What do investors read when they are not reviewing pitch decks? This summer, European VCs are reaching for books about AI power struggles, semiconductor politics, human psychology, friendship, and occasional dystopia.
We asked which titles stayed with them after the final page, and why.
Here is what European investors are reading this summer:
Piotr Bukański, Principal at Acurio VC
Supremacy by Parmy Olson
A must-read for understanding the historical and strategic context behind the key players in AI, especially the early days of DeepMind and OpenAI. It's full of little-known insights. If you enjoy early stories behind companies, you will like this one!
Chip War by Chris Miller
Essential reading if you want to understand what is happening in the semiconductor industry. Miller shows how a handful of countries and companies control the critical chokepoints in chip manufacturing, which explains so much about today's geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerability.
It provides the historical foundation we often lack when trying to understand the broader system, and why things are the way they are today.
The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O'Sullivan
I found this book by chance in a bookstore and read it almost in one sitting. O'Sullivan argues that overdiagnosis often does more harm than good, exploring the nocebo effect — how being labeled with a condition can itself create negative health outcomes.
It critiques our obsession with preventative health — which I am a fan of — and early diagnosis, especially as the healthtech sector assumes that more information always leads to better outcomes. What makes it particularly thought-provoking is that the author is a practicing neurologist critiquing the system from inside it.
Will Orde, Partner at Passion Capital
Chokepoints: How Economic Warfare is Changing the World by Edward Fishman
A fascinating dive into how economic warfare and sanctions have developed throughout the 21st century as a strategic lever for the US. While reading it, I could not help thinking of the parallels with AI infrastructure.
Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear
A great sci-fi treasure hunt story with a healthy dose of introspection. The story just draws you in and gives you plenty to think about!
Aleksandra Pedraszewska, Partner at vastpoint
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
A "naked" insight into the world of Big YTech, and a good argument for setting the ethical anchor early, both as founders and investors.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A long overdue read. It is fascinating to see how a distant dystopia could be imagined back in the 1930s — and even better read in the middle of the AI revolution. It shows how universal the question of what happiness actually is stays across centuries.
Magdalena Chałas, Senior Investment Manager at Elevator Ventures
Lunch with the FT: 52 Classic Interviews, edited by Lionel Barber
The book isn’t just a collection of brilliant interviews — it’s also an invitation to some of the world’s most iconic restaurants, where conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, artists, politicians and business leaders unfold over lunch.
Easy to pick up for a chapter at a time, with plenty of food for thought and a bit of travel and taste inspiration.
Radovan Nesrsta, Partner at Orbit Capital
99: Stories of the Game by Wayne Gretzky with Kirstie McLellan Day
The quote I appreciate most is: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It perfectly captures the mindset of venture investing. Backing ambitious founders requires the courage to take calculated risks, while accepting that not every shot will land.
Gretzky’s stories are a powerful reminder that meaningful opportunities come to those who are willing to act.
Jakub Kaczmarek, Investment Associate at Orbit Capital
The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip by Stephen Witt
A lecture on the backbone of the AI revolution: hardware. It's a mesmerizing story of how Jensen revolutionized the industry.
1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History — and How It Shattered a Nation by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Especially relevant at a time of market exuberance and growing debate over an AI bubble.
Ewa Chronowska, General Partner at Next Road Ventures, CEO at Vestbee
Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
A refreshing perspective on wealth, time and life, built around a simple but powerful question: what is enough?
Perkins encourages entrepreneurs to define success on their own terms rather than pursue growth at any cost. His central message — that time is our most valuable asset — is a reminder that success should not come at the expense of living, and that some opportunities are worth taking before they disappear.
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford
Outlive challenges conventional thinking about health and longevity, showing that sustained performance depends on investing proactively in physical and mental well-being.
It explains how the choices we make today can improve both lifespan and healthspan — and reminds us that staying healthy, energised and resilient is one of our greatest long-term advantages.
Same as Ever by Morgan Housel
A fascinating exploration of the enduring patterns that shape human behaviour. While technologies, markets and industries change, human nature rarely does.
Rather than trying to predict the future, Housel examines how greed, fear, risk and incentives continue to drive decisions across generations. Understanding what stays the same, he argues, can be more valuable than forecasting what comes next.
Serhiy Tokarev, Co-founder and General Partner at Roosh
The Undiscovered Self by Carl Jung
Most people spend their careers optimising what is visible: metrics, structure, and output. Jung spent his life examining what lies underneath. Understanding what actually drives decisions — mine and everyone else's — has taught me more than any business book.
Andra Bagdonaitė, General Partner at FIRSTPICK
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
This book gave me a much better understanding of how many Gen Z founders are wired: what motivates them, how they think, and some of the challenges they face growing up in a smartphone-first world. It's a valuable read for anyone working closely with the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
A lovely, deeply human and touching story about loneliness, friendship, and personal growth. Magnus from byFounders recommended it to me, and I absolutely loved it.
Zuzana Ondrejová, Partner at J&T Ventures
Factfulness by Hans Rosling
Although the book is a little bit older, its principles for looking at the world through data remain relevant. It can also help you to strengthen your critical thinking and avoid the mental biases we all face.
Cristian Munteanu, Early game VC
Bonus Read: The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis by Citrini Research
This is one of the most thought-provoking articles I have read in a while. It sparked very interesting conversations with our LPs. Written as a report from the future and dated June 30th, 2028, it offers a bold perspective on what the world could look like after AI.
