The summer season is well in gear, but most bankers are just coming up for air after weeks of second-quarter earnings reports and a volatile first half of the year. If you are headed to the beach or mountains, staycationing, or just hiding, here are 12 books recommended by American Banker staff members and our contacts that offer brain food, escapeism or some timely humor.
The Pursuit of Economic Development: Growing Good Jobs in U.S. Cities and States
![pursuit-of-economic-development-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/883ced7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/331x186+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F0e%2Fa92a0d1e418db45917ea126b3666%2Fpursuit-of-economic-development-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Andy Peters, staff writer, American Banker
Humor That Works: The Missing Skill for Success and Happiness at Work
![humor-that-works-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/931333d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/324x182+0+158/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F42%2Fd9%2F257462ce4a2087c425371d4e875a%2Fhumor-that-works-2019-reading-list.jpg)
—Gary Siegel, digital editor, SourceMedia
The Banker's Wife
![the-bankers-wife-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/397099c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/333x187+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F21%2Fa1%2Fbc0f0a174ca494af89273f1c2901%2Fthe-bankers-wife-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Dean Anason, managing editor, American Banker
10 Must Reads on AI, Analytics, and the New Machine Age
![hbrs-must-reads-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45e6cfb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/333x187+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F75%2Fe13ea2074837a15515ca28ff1a90%2Fhbrs-must-reads-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Penny Crosman, editor-at-large, American Banker
The Immortalists
![the-immortalists-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/748ab74/2147483647/strip/true/crop/331x186+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2Fb3%2F899dfcd943fe807b683531e3d478%2Fthe-immortalists-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Laura Alix, staff writer, American Banker
Reconstructing the National Bank Controversy: Politics and Law in the Early Republic
![reconstructing-the-national-bank-controversy-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/635c7f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/333x187+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fc7%2F17%2F7fe172c4436280589865b4f0cbf5%2Freconstructing-the-national-bank-controversy-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— John Reosti, staff writer, American Banker
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
![fooled-by-randomness-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f5811a7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/324x182+0+158/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Ffe%2Fed%2Fbac4d95441f5aa775e15f027b0f4%2Ffooled-by-randomness-2019-reading-list.jpg)
—Michael Jamesson, a principal at Jamesson Associates, a community bank consulting firm in Scottsville, N.Y. (via American Banker staff writer Ken McCarthy)
Leading Through Uncertainty: How Umpqua Bank Emerged from the Great Recession Better and Stronger than Ever
![leading-through-uncertainty-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74c8eae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/338x190+0+154/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Ffe%2F28%2Fba26846c490fab245a85d4abb59f%2Fleading-through-uncertainty-2019-reading-list.jpg)
—Jim Dobbs, staff writer, American Banker
Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog
![lessons-from-lucy-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a96974e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/326x183+0+158/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F15%2F7c%2F3d7d085b44148a092013c131e6cf%2Flessons-from-lucy-2019-reading-list.jpg)
—Dean Anason, managing editor, American Banker
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill
![hero-of-the-empire-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e7c3c41/2147483647/strip/true/crop/324x182+0+158/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F2b%2F2b%2Fe11b38e243f38e4dd25564348e89%2Fhero-of-the-empire-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Dean Anason, managing editor, American Banker
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr.
![titan-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ab3c5d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/331x186+0+156/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F86%2F6005af994b44a38023ae40dba9d2%2Ftitan-2019-reading-list.jpg)
— Suleman Din, bank technology editor, American Banker
You're It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most
![youre-it-2019-reading-list.jpg](https://arizent.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/390b91f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/323x182+0+159/resize/240x135!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource-media-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2Fe7%2Fe82a7ad54593a3c898691e7aef75%2Fyoure-it-2019-reading-list.jpg)