Written in collaboration with Carla Santos, a member of The Blog team.
Summer is the perfect season to pause, reflect, and dive into stories that challenge the way we see the world. In an age marked by rapid change and uncertainty, the books we choose when we have a little more time can be powerful tools—not just for escape, but for expanding our perspectives and inspiring new ways of thinking.
This year, we invited our PoP Book Club to share a curated selection of books that do just that. And if you’re wondering what the PoP Book Club is, here’s a quick intro: it’s one of 33 PoP Clubs at PwC Luxembourg, where people come together around shared passions, from sports and music to cooking and, of course, books. These clubs are all about connecting with colleagues, following what you love, and having fun along the way.
The PoP Book Club was established two years ago with the purpose of connecting all the bibliophiles within the company. Once a month, members gather to discuss the book they read the previous month. It offers a great opportunity to exchange ideas and points of view, as well as to discover new book recommendations to add to our ever-growing to-read piles.
Coming back to our summer reads, the PoP Book Club members have handpicked titles—both fiction and non-fiction—that challenge dominant narratives, offer fresh ideas, and encourage us to rethink the status quo across politics, technology, economics, and society. Each book was chosen to inspire, spark meaningful conversations, and get us thinking. After all, we’re living in a time when new ideas and open minds are needed more than ever.
So, whether you’re escaping to a quiet spot or simply taking a moment to pause, these books offer you a chance to broaden your mind, nurture empathy, and find inspiration. Join us as we turn the page on uncertainty and embrace a summer of discovery and positive thinking together.
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
- Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology by Audrey Tang, Glen Weyl, and the Plurality community
- Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
- The days I loved you most by Amy Neff
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a true classic—one of those books everyone should read at least once in their life. It’s much more than an ode to intelligence; it’s about life itself and what it means to be human. The story of Charlie Gordon, who undergoes an experimental procedure to boost his IQ, is riveting, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once. Although first published in April 1959, its themes of identity, empathy, and humanity feel as fresh and relevant today as ever. Charlie is a character you won’t forget, and the journey alongside him is unforgettable—a perfect blend of hope, struggle, and profound insight. Truly a timeless masterpiece that stays with you long after the last page.
Konstantina Bantra, Senior IT Developer
Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology by Audrey Tang, Glen Weyl, and the Plurality community.
A book about the entanglement between politics and technology. This work shows how digital tools can be employed to reimagine democratic governance, offering an alternative perspective to the notion that technology poses a threat to democracy. It envisions a more pluralistic, bottom-up approach to governance facilitated by technological advancements. It uses the example of a technological experiment in Taiwan to provide valuable global insights.
Elisa Lubrini, Data Engineer
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
A relatively old but still relevant book. Written in 1985 and referencing dystopias such as “1984” and “Brave New World”, it critiques contemporary media’s form, content, and influence, which remains relevant today.
Elisa Lubrini, Data Engineer
The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff
A book covering key moments of the twentieth century from World War II through 9/11 and beyond, “The Days I Loved You Most” is a timeless story, it teaches us about resilience and the power of love through life’s unexpected challenges. It shows how sudden, difficult situations can leave us feeling unprepared and overwhelmed, but also how embracing vulnerability and compassion helps us navigate those moments. The book encourages us to respect both the tough choices we face and our own emotional journey, inspiring a mindset shift toward acceptance and hope. Ultimately, it reminds us that even in life’s darkest hours, hope and beauty can still shine through.
Maroua Ourrais, Senior Data Analyst
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
A fantastic, sometimes borderline absurd book about the history of a family in the fictional town of Macondo in Colombia, mirroring side by side the real history of its country. It is considered a masterpiece of magical realism, and probably the author’s most famous work. The most fascinating part of the book is the style and tone: fantastical elements such as the long-dead appearing at random intervals, a woman beginning to float spontaneously, or a man being followed by swarms of yellow butterflies everywhere he goes are described with a matter-of-fact tone that blends the every-day and impossible. At the same time, ideas such as the telephone are treated as absurd flights of fancy, inviting the reader to reflect on the nature of what they consider mundane. The end result is a deeply engrossing work which explores the apparent cycles of time and generations, and the feeling of alienation and inevitability.
Tudor Stoian, Data Analyst
What we think
Summer is the perfect time to pause and explore books that inspire and challenge us. Reading opens us to new ideas and fosters empathy and creativity. Being part of the PoP Book Club has highlighted how diverse perspectives strengthen our community. I hope these summer reads encourage reflection and curiosity about the world.
Books offer an escape from routine and introduce new perspectives, especially in summer. Each book, in fact, offers its own humor, reflection, or suspense—bringing fresh viewpoints that enrich your understanding of the world. Through the book club, I met new people, shared ideas, and learned about literature from various cultures.
