JPMorgan Unveils 2026 Summer Reading List Focused on AI, Leadership, Culture and Human Connection
JPMorgan Unveils 2026 Summer Reading List Focused on AI, Leadership, Culture and Human Connection
JPMorgan has released its 2026 Summer Reading List, offering a wide-ranging collection of books that reflect the major themes shaping business, society, technology, culture and personal growth. The annual list, highlighted by CNBC and published by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, presents 14 selections designed to help readers step back, recharge and think more deeply about the future.
This yearâs recommendations show a clear focus on artificial intelligence, crisis leadership, creativity, brain health, global history, sports, art and purpose. Rather than offering only traditional business books, JPMorganâs 2026 list points to a broader idea of success: understanding change, staying curious and building a richer view of the world.
AI and Innovation Take Center Stage
One of the most notable books on the list is The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby. The book follows Demis Hassabis, the co-founder of DeepMind, and explores how frontier artificial intelligence moved from a research dream into one of the most important forces in global technology. J.P. Morgan describes the book as both a biography and a look at a field now sitting at the center of business, science and power.
Another AI-focused title, AI for Good by Josh Tyrangiel, looks at how artificial intelligence is already being used in areas such as healthcare, education, public services and community problem-solving. The book takes an optimistic but practical view, showing AI as a tool that can support human judgment rather than replace it.
Creativity, Leadership and Crisis Response
The list also includes How Great Ideas Happen by George Newman, which argues that creativity is not simply a sudden spark. Instead, it can be practiced through careful observation, curiosity and steady refinement. This message fits well with JPMorganâs broader theme of using summer as a time to reset and discover new ways of thinking.
For leaders facing uncertainty, Crisis Engineering by Marina Nitze, Matthew Weaver and Mikey Dickerson offers tools for managing chaos. The book draws on real-world crisis-response experience, including government and industry examples, to explain how teams can regain clarity when systems fail.
Human Connection and Personal Growth
JPMorganâs 2026 list also highlights the importance of emotional well-being and purpose. Mattering by Jennifer Breheny Wallace focuses on the human need to feel valued and to add value. The book offers a framework for building stronger relationships at home, at work and in communities.
Coachable by Ric Bucher brings lessons from elite sports into business and personal development. Through stories involving major athletes and coaches, the book explores why the ability to listen, learn and improve can be a powerful advantage.
Health, Memory and Long-Term Thinking
Brain health is another important topic in the 2026 selections. The Stimulated Mind by Dr. Tommy Wood challenges the belief that mental decline is unavoidable with age. The book presents practical ideas for protecting focus, adaptability and long-term cognitive strength.
JPMorganâs inclusion of this title suggests that modern success is not only about wealth or career growth. It also depends on health, energy and the ability to keep learning throughout life.
Culture, History and the Global Imagination
The list moves beyond business with titles such as America: The Imagination of a Nation, published by Assouline with Joel Stein. The book explores American identity through symbols, culture, history and global influence, connecting its theme to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The Coming Storm by historian Odd Arne Westad uses the period before World War I as a warning for todayâs geopolitical tensions. The book looks at how rising powers, alliances, poor signals and rushed decisions can turn regional disputes into wider conflict.
Art, Food, Heritage and Sport
JPMorganâs recommendations also include visual and cultural works. Irreplaceable, produced by the World Monuments Fund, highlights 60 treasured global places and the risks they face from climate change, conflict, tourism and financial pressure.
Keith Haring in 3D examines the artistâs three-dimensional work and wider cultural influence. Squeeze Me by Ruthie Rogers and Ed Ruscha celebrates lemons through recipes and art, blending food, design and creativity.
The final title, We Are the World (Cup) by Roger Bennett, offers a personal history of the World Cup. It connects football with identity, culture, politics and shared global memory.
Why the 2026 List Matters
The 2026 JPMorgan Summer Reading List is more than a set of book recommendations. It reflects what many global leaders, investors and professionals are thinking about now: how to understand AI, how to lead during uncertainty, how to protect health, how to stay creative and how to remain connected to culture and community.
By mixing technology, leadership, history, art, food and sport, JPMorgan presents reading as a way to prepare for the future. The message is simple but powerful: in a fast-changing world, curiosity is not a hobby. It is a skill.
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