Our favorite reads this summer
Summer is here, and so is our team's favorite reading list of the year. Whether you're soaking up the sun poolside or winding down after a long week, we've gathered a thoughtful mix of reads to keep you inspired all season long.
– The MERU Team
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Shantaram It's a long one but you won't be able to put it down. True story (autobiographical) about a convicted felon who escapes a prison in Australia, flees to India, and becomes embroiled in Indian organized crime. Incredibly well-written, one of the top 10 books I have ever read.
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Money Men I'm a sucker for a good nonfiction finance narrative (think Barbarians at the Gate) and love spy movies, so Dan McCrums' narrative of how he uncovered the Wirecard fraud checks all the boxes for me. McCrum builds suspense as he uncovers the mystery of the German fintech darling with his Financial Times colleagues. There were echoes of this story in the latest season of Industry on HBO.
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Remarkably Bright Creatures A tender emotional story about connection, grief, and healing told through unexpected perspectives. It’s warm and reflective. A perfect feel good summer read that’s easy to sink into, and timely with the recent movie adaptation.
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Absolute Power Absolute Power is a fast-paced political thriller about a thief who accidentally witnesses something he was never meant to see. It quickly turns into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase as powerful people try to cover it up and eliminate any trace of what happened. It’s a tightly plotted read that builds tension well and keeps you engaged as the situation escalates.
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Theo of Golden A heartwarming read that quietly pulls you in. The story follows the mysterious Theo as he settles into life in a small town where everyday interactions slowly start to reveal deeper stories about the people around him and about himself. Great for a roadtrip or long flight!
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The Four Agreements A practical guide to personal freedom built on replacing old mental habits with four commitments: speak truthfully, don’t take things personally, don’t assume, and always do your best.
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Piranesi Piranesi follows a man living in what seems to be an endless labyrinth, where he spends his days exploring and uncovering strange books and notes that may have been written by him. As he pieces together clues about how he ended up there, the story turns into a fascinating mystery about memory, identity, and how well we really know ourselves. It's a unique, thought-provoking read that stayed with me long after I finished it. – Alex Kim
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North Texas Growing Guide My wife wrote a book! This is a practical guide to growing food in North Texas through regenerative, organic growing principals. Each month has a clear plan: what to harvest, what to plant, and what else needs to be done in your garden for success well into the future.
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Theoderic The Great (King of the Goths, Ruler of romans) This biography of Theoderic the Great is a timely corrective to the lazy myth of Gothic barbarism. Theoderic did not inherit Rome's legacy and squander it; he preserved it, governing through Roman law, employing Roman administrators, and delivering the one thing the late empire could not: sustained peace. For anyone who suspects the "Dark Ages" were never quite as dark as advertised, this is essential reading.
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Hyperion A Canterbury Tales style sci-fi story about 7 pilgrims on a journey across space and time to the end of the world, telling their stories along the way to understand why each one of them was chosen for this pilgramage. For a book written in the 1980's, it is surprisingly relevant to modern society with themes of AI, colonialism, and religion.
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