Respected thought leaders and changemakers including Steve Jobs, Charlie Munger, and Elon Musk have all spoken about the strengths of having broad multi-domain knowledge, rather than narrow specialisation. Abraham Maslow, whom you may know for pioneering the “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs”, famously said, “To the man with only a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”

The annual holiday list of book recommendations from the Endowus team returns with a slight twist this year. This time round, we kept the prompt open: it can be anything related to finance, personal development, or something that has inspired change. 

People tend to assume that if you are from the finance industry, you would tend to read books about finance. However, the responses we received proved our team to be much more colourful than that. 

In this book list, find diverse perspectives on emotional management, cognitive reframing and words of wisdom that may, too, inspire change in you. And of course, if you would like book recommendations about personal finance, you may browse our 2022 list.

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed

Written by Lori Gottlieb

“Despite its heavy title, this book is a light-hearted, witty read that offers a glimpse into the candid thoughts of the author, a therapist herself.

My key takeaway was the universality of struggle. Even for the people who seem like they have their act together all the time, most of us share remarkably similar fears—of change, uncertainty, loss, and mistakes. Having this realisation softens self-judgement, and helps move us forward on this journey called life.

As someone who hasn't tried professional therapy before, the book is a front row seat to what usually goes on in actual therapy sessions. I’ve always had the idea that people go for therapy to deal with big and complex struggles, but it is actually helpful for ordinary pursuits like building self-awareness for personal growth.

The book underscores the fundamental idea that understanding our emotional drivers is central to how we act, relate to others, and make decisions.

Most of all, the path to growth isn’t always a quick solution or dramatic cure, but it’s about intentionality and repeated work of self-reflection. Whether through a professional therapist or a listening ear of a trusted loved one, talking gives us clarity of thought and decision-making.”

— Cherie Chia, Senior Operations Manager

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What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World 

Written by Tina Seelig

“I first encountered this book as a thoughtful college gift from a mentor. Revisiting it years later, its core ideas remain remarkably enduring and relevant. Two particularly powerful concepts have continued to resonate with me:

• Reframe the problem: Seelig teaches us to move beyond constraints by constantly challenging assumptions and viewing problems as unique opportunities to create value, which is the foundation of true innovation.
• Luck can be cultivated: She argues that luck isn't random, but the result of an active, optimistic, observant, and friendly attitude. By consciously acting "like a foreigner" in our own life, we increase our awareness and open ourselves up to serendipitous opportunities.

Filled with engaging anecdotes, the book offers a quick and easy read, yet the practical advice within serves as an inspiring guide for navigating any life or career stage.”

—Gloria Chiu, Business Development and Partnerships Lead

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Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Written by Greg McKeown

“This book is relevant in today’s hyper-connected era, characterised by information overload and noise. It offers a refreshing approach for individuals to regain control of their choices and channel their energy towards the goals that matter based on the principle of doing less, but doing better and fully.

McKeown challenges the assumption that one can—or should—accomplish everything, urging readers to ruthlessly distinguish the ‘vital few’ from the ‘trivial many.’

Key takeaways:

• Reclaim your agency: Replace ‘I have to’ with ‘I choose to.’ This shift re-centers you as the pilot of your life.
• Filter the noise: Distinguish the ‘vital few’ from the ‘trivial many’—don't treat all opportunities as equally valuable. Recognise that almost everything is "noise" and focus ruthlessly only on the vital few activities that genuinely move your life forward and towards what you want it to be like at the end of the day.
• End ambiguity: Use the question, ‘If I didn't already own this, how hard would I work to acquire it?’ to ruthlessly edit your commitments.”

— Anonymous contributor

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Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions

Co-written by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths

“Every day we are presented with overwhelming choices; and while the grass always feels greener on the other side, the book explores if we can apply logic from computer theories to human psychology to help simplify day to day decision paralysis.

Explore, explore, explore in your younger years. People often don’t give the unknown a fair chance. When in doubt, you should always bias your decision towards exploring. The book urges readers to measure between regret and optimism, and this resonated strongly with me about the value of exposure and taking risks in our youth.

Use the 37% rule to decide when to stop looking and start committing. Filter options and explore them without committing for the first 37%, then switch to ‘leap mode’ and start to make decisions as you have now developed a more critical awareness of the pros and cons. Spending too much time juggling decisions beyond that point generally does not improve the outcome. Instead, rent that flat and use the time saved to nest and make it your dream home.

The book was a great reminder that we often focus on the success of one-off outcomes. Rather than view decisions isolated from one another, it is important to set a horizon and approach decisions with a scientific, logical framework, not unlike our goal-based advisory process at Endowus!”

—Janet Hung, Head of Client Advisory, Hong Kong

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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Written by Charlie Mackesy

“This is an illustrated book, but it’s not only for kids. As the author writes in the introduction, ‘This book is for everyone—whether you’re eighty or eight.’

A scene that stuck with me was when the boy was asked what he wants to be when he grows up, and he simply answers, ‘Kind.’

In today’s society, where introductions typically begin with, ‘What do you work as?’, identities and interactions are often defined by titles and even the size of our bank accounts. The book reminds us that it is our values that make us who we are, not our jobs or status. It is the literary equivalent of a warm hug, offering simple, gentle wisdom that grows deeper the more life experience you bring to it.

A favourite quote of mine from this book is: ‘One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things.’ Knowing this lets us feel in full control of our emotions, and less need to immediately respond to external judgements and pressures. It has taught me that emotional control is a skill to be honed, and its value, in many aspects of life, can be extremely rewarding. 

This book is a much-needed reminder to be kinder to yourself and to others—a quick and heartwarming read that’s perfect for the holiday season.”

—Jason Teo, Vice President of Marketing

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Bonus read (aloud): 

If you’re looking for something much more light-hearted, we have a book recommendation, Forwards Always by Matthew Hodson, that is a collection of playful, heartwarming, and even silly, poems that are meant to be shared and enjoyed aloud—suitable for a cosy gathering with your loved ones during the holidays. 

—Karen Hung, Senior Growth Marketing Associate

Read more: Endowus 2024 book recommendations