Books We Loved in 2023
To close out the year, we asked New York tech leaders in our network: What’s one book you read in 2023 that had an impact on you?
There were no other qualifiers — their recommendations could come from any genre and could apply to either their professional or personal lives (or both!) — so long as they were titles they loved so much that they’d gift copies to others.
This year’s contributors are all founders and investors recently named to Tech:NYC’s expanded Board. Here’s what they told us:
Peter Boyce II, Founder & Managing Partner, Stellation Capital: When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labatut
“This is an exhilarating work of historical fiction that blends the characters involved in developing quantum mechanics with the blurred lines of mental health challenges often associated with genius discovery. It made for a fun book club read with industry friends including Alexia Bonatsos, Cassie Zhang, Ashley Mayer, Kane Hsieh, Eugene Wei, Annabel Strauss, and Patrick Mandia.”
Sam Li, Co-founder & CEO, Thoropass: The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
“In the world of tech startups, where founders are constantly racing against the clock, practicing good people management principles often takes a back seat, leading to burnout, anxiety, and misaligned expectations. I came across this concise and highly actionable leadership classic this year, which showed me that clear communication, positive reinforcement, and timely feedback are the tried-and-true recipe for achieving excellent results.”
Nihal Mehta, Co-founder & General Partner, Eniac Ventures: Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong by Jerry Colonna
“Reunion forces one to realize how we are manifestations of our ancestors and how that dictates certain pre-set behaviors, to help optimize for better self-awareness and leadership.”
Frank Reig, Co-founder & CEO, Revel: The Messy MIddle by Scott Belsky
"The Messy Middle is essential reading for founders, especially in today's environment. We hear a lot about the launch journey and the glamorous light at the end of the tunnel. But the ‘in between’ is where you really figure out what you are. This book gave me some great perspective on Revel's evolution as we retired our original product this year and fully transitioned to a new mission."
Julie Samuels, President & Executive Director, Tech:NYC: The Deluge by Stephen Markley
“I read The Deluge when it was released at the beginning of the year and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It’s a novel, but delivers a very real message of what we face if we don’t get more serious about the threat of climate change. A lot of seemingly unrelated characters get more and more intertwined – and find the hope that just may help us reverse course. It’s a long, ambitious book, but I couldn’t put it down.”
Kelly Sims, Partner, Thrive Capital: Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson
“Scaling People is a practical and empathetic guide to company building and scaling the most important resource a company has: its people. It offers actionable insights and tactical guidance on everything from crafting foundational documents to hiring and team development to feedback and performance mechanisms. The book includes over 100 pages of worksheets, templates, exercises, and example documents to help founders, leaders, and company builders create scalable operating systems and lightweight processes that set them up for years to come.”
Carolyn Starrett, CEO, Flatiron Health: The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
“I’ve long been a fan of Dr. Maté’s work connecting body, mind, and trauma. His latest book considers the rise of chronic disease and mental illness across western societies and raises important questions about the role modern culture and healthcare systems may play. It’s a thought provoking look at the ways stress and trauma can manifest in the body and the importance of connecting deeper human experience to our health.”
Jarrid Tingle, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Harlem Capital: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow
“I originally discovered this book through an article in The Atlantic, and it has been a fascinating read. A key argument is that we are essentially the same in body and mind as our ancestors who lived tens of thousands of years ago. History is often thought of as a linear progression, when in reality, there have been numerous advances, setbacks, and alternative ways to construct society. Often, our view of our ancestors as primitive is not based on evidence. This book may help open your eyes and discover some new wisdom!”
