The Northwood 2025 Summer Reading List

Well, here we are — five months into Trump 2.0. He marked his birthday with a North Korean-style military parade, while millions across the U.S. joined “No Kings” protests. It’s a surreal backdrop, to say the least.

Amid the chaos, the markets have been on a ride of their own. Trump’s tariff induced rollercoaster sent the S&P down nearly 20% to start the year, only for it to rebound into slightly positive territory today in June. It’s yet another reminder of the power of long-term thinking. Investors who tried to time the downturn likely missed the recovery. Staying invested — and staying anchored to your goals — remains the best strategy.

Beyond the headlines, a quiet but meaningful shift is underway. More families are thinking seriously about impact — a word that’s often overused, but at its core, it means using capital to drive positive change. Whether through philanthropy or investing, families are increasingly asking how to better align their capital with their values.

And while AI continues to dazzle, it still can’t replace real conversation. At Northwood, much of our work involves helping families think things through — serving as a sounding board for life’s biggest decisions. AI can help frame a question, but it can’t replace the trust and nuance of a thoughtful discussion.

One final note: the Holmes and Rahe stress scale lists 43 life events that can increase your risk of illness — things like selling a business, moving, or losing someone close. Entrepreneurs often carry heavy, invisible loads. It’s a good reminder that wealth planning isn’t just about money — it’s also about human capital including resilience, mental health, and well-being. We’ve linked the stress scale below if you’d like to do it yourself.

As always, we’ve curated a mix of books, articles, and thought-provoking content we think you’ll enjoy.

Happy reading,

The Northwood Team

Click on the titles below to see the full content.

Article & Substack Recommendations

Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory – American Institute of Stress

Recommended by Brad Jesson

A classic tool for understanding how major life events can impact your physical health. A great reminder that financial planning is also about resilience and well-being.

How Attractive is Private Equity? – Morningstar

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A clear-eyed analysis of private equity's recent performance and future prospects — beyond the headlines.

Eye on the Market – 2025 Outlook – Michael Cembalest, J.P. Morgan (Jan 1, 2025)

Recommended by Greg Nott

Always worth reading. Cembalest blends sharp macro analysis with a dash of skepticism and wit.

Dogespierre Has Left the Building – Michael Cembalest, J.P. Morgan (May 1, 2025)

Recommended by Greg Nott

A dive into Musk’s recent moves with Tesla, Twitter, and crypto — written with bite and substance.

AI and Unemployment – CNN interview with Anthropic CEO

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A thoughtful look at how AI may reshape the labor market — from the perspective of those building it.

AI and Work: Some Predictions – Cal Newport Blog

Recommended by Tom McCullough

Newport offers sharp predictions on how AI might change — not just replace — knowledge work.

How to Be Successful – Sam Altman’s Blog

Recommended by Brad Jesson

From 2018, but we just stumbled across this punchy, practical list from the OpenAI CEO on how to focus, build, and stay ahead.

iPhone Tips and Tricks – Wirecutter / NYT

Recommended by Tom McCullough

Handy tricks that’ll make your iPhone life smoother — even for power users.

Will the Humanities Survive AI? – The New Yorker

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A beautifully written defense of literature, history, and critical thinking in an AI-driven world.

The Kids Are Not Alright – Derek Thompson on Substack

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A sobering look at the youth mental health crisis — with some ideas on what’s driving it.

Book Recommendations

Big Ideas & Bold Thinking

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan

Recommended by Brad Jesson

A bold take on the breakdown of globalization and the rise of new regional power centers. Big ideas and strong opinions.

Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks

Recommended by Tom McCullough

This bestselling book on aging and purpose explores how to thrive as we grow older — especially for high achievers. Brooks blends neuroscience, philosophy, and personal reflection to offer a roadmap for shifting from striving to wisdom. A worthwhile read, especially for those folks “of a certain age.”

Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel

Recommended by Scott Dickenson

Housel’s follow-up to The Psychology of Money focuses on timeless truths. Instead of predicting the future, he zooms in on the behaviors and principles that stay constant — a smart guide for navigating uncertainty.

What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fatigue by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Recommended by Brad Jesson

A short, soul-baring meditation on burnout and spiritual exhaustion. It hits harder than you’d think.

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Power, Technology & the Future

Never by Ken Follett

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A globe-spanning thriller about how small events can escalate toward global catastrophe. Follett explores modern geopolitics through interwoven narratives — from the Sahara to Washington to Pyongyang — as the world teeters on the edge of nuclear war.

A friend and client (who first recommended the book) and I often muse about whether each major world event in the news is the beginning of the Never story  

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History & Memoir

John A: The Man Who Made Us by Richard Gwyn

Recommended by a client

A rich and surprisingly entertaining look at Canada’s first PM — equal parts history and character study.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Recommended by Karen McCullough

A gripping narrative nonfiction account of the American ambassador to Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Through the eyes of William Dodd and his daughter Martha, Larson paints a chilling portrait of Berlin as Hitler rises to power — a city glittering on the surface, but rotting underneath. Tense, immersive, and hauntingly relevant.

In the Shelter by Pádraig Ó Tuama

Recommended by Tom McCullough

Poet, theologian, and peacebuilder Ó Tuama offers a spiritual memoir infused with Celtic wisdom, storytelling, and reflection. A moving meditation on identity, belonging, and the power of hospitality — especially in fractured communities.

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Fiction: Reimagined, Historical & Political

James by Percival Everett

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A bold and inventive reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man. Everett explores race, agency, and truth in a voice that’s witty, powerful, and deeply literary.

Precipice by Robert Harris

Recommended by Tom McCullough

Summer 1914. A bored aristocrat, a secret affair with the Prime Minister, and a leaking scandal that could alter British history. Harris blends historical fiction and political thriller in a taut tale of love, espionage, and war’s eve.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Recommended by Tom McCullough

An epic, emotionally rich novel that spans continents and decades, from a mission hospital in Ethiopia to the operating rooms of New York. Centered on twin brothers born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon, it’s a sweeping story of love, betrayal, medicine, and identity.

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Contemporary & Literary Fiction

‍This is Happiness by Niall Williams

Recommended by Tom and Karen McCullough

A beautifully written, slow-burning novel set in a rain-soaked Irish village. It’s a slow start with lots of detail about the bits and pieces of small town Irish life (including the week that “it stopped raining”), but it blossoms into a wonderful story well worth the read.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A quiet, powerful novella set in 1980s Ireland, where a coal merchant uncovers disturbing truths at a local convent tied to the Magdalene laundries. Told with restraint and compassion, it’s a haunting story of conscience, courage, and moral choice — all in under 120 pages. Absolutely touching, if painful, story!

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Recommended by Scott Dickenson

A Booker Prize-nominated novel that inspired the Oscar-nominated film. The story begins with a single, devastating misunderstanding in 1930s England — and traces its ripple effects through war and into the 21st century. A masterful, haunting meditation on regret and forgiveness.

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

Recommended by Tom McCullough

Twenty years after the book Brooklyn, Eilis Lacey is back. Living in suburban New York, her quiet life is upended by a knock at the door — and a stunning revelation. A luminous novel of secrecy, longing, and returning home to Ireland.

Streaming/Podcast Recommendations

No Mercy / No Malice: “Rich Kids” – Scott Galloway Podcast

Recommended by Brad Jesson

A sharp take on wealth, parenting, and privilege — Galloway at his blunt best.

Friday Focus – Munk Debates

Recommended by Brad Jesson

One of the most thoughtful weekly recaps of geopolitics and big ideas, minus the noise.

Our Kids Are the Least Flourishing Generation We Know Of – Plain English Podcast

Recommended by Tom McCullough

A must-listen on youth mental health, parenting shifts, and societal trends.

Plain History: The Smoot-Hawley Tariff and the Great Depression – Plain English Podcast

Recommended by Greg Nott

A tight, accessible look at the infamous tariff that helped sink the global economy — and the lessons that still apply.

Recommendations for Lighter Viewing

Clarkson’s Farm – Amazon Prime Video

Recommended by Geoff Hayman

Chaos meets countryside. Jeremy Clarkson’s foray into farming is surprisingly heartfelt — and hilarious.

Say Nothing – Disney+

Recommended by Brad Jesson

Based on the bestselling book, this is a chilling and powerful docuseries on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Haunting, with lots to unpack.

Stick – Owen Wilson Golf Comedy (Coming Soon)

Recommended by Geoff Hayman

A lighthearted golf flick about mentorship and second chances. Bonus: Happy Gilmore 2 drops in July, for a full summer golf laugh-fest.

Other

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As lifelong learners, we are always interested in reading or listening to material that broadens our horizons, challenges our thinking, and provides an all-important context for the decisions we make. This is true for the entire Northwood team.

We’d also be interested in hearing what you’ve been reading or listening to lately. If you’ve come across any particularly insightful books, articles, shows, or podcasts, please feel free to send them to us at tm@northwoodfamilyoffice.com, bcj@northwoodfamilyoffice.com or sd@northwoodfamilyoffice.com.

Thanks to the many people who have already shared their ideas.

All the best,

Northwood Team