Ahead of the summer break, some of the Pemba team and our partner companies share their latest book recommendations.
1. Relentless by Tim Grover
Tom Matthews, Managing Partner, Pemba
Tim Grover is best known in the world of professional sports and elite performance. For more than two decades, Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and dozens more—and made them even greater.
In his book Relentless, Grover uses his experience with the world’s top athletes to drill down into the killer instinct that separates the good from the great, showing readers how to tap into the dark side of competitive intensity in order to win. “Relentless” by Tim Grover is more than just a book about sports or fitness; it’s a manifesto for anyone looking to excel in their field. Grover challenges readers to go beyond the ordinary, to push through the good and the great, and to become unstoppable. Whether you’re a leader, an entrepreneur, an athlete, or anyone striving for excellence, the principles in Relentless force you to rethink how you approach success.
2. Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols
Frank Fisseler, CEO of Sequana
Over a decade ago, marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols released Blue Mind, a book that shows how water is important to our health and happiness. Blue Mind serves as both a call to appreciate the essential role of water in our lives and a celebration of its unique ability to connect, heal, and inspire.
Working in the water sector, I have seen how water transforms lives and communities. It’s a purpose driven industry aiming to create a sustainable water future for generations to come.
Living on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, I spend as much time as I can near or on the water. It makes us happier, more connected, and better at what we do. Blue Mind explains why, blending science and real stories from people who share a deep love for water.
This year, we gifted the Sequana team Blue Mind for Christmas. It’s a perfect read by the pool or on the beach this summer, and I hope it inspires them as much as it inspired me.
3. Better Simpler Strategy by Felix Oberholzer-Gee
Matthew Rowe – CEO of SuperConcepts
The book breaks down strategy through the concept of the value stick framework that focuses on incentives for customers and employees/business inputs overlaid with price and cost. The author deals with the idea that your business captures value depending on its ability to create customer willingness to pay, improve productivity in a way difficult to imitate and introduce network effects to leverage compliments (i.e. smartphone and apps). The book also provides insight into direct network effects, indirect network effects and platform network effects. Several case studies are provided to illustrate the points made in the book.
4. The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again by Robert D Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett
Martin De Domenico, Aurizn, GM McR Defence
An eminent political scientist’s brilliant analysis of economic, social, and political trends over the past century demonstrating how we have gone from an individualistic “I” society to a more communitarian “We” society and then back again—and how we can learn from that experience to turn the corner towards a stronger, more unified nation, from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids.
5. So You’re Going to Be a Dad by Peter Downey
Ben Schultz, Aurizn, Head of AI / EGM of CI
This book is the essential guide for first-time dads who are ready to step up and be involved but still learning the ropes—like when I found out babies don’t even drink water until they’re six months old! With sharp humour and practical advice, Downey covers everything from supporting your partner during pregnancy to navigating those sleepless newborn nights. It’s an honest, relatable look at the ups and downs of fatherhood, designed to leave you feeling more confident and less overwhelmed. Perfect for the new dad who wants to tackle the job with a mix of preparation, perspective, and a good sense of humour.
6. The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport by Joshua Robinson
Jack Hammett, Associate Director, Pemba
Whether you are a lifelong F1 fan or casual Drive to Survive viewer, this book is a fascinating dive into the global phenomenon as it continues to amass fans globally. The book covers the the cars and owners, the business behind the sport, the technology supporting it and, of course, the controversies and future of F1.
I enjoyed the coverage of the business of F1, with complex rule changes and dealings around the franchise and television contracts. The authors do a great job of characterising the industry titans from Enzo Ferrari to Bernie Ecclestone. Of course, the legendary drivers including Michael Schumacher (a whole chapter) and Max Verstappen are well covered.
If you are interested in learning why Williams was once so dominant, about the “Spygate” controversary or where Red bull came from, then this book is for you. Their final thought around F1 being the first truly post-modern sport, as it reinvented itself for the social media era is apt.
I was after a light read – this book was exact that. Perfect for sitting on the beach!
7. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Cailin McEntee, Origination Analyst, Pemba
I might be late to the party here, but I recently read this beautiful book by Delia Owens on holiday, and I have never been more enthralled or emotional reading a book by the pool before. The book tells the heartbreaking story of a young woman names Kya who is abandoned by her family, and she is left to fend for herself and live in the marsh. It is a portrayal of loneliness, longing, and isolation. However, it also ingeniously weaves in elements of romance and suspense, which keeps you captivated. Delia’s descriptions are so vivid you can feel yourself in the marsh with Kya. I found out later that Delia is a renowned biologist and has won multiple awards for her nature writing, so it makes sense now why she can set such a compelling scene.
