Alberto Ibargüen

President and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Alberto Ibarguen
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“Our American version of a democratic republic has depended on an informed citizenry, leading to an engaged community. Both parts of that, informed and engaged, depend significantly on an openness of mind and dialogue. To the extent we close off debate or fail to understand another point of view, we limit our potential as citizens and, collectively, of our community and nation. The authors I’ve picked for summer reading come at these issues with very different perspectives and all are provocative thinkers, making enormous contributions toward possible ways forward.”

The Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

Self-Portrait in Black and White by Thomas Chatterton Williams

White Fragility, Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

TECHNOLOGISTS/ENTREPRENEURS/PHILANTHROPISTS

BUSINESS LEADERS

Global LEADERS

Business Media

Platforms

TV/Entertainment

Civil Rights/Freedom of Expression

Diversity/Inclusion Activists

OTHER MEDIA

TEACHERS/EXPERTS

McKinsey Leaders

Other 2020 reading lists you might want to explore

Books by McKinsey Authors

McKinsey on Books

Explore this month’s best-selling business books, prepared exclusively for McKinsey Publishing by NPD, and a collection of books by McKinsey authors on the management issues that matter.

Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, 7th edition

At the crossroads of corporate strategy and finance lies valuation. This book enables everyone, from the budding professional to the seasoned manager, to excel at measuring and maximizing shareholder and company value.

Fast Times: How digital winners set direction, learn, and adapt

Winning in the digital age requires both lightning speed and thoughtful deliberation. Companies able to master this paradox are emerging as today's winners. Those that can't will be sold for parts.

Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick

– The new book on how to beat the odds with a bold strategy

Acknowledgments

It takes a village to curate amazing lists from this rather busy group of leaders from all over the world. We would like to thank Nikhil Deogun, Mitra S. Kalita, Gabriella Stern, Rebecca Lowell Edwards, Steve Lipin, Sara Blask, Karen Wickre, Ailish Campbell, Anya Schiffrin, Tom Weber, Shernaz Daver, Jose Zamora, and Judi Mackey for their help.

Within McKinsey Global Publishing, Mike Borruso, Heather Byer, Philip Mathew, Louis Vizzi, Dan Redding, and Torea Frey were instrumental in making this year’s list come alive.

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