Discussed in this issue:
📝 From My Desk — The end-of-summer book list, curated by one of Jamie’s List’s most well-read community members, Jeff Berman.
🥧 Lunch With Jamie — TODAY at 9:30 am PT, sit in on my virtual conversation with Senate candidates Josh Turek & Annie Andrews.
Register here to join.🎥 The List — New trailer alert! If you haven’t heard of LA BOLA NEGRA, check it out and get excited.
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From Jamie’s Desk:
Growing up in NYC, the end of summer was always defined by two things. First, the start of double sessions for the Fieldston Eagles football team. It was not something any sane person looked forward to, but in the words of Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso, “football is life”. I was always happy to get back, see my teammates and prepare for the upcoming season (shoutout to Eagles alum Liam Thorpe, who is currently playing for Stanford). The next signifier that summer came to a close was Labor Day – the official end of summer and start of school, which no kid ever looked forward to (but turns out every parent secretly did).
Now, those moments are out the window, and since college started for my kids in early August, I am not even sure how Labor Day fits into the calendar now. But it still is the official end of summer. In light of that, I wanted to do a special Jamie’s List edition that was all about books. You heard me: not food, not movies, not politics – but books.
Reading is more important than ever, as we’re living in a time where social media shorts and AI generated content are changing our attention spans. It’s easy to just mindlessly scroll, but reading a book requires active engagement – and should be encouraged. The 20-year American Time Use Survey analysis found that daily reading for pleasure fell from 28% of Americans in 2004 to just 16% in 2023. The most jarring statistic is from YouGov and states that 40% of Americans read zero books outside of work or school in 2025.
Still, my personal belief is that books are making a big comeback. The number of independent bookstores in America has roughly tripled in the past decade, and Barnes & Noble added 100+ stores in two years, and plans to open 60 more in 2026. And I’m sure you’ve noticed the cultural shift: reading is cool again. People like Obama, Dua Lipa and Ryan Holiday are constantly making lists of their recommendations for their audience. Plus, there’s “BookTok” – where social media users share their recommendations and lists, talking about the hot new reads.
As someone who reads for work a lot, but not for pleasure as much as I’d like, earlier this summer I asked one of my favorite bookworms, Nicole Richie, for her recs. She shared them here.
For this bonus edition of Jamie’s List, I called up my friend Jeff Berman, who is one of the most avid readers I know, for his end-of-summer reading recommendations. So do your best to pick up a book and finish it before the long weekend – but reading during all seasons is encouraged.
A bit about Jeff: he is the co-host of the Masters of Scale podcast and will be moderating many of the panels at the Masters of Scale conference in the Bay next month and is the CEO of WaitWhat.
Below are some of his picks, all linked to my Bookshop affiliate storefront for easy access. I earn a small commission on anything you buy.
And if you want even more from Jeff, be sure to follow his Instagram account for more book recommendations.
As always, let me know what you’re reading. I’m always looking for community-curated recommendations to share here on Jamie’s List.
Favorite 2026 Fiction Beach Read
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. People seem either to love or hate it. I'm in the former category for a number of reasons, not least of which is the deft sleight of hand she executes toward the end.
Favorite 2026 Non-Fiction Beach Read
How to Rule the World by Theo Baker. A college student journalist takes down the Stanford President, pulls back the cloak on Silicon Valley culture, and comes of age.
Sweeping Epics
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, and, if you want the cry of your life, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
Historical Fiction
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore—the battle between Edison & Westinghouse to control electricity in America with Tesla at the center. Incidentally, also briefly the story of the founding of modern American law firms.
Magical Realism
If you loved James, for my money The Trees by Percival Everett is perhaps an even more astounding work. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón remains one of the greats of that genre as well.
Science Fiction
Hugh Howey's Wool (which has an incredible backstory) is one you may have missed and belongs in your bag for any big trip this summer.
Noir
On a trip to New Orleans, I wandered into the Garden District Book Shop and found a stack of James Lee Burke novels, an author I'd somehow never encountered. (Two-time Edgar Award winner, Guggenheim Fellow...). I picked up The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke—hard-boiled, poetic, gritty, and drenched in bayou heat.
The Lost Novel of the 20th Century
A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley in which the Black population of a fictional southern state salt their fields, kill their livestock, and an exodus ensues. Told from the perspectives of the white residents. Brilliantly imagined. I discovered this from a story in The New Yorker about how Kelley disappeared -- remarkable as well.
Other Must-Read 21st Century Fiction
Deacon King Kong by James McBride, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, and Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.
For Seekers
In The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck traces her personal journey against Dante's. Out of the Dark Wood of Error, through the circles of Hell & Purgatory, and into the light. When I first finished this book, I went back to page 1 and started it again.
For Patriots
The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader by Melissa Murray. Because, well, it's 2026.
Currently Reading…
Romping through Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Want to share a book that you can’t put down? Send it to [email protected]
🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!
🎙️ TODAY on Lunch With Jamie, I’m sitting down with two Senate candidates in closely followed races: Josh Turek (Iowa) and Dr. Annie Andrews (South Carolina). They’ll join me today, with Josh on at 9:30am PT, and Annie at 10:15am PT.
Given the importance of these races, we’re opening this conversation up to free subscribers as well.
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
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From Cannes-winning Directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi — popularly known as Los Javis —
LA BOLA NEGRA follows three generations of men across pivotal moments in Spanish history, bound by pain, desire, and love. Carlos (Milo Quifes) longs to belong in a fractured Spain. Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) finds connection across enemy lines. And Alberto (Carlos González) uncovers a long-buried family secret — one that finally gives voice to truths the past tried to erase.
Starring Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau,
Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres,
with Academy Award® Winner Penélope Cruz
and Academy Award® Nominee Glenn Close
IN THEATERS OCTOBER 16
FILMED IN 35MM. PROJECTED IN 35MM IN SELECT LOCATIONS.
@LaBolaNegraFilm
____
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