Investment Reads, Listens and Activities to Check Out This Summer

With summer right around the corner, now’s the time to think about the content – whether that be books, movies or podcasts – you may want to enjoy at the cottage, or just on your backyard deck. While some light novels and mystery reads are a must, you might want to consider bringing some investing-related material and activities with you too. Trading may calm down during the summer months, but that doesn’t mean your investment learning should also slow. Here are some of our top recommendations for investors this summer.

Books
Think Again, by Adam Grant (2021)
In a world filled with echo chambers and increasingly divergent beliefs, author Adam Grant argues that we should cultivate the ability to re-examine and unlearn what we think is true. This book will teach you how to embrace the art of being wrong and allowing your opinions to evolve as you learn more about the world. Grant’s lessons on flexible thinking and being willing to pivot when new information becomes available might come in handy when investing in today’s ever-changing markets.

Nudge, The Final Edition, by Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler (2021)
Whether we like it or not, there are countless outside forces influencing our behaviour every day, from the impulse candy in the grocery check-out lanes to the enitcing free trial you sign up for just to be hit with an automatic subscription charge when the trial ends. In one of the foundational behavioural economics books, legal scholar Cass Sunstein and economist Richard Thaler explain how nudge theory can be used to overcome our natural biases and make better decisions, both financially and otherwise.

The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham (1949)
Although this book was written more than 75 years ago, it’s still widely thought to be one of the best investment books ever written. From Warren Buffett to Bloomberg to Fortune, experts in the field continue to consider Benjamin Graham’s words as foundational to the concept of value investing.

Movies
Wall Street (1987)
This classic film, directed by Oliver Stone, may not bring to mind today’s traders, but watching it this summer will give you a good look into how the world of stock brokers and dealmaking used to work. Ultimately a crime drama, this movie will make you think about your own approach to investing while showing how ambition and unchecked capitalism can be a dangerous combination.

The Big Short (2015)
This star-studded film adaptation of Michael Lewis’s book follows a group of investors who foresaw the 2008 housing market crash and bet against it. With sharp wit and financial insight, the film unpacks how complex financial instruments like mortgage-backed securities came to be and offers lessons on due diligence, herd mentality and the dangers of systemic risk.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
This popular doc may be two decades old, but there are still plenty of insights that can be gleaned from the Enron tale. The dramatic collapse of this former Wall Street darling provides some particularly crucial lessons regarding corporate governance and transparency, and the movie gives us a compelling look at how market hype and weak oversight can cover up deep financial instability.

Podcasts
Odd Lots
Hosted by Bloomberg reporters Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway, Odd Lots is one of the most popular finance podcasts around. Each show is smart and accessible, and explores the quirks, mechanics and big ideas behind global markets. Investors looking for deeper context on everything from supply chains and crypto to inflation and interest rates will enjoy this podcast, and whatever financial issue is on your mind, chances are that it’s on theirs, too.

Disruptors
Created by RBC’s thought leadership team, this podcast explores how innovation is reshaping industries, economies and daily life. Hosted by John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik, it spotlights Canadian entrepreneurs, emerging technologies and global trends. It offers investors forward-looking insights about where growth may come next and how to think critically about transformative change.

Stress Test
The Globe and Mail-produced Stress Test is a personal finance podcast focused on helping Canadians navigate an increasingly expensive world. Globe reporters Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw tackle real-life money challenges from housing to debt to investing. It’s a relatable, practical listen for all investors.

Board games
Stockpile
Who doesn’t love to play board games at the cottage? This award-winning and fast-paced stock market game blends strategy and luck, as players trade on information, forecast dividends and build portfolios. It’ll test your investing skill, while also teaching you about concepts such as stock splits, liquidity and diversification.

Power Grid
Players compete to build and supply cities with electricity through managing resources and bidding for power plants. Though not strictly about investing, it teaches economic strategy, market fluctuations and long-term planning, which are key skills for investors looking to optimize returns while adapting to changing conditions.

Acquire
This classic game of corporate deals and hotel empires challenges players to grow companies, merge rivals and invest wisely. Its heavy focus on timing, liquidity and majority control makes it a great introduction to capital allocation and strategic investing principles.