Read: Shaun Johnson – Perspective with Scotty Stevenson (Penguin)
“Shaun is a superstar athlete, as well as a committed dad, husband, son, brother and mate. I wanted to understand how he does it all – and how he handled the massive ups and downs along the way. I knew that his honesty and openness would provide some great material for Scotty to help shape, and for me to learn from. Christmas and New Year is a shambles with three teenagers to keep safe, so I started it on January 2 and finished it on the 3rd.
Would you recommend it?
“It’s a fantastic read. Not just for Warriors supporters, but for anyone who wants to understand what it takes to be world-class in their field while keeping balance in their life.”
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
“Plenty. Main ones are: Use adversity to drive you forward and surround yourself with people who believe in you.”
What will you read next?
“I always read American Icon at the start of the year – Alan Mulally’s turnaround of Ford, by Bryce G Hoffman. It’s the best business book I’ve read, and I’ve read it over 10 times now. Plus, I’ll be helping to edit my wife’s second book [Rachel Paris, whose debut novel See How They Fall was released last year] and be hoping that we are still talking afterwards.”
Glenys Talivai, Public Trust
Read: The House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC).
“For Christmas, my children bought me this book, which is part of the Crescent City series. I have read both of Sarah J. Maas’ other series – A Court of Thorns & Roses and The Throne of Glass. Finally getting some quiet time poolside at home, I started reading the book on December 28, and by pulling it out every time I had downtime, finished on January 4.
Would you recommend it?
“If you’re looking for a fun escape into ‘romantasy’ with strong female characters and unexpected plot twists. I never thought these novels would interest me, but I read A Court of Thorns & Roses on recommendation from one of my friends and have been hooked ever since.
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
It’s centred on the power of friendships as a source of loyalty, strength and resilience – particularly when faced with adversity. It helped me to reflect on the importance of cherishing and nurturing my own close friendships.
What will you read next?
The next book in the series, The House of Sky and Breath. As I have to read a lot of work-related books and papers, I find reading this genre a good way to relax. I’d also recommend the Fourth Wing [by Rebecca Yarros] series.
Cecilia Robinson, Tend
Read: Heartbeats by Björn Borg (Little, Brown Book Group)
“I’m not a huge tennis follower, but I really like sports books as a break from business reading. I find it easier on the brain, but still full of lessons and analogies. Being Swedish definitely drew me in, and Björn Borg was very much a fixture of my teenage years, not just on TV, but also via the small but undeniable fact that most Swedes have worn his name across their underwear at some point. So, there was a mix of nostalgia, curiosity and cultural obligation in picking this one up. I started it right at the tail end of 2025 and finished it in the first few days of January. It was a quick read.
Would you recommend it?
Yes, with caveats. It’s not glossy or self-congratulatory, and it doesn’t try to impress. It’s restrained and at times a little uncomfortable, which is part of its appeal. If you’re looking for detailed tennis analysis, probably not. If you’re interested in pressure, expectations and what happens when success arrives very early, it’s worth reading.
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
“A few things stuck with me: How early success can actually shrink your world. How much discipline and emotional control can drive performance, but also quietly cost you. How little space there is to form an identity outside the thing you’re known for. It made me think about how often we celebrate resilience and toughness without really acknowledging the trade-offs.”
What will you read next?
“I’ll probably move to fiction next, then pick up a business book before the break is over. I’m also really keen to read Lessons on Living by Nigel Latta, which I gave my husband for Christmas. It feels like one to read with a bit more care. We both really liked and admired Nigel, and his voice has been part of the background of many New Zealand households for a long time.”
Campbell Mitchell, Fidelity Life
Read: Careless People – A Story of Where I Used to Work by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Pan McMillan)
“Capturing an insider’s view of Facebook’s rapid rise and global domination of social media, Careless People was sitting at the top of my summer break reading list. Was Donald Trump’s 2016 US election win over Hillary Clinton really the ‘Facebook election’? I got that answer and a lot more. Power, greed, madness – all from the platform we use to share photos with friends and family, and buy from marketplace. I started it on New Year’s Day and finished in three days. It was a great, quick read. The perfect beach read.”
Would you recommend it?
“Yes, a strong recommendation. To read the inner workings of an iconic success story, quite different from the public image of Facebook, was fascinating – and a little frightening.”
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
“Growth at all costs can be corrosive. Purpose is much more than a clever PR release. The protection of personal data is so important, and everyone should reassess their privacy restrictions on Facebook and all social media. And, always hire the Kiwi! They get stuff done!”
What will you read next?
“I’ve started a book published by my wife, Michelle Hurley, at Allen & Unwin – The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour and Jude Dobson, an incredible and must-read story, and I’m loving it. Next up is 1985, a novel by Dominic Hoey, also a helpful recommendation from Michelle, who says it’s the best New Zealand novel she’s read in a while. For work, my team is all reading Dare to Lead by Brené Brown as we prepare for another big year ahead.”
Courtney Johnston, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Read: Endling by Maria Reva (Little, Brown Book Group)
“I’m working through the 2025 Booker Prize long list. I started this at the end of December and finished it on New Year’s Day.”
Would you recommend it?
“Absolutely. It’s a real page-turner: it begins as a story about a young Ukrainian snail expert who is on a one-woman quest to save rare snails in her home-built mobile lab, turns into a caper heist as she gets involved with two young women who kidnap a group of international tourists who are part of a bridal agency tour and then, halfway through, takes another twist that I won’t spoil.”
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
“Oh lord – the plight of ‘endlings’, the last known individual of a species. It’s a powerful metaphor for loneliness, but there’s nothing metaphorical about species extinction.”
What will you read next?
Elizabeth Knox’s latest, Kings of This World. And this summer I’ve got a reading project: Margaret Mahy’s YA fiction from the 1980s. So far, I’ve read The Haunting, Memory and The Catalogue of the Universe. Next, I have The Tricksters and The Changeover. I’m fascinated by how she mixes the supernatural with very real, warm domestic situations.”
Todd Grave, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon
Read: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, translated by Gregory Hays (Modern Library)
“Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor (161–180CE) and one of the main proponents of Stoic philosophy during that period. The book is a series of his personal thoughts over his lifetime that were never intended for publication. It was his private journal for self-improvement and guidance, so it’s very personal and deeply thoughtful. I read it every two or three years, normally over the Christmas/New Year break. It’s a chance for me to get some distance from the day-to-day, to reground myself and remind myself of the key principles of living and working well. It’s a great read for anyone trying to navigate the pressures and obligations of leadership – very reassuring. I read it on January 6 and 7. It’s an easy and engrossing read. I put time aside so I can stop and think about the various passages (50% reading time, 50% thinking time), and how I can apply them in both my work and family life.”
Would you recommend it?
“I see Stoic philosophy as a practical operating model for life. It was written by a Roman emperor 2000 years ago and is still as relevant as ever – its wisdom is timeless. Most of today’s self-improvement concepts can be traced back to the contents of this short and well-written book. It was written by the world’s most powerful person at the time, but it’s very approachable. It shows us just how similar we all are when it’s just us and our thoughts.”
Any “take homes” you’ll take into the new year?
“Every time I read it, something different will resonate with me. This year, I was reminded of some of the key themes: see things as they really are – perspective is important but is easily clouded by whatever is occupying your attention most in the day-to-day challenges of being a CEO. Do what you can – focus on what’s within your control. We spend so much of our energy focusing on what is outside of our control and can easily neglect that which is in our control and will actually make a difference. Accept and endure what you must – some things in life are just simply not in our control. We should prepare for a range of possible outcomes, but ultimately, we only control our response to what actually happens. We have to have the resilience to work through them and make the most of whatever happens (that’s the bit that is within our control). This one is very relevant to a CEO dealing with the complexities of a rapidly changing world.”
What will you read next?
“Fundamentals of Cost Accounting – basically a textbook and super dry, but you can never know too much about managing costs, and Swimming Upstream: How salmon farming developed in New Zealand by Jennifer Haworth.”
Kim Knight joined the New Zealand Herald in 2016 and is a senior journalist on its lifestyle desk. Her first book of 2026 was Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.