Invest in a Good Book (or Podcast, or Experience): Summer Entertainment Picks from Our Team
It’s hard to believe after a long and snowy winter in New York, but summer is here. The team at Kimelman & Baird is looking forward to slower days, brighter nights, and sun-soaked memories.
As always, we’re also willing and eager to impart our advice to make your summer a little better. We’ve polled the team, and here are our top picks for the books, podcasts, plays, and experiences to delight, inspire, and inform this summer.
Scott Kimelman, Co-Chief Investment Officer & CEO
The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation, by Jon Gertner
“Bell Labs produced more transformative inventions than perhaps any organization in history — the transistor, the laser, information theory. Gertner's account of how they did it is a fascinating study in what happens when you give brilliant people time, resources, and the freedom to pursue ideas without immediate commercial pressure. Required reading for anyone thinking about innovation, creativity, and institutional design.”
Sapan Vyas, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Senior Wealth Advisor
Churchill Warm Rooms: A London Museum
“If you find yourself in London this summer, don’t miss a visit to this incredible museum. When I visited the Churchill War Rooms with my family a few years ago, what stopped me wasn't the history I already knew but the feeling of standing exactly where it happened. These were real people who lived and worked in those underground rooms for years: who sacrificed comfort, certainty, and in many cases far more, all in service of something larger than themselves. There is something about seeing the actual desks, the actual maps, the actual phones that makes leadership feel less like an abstraction and more like a daily choice. For anyone spending time in London this summer, this half-day visit will quietly put things in perspective.”
Yasmeen Mock, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Wealth Advisor
Every Brilliant Thing, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe; directed by Jeremy Herrin and Duncan Macmillan
“This play perfectly mirrors my own habit of keeping a notebook of random joyful events. It is a heart-wrenching yet hilarious story about a boy making a list of everything worth living for as a gift to his depressed mother. For an eternal optimist like me, it is a celebration of the small things that accumulate into a life well-lived. For those who love a show with audience participation, this one delivers.”
Ragtime, book by Terrence McNally; music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; directed by Lear DeBessonet; based on the novel, Ragtime, by E.L. Doctorow
“This musical follows the lives of three families chasing the American Dream at the turn of the twentieth century in New York. Real historical figures weave through the fictional narrative, grounding the story in a turbulent moment in American history. The themes are timeless, but what captured me was the music. The score and the singing in this production are extraordinary, and so deeply moving.”
Sheila Baird, Founder & Chair
The Running Grave, by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
“This is number 7 in Galbraith’s engaging detective series starring the overweight, lame, clever Cormorant Strike and his beautiful sidekick Robin Ellacott, with whom he is secretly smitten. If you like Harry Potter, you will love this series. It’s not essential to read in order, but I recommend starting with the first in the series, The Cuckoo’s Calling. Why miss any of them? Great vacation choice.”
Joyce Chan, Operations Manager
The Rundown, a podcast hosted by Zaid Admani
“A concise daily podcast offering timely updates on markets, the economy, and key business news. It’s only about 10 minutes long, making it an easy way to stay informed on developments relevant to the financial industry.”
Nicole Wilson, Client Relationship Manager
There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America, by Brian Goldstone
“There Is No Place for Us is an eye-opening look at Atlanta’s working homeless: i.e., people with jobs who still can’t afford a roof over their heads. Brian Goldstone breaks down how rising rents, low wages, and the lack of tenant protections are pushing people out and connects it all to the larger racial and systemic forces driving America’s hidden housing crisis.
Fun fact: There Is No Place for Us is the 2026 Pulitzer Prize Winner in General Non-Fiction!”
Sula, by Toni Morrison
“A Toni Morrison read will always be on any reading list of mine. Sula is a beautiful and complex story about female friendship, identity, and the courage to live on your own terms. I think Sula is one of the most fearless characters I’ve ever encountered. This book reveals something new every time you return to it.”
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, by Suleika Jaouad
“Between Two Kingdoms is a raw and honest memoir about Suleika Jaouad’s battle with leukemia in her early twenties, and how she found the will to rebuild her life. Through writing, Jaouad finds the ability to connect with others and turns her pain into a bridge between people. This memoir is beautiful and vulnerable and will stay with you.”
Reel, by Kennedy Ryan
“Reel is the whole package! It’s a gorgeous love story with depth, heart and care. The main character has lupus, and the author brings lupus representation to the page in a way that feels genuine and important. The backdrop of a film celebrating the Harlem Renaissance gives the story a rich, soulful energy. It’s romantic, layered, and beautifully written.”
Gabriela Bruzzo, Operations and Client Service Coordinator
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
“I love how this story explores so many different kinds of relationships, from friendships to romance to creative/professional partnerships, and how these relationships can shape the work we do and the people we become. It captures what it means to trust others enough to work toward a shared dream, even when each person's path and vision evolve over time. I actually listened to the audiobook, and as someone picky about narrators' voices, I highly recommend listening to this one.”
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, by Alexandra Horowitz
“I have a dog who is truly my world, and I love learning more about how dogs experience and understand the world around them. This book explores canine perception and behavior in an engaging and science-backed way, and it will deepen your appreciation for the human-animal bond.”
Almond, by Sohn Won-pyung
“This is a short book you could read in a weekend, but the emotions it evokes stay with you long after. I found the story deeply engaging. The young narrator explores emotion (and the absence of it), what it means to understand others, and what it means to be understood, after a traumatic childhood incident. The story is deceptively simple and really moving.”
Jack Vanneck, Research Analyst
Risk Reversal Podcast, Hosted by Dan Nathan and Guy Adami
“This is a great daily podcast that covers what is happening in the market. The hosts really focus on the technicals. Very insightful if you want to know what is happening on a daily basis.”
Jack Kimelman, Trading Operations & Research Associate
Ambergris Trilogy, by Jeff Vanderemeer
“This series features three collections of short stories that all take place in the fantasy port city of Ambergris. Each story reveals more and more of this world, connecting in ways that uncover horrors that lie beneath the city streets. Fans of Scifi, Weird fiction, or deep world building will get lost in these short stories.”
Common Side Effects, a show by Joe Bennett and Steve Hely
“An animated Adult Swim show that follows the discovery of a new mushroom that can revolutionize modern medicine. The show delves into the lengths to which people will go to preserve this cure-all, and the officials who will attempt to rid the world of its existence. From the Mind of Joe Bennett, the show has odd yet beautiful animation that will make any viewer connect with each episode. Fans of Breaking Bad and The Wire will love this series.”
Artists on Artists on Artists, a podcast hosted by Kylie Brakeman, Jeremy Culhane, Angela Giarratana, and Patrick McDonald
“A weekly podcast in which four professional comedians take the role of a new creative profession each week and improvise a roundtable style discussion for that profession. While the quick-paced comedy is entertaining, the show isn't scared of criticizing the current state of the entertainment industry. With over four years' worth of episodes it's easy to pick up anywhere and dive into something new.”
We hope something on this list strikes your fancy – and if you try any of our suggestions, we’d love to know what you think. Wishing you a restful and rejuvenating summer from all of us at K&B!
Disclaimer: Kimelman & Baird is not affiliated with any of the authors, speakers, experiences, or creators mentioned in this article. The views and opinions expressed in the referenced books and podcasts are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Kimelman & Baird. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Please consult your professional advisor regarding your specific situation.