Gwendolyn Bounds

Chief Content Officer, Consumer Reports

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
by David Epstein

This superb, scientifically backed narrative made me a more clear-eyed problem solver and a more strategic athlete.

Freedom
by Sebastian Junger

I interviewed Junger while working at the Wall Street Journal and remain struck by his ability to find what is extraordinary in the ordinary. Through his journey walking railroad lines, Junger claws the word “freedom” back from politicization and reexamines in a succinct 147 pages about what it means to be human.

Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents
by Octavia E. Butler

These dystopian classics feel like must-reads or rereads coming out of the events of 2020.

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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 Kris Coratti, Chantal De Soto, Rimjhim Dey, Melanie Newman, Joellen Perry, and Jayne Rosefield for their help.

Within McKinsey Global Publishing, Eleni Kostopoulos led the effort to make this year’s list come alive, with collaboration and support from Mike Borruso, Nancy Cohn, Victor Cuevas, Torea Frey, Mary Halpin, Drew Holzfeind, Kathleen O'Leary, LaShon Malone, Philip Mathew, Janet Michaud, Kanika Punwani, Sarah Thuerk, Duane Tomaszewski, Petra Vincent, and Nathan Wilson.

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