Summer reading for tech & business heads: taking a break with AI, business and code

• Daniel Suarez - Daemon

• Ted Chiang - Stories of Your Life and Others

Perfect beach or travel reads – suspenseful, thought-provoking and often oddly calming.

• Kazuo Ishiguro – Klara and the Sun

Told through the eyes of an artificial friend designed for children, this is a quiet and moving story that reflects on love, sacrifice, and what it means to be human. A subtle, timely novel.

• Ben H. Winters – The Last Policeman

What’s the point of solving a murder when the world is about to end? A philosophical detective novel with existential overtones. Not tech-heavy, but ideal for readers who enjoy moral questions and tension.

Thinking about launching your own startup? Or just curious how the innovation economy really works? These books read like fiction – but hit close to home.

A fast-paced account of the 2008 financial crisis, told through real characters and market chaos. Reads like a thriller, but teaches like a business course. Lewis has a gift for storytelling that makes complex topics accessible and addictive.

Technically non-fiction, but still a page-turner. This modern classic on startup methodology – MVPs, testing, iteration – is essential if you're thinking of launching your own project.

Tech and entertainment do go together. These books are like Netflix for the brain.

• Ernest Cline – Ready Player One

Virtual reality, ’80s pop culture, and a high-stakes quest. A geeky joyride through a richly imagined future. (Ready Player Two is also out, but the first book remains iconic.)

• Andy Weir – The Martian

An astronaut stranded on Mars must use science, logic and humor to survive. Technically detailed, funny and satisfying. Weir’s Project Hail Mary is another brilliant choice – maybe even better.

• Vilma Kadlečková – Mycelium (series)

A richly constructed space opera full of alien tech, politics, and ethical dilemmas. It’s complex but deeply rewarding for readers looking for world-building and intellectual depth.