JPMorgan's Summer Reading List: Because Even Billionaires Need Cliff Notes on Happiness (and the Impending Robot Uprising)

Beach Reads for the 1%

Alfred always told me 'Sometimes Batman the best way to fight crime is to understand what makes it tick.' Apparently for JPMorgan that means curating a summer reading list for the ultra rich. Sixteen books handpicked to guide them through existential crises like 'Am I happy?' and 'Will my AI butler turn on me?' It's like a survival guide for the apocalypse but with more yachts and less batarangs. Ironic isn't it? The people with all the resources are preparing for the end while the rest of us are just trying to survive Tuesday.

The Curious Case of the Curious Elite

Darin Oduyoye from JPMorgan claims the list is about 'the power of curiosity.' I'm curious too. Curious why someone needs a book to tell them how to be happy when they're swimming in more money than Bruce Wayne's trust fund. Maybe they should try fighting crime for a night. That's a real perspective shift. Then again maybe I should write a book: 'Batman's Guide to Not Being Miserable While Saving Gotham.' It would be a bestseller.

Passing the Torch (and the Billions)

Apparently these family offices are sweating bullets over the next generation. 'Values are very important,' they say. I bet. It's hard to maintain a philanthropic image when your kid is spending all the inheritance on diamond encrusted fidget spinners. They want to make sure the next generation is 'prepared.' Prepared for what? A life of endless caviar and existential dread? I've seen more genuine struggle in a single night on the Gotham docks.

Experiences Over Things? (Please)

Alongside the books there are 'suggested summer experiences.' A racing series a winery visit... because nothing says 'down to earth' like swilling Napa Valley Cabernet while watching sailboats. It's all a bit much isn't it? Maybe they should try volunteering at Arkham Asylum. Now that's an experience that'll change your perspective.

AI EVs and Gilded Age Nostalgia: A Potent Cocktail

The book selection is... eclectic. From AI parenting guides to reflections on electric vehicles to a look at art from the Gilded Age. It’s like they’re trying to cover all their bases. As if reading about the 'evolution of taste' will somehow make them more relatable. Newsflash: it won't. Though I will admit the NASA photography book does sound appealing. Space... now that's a problem even *I* can't punch my way out of.

The Dollar's Doom and Gloom (and Their Solutions)

And of course there's a book on the future of the U.S. dollar. Because when you have billions the only thing scarier than a Joker attack is a fluctuating exchange rate. 'Our Dollar Your Problem,' huh? Sounds like something Two Face would scribble on a currency bill. Maybe they should invest in a vigilante. It's a volatile market but the returns on investment in Gotham are… substantial. (In terms of safety of course I get paid in justice).