What are the people who help shape today’s conversations reading right now? McKinsey’s 2026 annual book recommendations feature picks from leaders across media and publishing, offering a window into the books capturing their attention. These selections look beyond the headlines, offering fresh perspectives on the ideas and forces defining our world. Explore the highlights below, then discover more recommendations from this year’s nearly 100 picks.
Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI by Carissa Véliz
Recommended by Nicholas Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic; author, The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports
“I just read Carissa Véliz’s marvelous book, which, along with a series of lovely historical diversions, explains the perils that can occur when predictions made by AI become something closer to real-world prophecies.”
What Could Possibly Go Right?: The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture by Danny Meyer
Recommended by Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, and professor of psychology, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; podcast host, The Curiosity Shop and Re: Thinking
“I’m excited to read this book by restaurateur Danny Meyer. I can’t wait to soak up all the leadership lessons he’s learned in his quest to create cultures that elevate people.”
I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything by Joanna Stern
Recommended by Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial, NBC News; coauthor, The Last Free Women: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan and Coming of Age in America
“Joanna, with whom I’ve worked closely for over ten years, outsourced as much of her life as possible to AI. Her story—a mixture of expertise, humanity, and humor—is truly illuminating.”
An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn
Recommended by Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer, Mansueto Ventures; publisher of Inc. and Fast Company
“Mendelsohn’s chronicle of the semester in which his 81-year-old father audited his freshman seminar at Bard College is both a love letter to an aging parent and a patient tutorial on Homer’s epic poem—perfect preparation for anyone planning to see Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey this summer.”