2019 Wall Street Reading List

The Man Who Solved The Market is a book by Gregory Zuckerman that tells the story of Jim Simons, a brilliant mathematician and former Cold War code breaker who founded Renaissance Technologies, a wildly successful hedge fund. The book delves into Simons' background and how he used his unique perspective and mathematical abilities to revolutionize the world of finance and investing. It also explores the inner workings of Renaissance Technologies and the company's secretive and highly successful investment strategies. The book offers a fascinating look at the rise of quantitative investing and the impact it has had on the financial industry.

What It Takes is a memoir by Stephen A. Schwarzman, the billionaire co-founder of Blackstone. In it, he shares his personal story of success and the lessons he has learned along the way. He offers advice on how to build a successful career, how to lead a team, and how to make the most of opportunities. He also reflects on his own life and the people who have helped him get to where he is today.

Firefighting: The Financial Crisis and Its Lessons is a book by Ben S. Bernanke, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve. In this book, Bernanke provides an inside look at the financial crisis of 2008 and its aftermath, and offers his insights on how to prevent future crises. He examines the causes of the crisis, the government's response, and the lessons that can be learned from it. He also discusses the implications of the crisis for economic policy and regulation.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men is a book written by Caroline Criado Perez that explores how the gender data gap, or the lack of data collection and analysis on women and non-binary individuals, impacts various aspects of society. The book argues that the gender data gap leads to discrimination and inequality for women and non-binary individuals, as the data that does exist is often biased towards men. The book looks at the ways in which the gender data gap affects areas such as healthcare, the workplace, and technology, and makes the case for the importance of collecting and analyzing data on women and non-binary individuals in order to create a more equal and just society.

Narrative Economics by Robert J. Shiller is a groundbreaking book that explores how stories shape economic events. It examines how stories can influence economic decisions, how they spread, and how they can be used to better understand economic trends. The book also looks at the role of narrative in financial markets, public policy, and the media. It provides an innovative framework for understanding the economy and offers insights into how to use narrative to improve economic outcomes.

Adaptive Markets is a book by Andrew W. Lo that explores the ways in which financial markets adapt to changing conditions and the implications of these changes for investors and policymakers. The book discusses the limitations of traditional models of financial markets, which assume that markets are rational and efficient, and argues that these models are inadequate for understanding the complex and dynamic nature of real-world markets. Instead, Lo proposes an "adaptive markets" framework that considers the role of human psychology and the influence of evolutionary forces on market behavior. The book also discusses the implications of this framework for investors and policymakers and offers ideas for how we can use this understanding of market behavior to make more informed decisions about investing and regulation.

Boom: Mad Money, Mega Dealers, and the Rise of Contemporary Art is a book that delves into the world of contemporary art, focusing on the rise of the art market and the individuals who drive it. Written by Michael Shnayerson, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, the book offers an in-depth look at the top contemporary art dealers and their influence on the market. Through interviews and unprecedented access, the book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the egomaniacs, geniuses, and canny promoters who shaped the world of modern art, and created the largest unregulated financial market in the world. The book covers the history of the art market, from the early days on 57th Street to the rise of SoHo and Chelsea, and the emergence of the mega-dealers who preside over today's art market. It's a story of backstabbing, betrayals, fruitful partnerships, genius, and ever-larger sums of money. The book also explores the relationship between the art world and the financial opportunities that surrounds it.

Loonshots is a book written by Safi Bahcall that explores the idea that a group's ability to effectively manage and nurture its "loonshots" (a term he uses to describe innovative ideas or projects that are initially considered crazy or risky) is crucial to its success. Bahcall argues that organizations often struggle to support loonshots because they are focused on maintaining the status quo and are resistant to change. He uses examples from various industries, including science, technology, and business, to illustrate how loonshots can lead to major breakthroughs and how organizations can create an environment that fosters them. The book also discusses the role of leadership and cultural norms in supporting or stifling loonshots and offers strategies for managing them effectively.

Talking to Strangers is a book by Malcolm Gladwell that discusses how and why people are often unsuccessful in understanding and predicting the behavior of strangers. The book examines a variety of case studies, including the murder of Chandra Levy, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, and the espionage of Ana Montes, to explore the ways in which people misunderstand each other and how this lack of understanding can have disastrous consequences. Gladwell argues that our default assumption that strangers are familiar and trustworthy can lead us to make judgments about them that are based on incomplete or biased information, and that this "default to truth" can prevent us from accurately assessing the intentions and motivations of others. He also examines the role of power dynamics and cultural differences in our interactions with strangers and how they can contribute to misunderstandings. Overall, the book provides a thought-provoking and insightful look at how we interact with and make sense of people we don't know.

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber is a book written by New York Times technology correspondent Mike Isaac that chronicles the rise and fall of ride-hailing giant Uber. The book details the early days of Uber's founding and its rapid growth into a multibillion dollar company, as well as the controversial events and scandals that plagued the company in its later years. It covers topics such as Uber's combative relationship with regulators, its use of questionable business tactics, and the toxic company culture fostered by its former CEO, Travis Kalanick. Ultimately, Super Pumped paints a picture of a company that was driven by a singular focus on growth at all costs, and the consequences of that mentality.

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff is a groundbreaking examination of the new economic order that has emerged from the digital revolution. It reveals how a handful of powerful technology companies are transforming our lives and reshaping the global economy, and how we can protect ourselves from their power. Zuboff's analysis is both sweeping and deeply personal, as she examines the implications of this new form of capitalism for our individual autonomy, our collective politics, and our future.