential technologies of modern life. It also encourages readers to reconsider whether today’s vast refrigerated food system is environmentally and socially sustainable.

Recommended by Helen McAuley, Chief Compliance Officer

This book looks at sustainability from a Buddhist perspective. It argues that addressing the climate and ecological crisis begins with transforming our own awareness, recognizing the deep interconnectedness between ourselves, other people, and the Earth. The author emphasizes that lasting environmental change is rooted in collective awakening rather than fear or despair.