Curated Collections

The UC Berkeley Summer Reading List is a decades‑long tradition, now in its 40th year, showcasing books recommended by Berkeley faculty, staff, and students. This year’s theme, generosity, brings together books that explore acts of kindness, magnanimity, and moments that can alter lives or communities. Selected works invite readers to reflect on how generosity shapes our decisions, relationships, and future, offering insights that resonate far beyond campus.

A growth plan in upgrading the quality of your thinking — from understanding cognitive biases, to building cross-domain mental models, to developing the kind of judgment that consistently produces better decisions and better ideas.

The 8 essential books YC-style founders read to think clearly, build fast, find product-market fit, and scale enduring companies.

Essential reading on CRISPR, longevity science, and synthetic biology. The technologies reshape medicine, life, and the future of humanity.

A financial growth plan in 10 books — from reprogramming your money psychology, to mastering personal finance fundamentals, to understanding the investment principles that build lasting wealth.

From UC Berkeley's vibrant reading community — books that explore "(Re)Writing the Rules" and challenging conventional wisdom. Recommended by Cal students, faculty, and staff, this collection represents some of the most thought-provoking reads suggested by the Berkeley community for those ready to question and reimagine.

Some of the best tour guides aren't people. They're books. This collection plots a course through New York's diverse neighborhoods, from the Upper West Side to streets far beyond. Sourced from the Columbia University community, these titles delve into the rich fabric of the city, revealing the character and history written on every block. Consider this your map to the hidden stories of NYC.

A growth plan for anyone who wants to build wealth not just through saving but through creating. Understanding entrepreneurship, equity, and the mental models of builders who create outsized financial returns.

A growth plan for senior leaders responsible for direction-setting and results. Progresses from strategic thinking frameworks to operational excellence to building organizations that sustain competitive advantage.

A 10-book growth plan in working at your full cognitive capacity. From understanding why focus is rare, to building the systems and habits that let you do the work that actually matters.

A structured growth plan in Stoic philosophy as a complete life operating system. A practical toolkit for navigating adversity, clarifying values, and living with deliberate intention.

What holds a community together? Dive into this reading list, handpicked by the brilliant minds at UC Berkeley to explore that very question. Centered on the theme "Illuminating Communities," these stories are your ticket to discovering the threads that connect us all. Find your next unforgettable read right here!