Economist Jerome Booth recommends books for a better life

Jerome Booth — economist, entrepreneur and author of Emerging Markets in an Upside Down World — on the books that equip you for the university of life.

The Puritan Gift: Reclaiming the American Dream Amidst Global Financial Chaos

By Ken and Will Hopper

The book speaks about the American management style of preserving institutional knowledge, as they developed their leadership.

Systems Of Survival

By Jane Jacobs

This book is an easy read, a conversation between public and private sector and the problems and limitations they deal with as well as the role they play in shaping the overall economy. It is relevant to the Indian context and readers here would identify with it.

Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines

By Richard A Muller

For those who don't come from the sciences, this is a good point to start. As the title suggests, Muller wrote this book for US' incoming presidents, outlining the basic physics that any of them should be aware of. But really, it's something anyone should know.

My Experiments with Truth

By Mahatma Gandhi

This one, I am hoping the readers would have already struck off their reading lists. In his autobiography, Gandhi mentions reading John Ruskin's Unto This Last in South Africa and being motivated to journey to India, to serve his homeland. I chair the board of governors at the Anglia Ruskin University in UK, founded by none other than Ruskin. When I think of this little connection between Gandhi's autobiography and me, I sense, life has come full circle.

Great Books, a 10-year reading program

Serious readers should give this one a shot. The programme lists out the defining works on western philosophy, thinking, literature and history. Little wonder, it takes a decade to get through this much reading. I did.