UPDATED read, watch, listen: bluenotes’ 2023 content stocking

As the year draws to a close and the holiday season awaits, we've asked members of ANZ’s executive committee directors to share the stories that struck a chord with them throughout the year—and those they intend to explore during the upcoming break.

Alongside an intriguing and diverse array of recommendations, we've gathered a wealth of thoughts on leadership, spanning both fiction and non-fiction. We trust you'll relish these suggestions and encourage you to share any overlooked titles with us. Stay tuned to bluenotes for a steady stream of recommendations into January.

Do you have any recommendations you would like to share? Let us know titles we’ve overlooked here. 

Shayne Elliott - Chief Executive Officer:

For my holidays, I try a tech detox which means I avoid websites, blogs and even podcasts. I have set aside four books – each very different but looking forward to them all.

Clare Morgan - Group Executive, Australia Commercial

Audiobooks are my go-to, it’s a bonus when the book is read by the author. This year my favourite audiobooks were:

• Outlive by Peter Attia,

• The Most Good You Can Do by Peter Singer; Little Black Stretchy Pants – the Lululemon story by its founder, Chip Wilson; ‘Getting To Zero’ by Alan Finkel and ‘How the World Really Works’ by Vaclav Smil
• I’ve also had some recommendations from friends for some historical fiction from talented Australian writers – The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams, ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’ and Horse  by Geraldine Brooks.

To unwind, I’ve been enjoying: 

• Great kids books with my 9 year son and 11 year old daughter – the children’s author Katrina Nannestad is a revelation with great books
• Being inspired by incredible athletes - The Deepest Breath a Netflix documentary about the phenomenal free-diver Alessia Zechinni.

• And Nyad about the 64 year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad’s swim from Cuba to Florida.

Antonia Watson – Chief Executive Officer, ANZ New Zealand

• The whole Thursday Murder Club series. I absolutely love them, and the latest, The Last Devil to Die, is very topical with a romance scam sub-plot. Who would have thought a retirement village could be the scene of so much mayhem. The characters are brilliant – I think Elizabeth is my favourite, but it’s hard to choose.

• And speaking of romance scams Dead at First Sight by Peter James is another book I’ve read recently on the same theme, also well worth a read.

And this summer I have quite a few books up my sleeve including:

• The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes, a looooong awaited follow-up to I am Pilgrim. It’s been on my watch list for years and has finally come out.
• The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling), although I must confess to struggling through the last book in the series, so hopefully this is a return to the old Robin and Strike style.
• And someone recently recommended the Bill Hodges detective trilogy, so I am going to delve into my first Stephen King novel for probably 30 years, Mr Mercedes (Also a TV show).

Richard Yetsenga – Chief Economists and Head of Research at ANZ Institutional

There are a few things I would like to watch over the break, but mostly I plan to catchup with people I have missed and try and cut down by book stack.

• The best book I read this year was probably Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig, a historical novel which has shaken me.

• I’m going back to the future and re-reading Aperiogon by Colum McCann. To quote the Guardian “based on the true-life friendship of two men whose daughters were killed in the Middle East, this novel buoys the heart”. It does bouy the heart, but the journey is emotional.
• I have started Blue Machine by Helen Czerski. It’s a fantastic summation of what we know about the ocean itself rather than just the animals that live in it; though you learn plenty about those as well. It’s also a reminder we live on a planet dominated by the sea, not the land. If you are a little older, like me, and have some time, learn to scuba dive. There is nothing like it.

• At present I am watching Drops of God, a fantastic drama series about wine, set between Tokyo and the French countryside, in three languages – French, Japanese and English. Picturesque. Fascinating.

• I’m listening to 5in5. No, seriously.

Kevin Corbally – Chief Risk Officer

• I am really looking forward to reading the latest thriller, Seven, from best-selling Australian author and former journalist Chris Hammer. I find Hammer’s style to be gripping and enjoyable against the backdrop of regional Australian towns. I can’t wait to get stuck into this, which is the third in his series about two detectives.

• Writing in a similar vein is Gary Disher, who I only discovered earlier this year, when one of the Risk Graduates pointed me in his direction. I read his Bitter Wash Road book set in an isolated Australian rural town and look forward to finding some more of his books in my Christmas stocking this year. 
• One book I picked up numerous times to read this year was Tim Marshall’s The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of the World. Given all that has happened this year from a geopolitical perspective I find Marshall’s book a really useful ready reckoner to explain what is shaping geopolitics across key regions. The book is written in a witty, insightful and easy-to-read manner while providing a really good mix of history, economics and political analysis – putting geography at the centre of humanity’s past, present and future.
• Finally, being a tragic Manchester United fan, I am really looking forward to finally watching the Netflix documentary, Beckham. Despite so many people talking to me about it unfortunately I just have not had the time to see this yet but will find the time to binge it over the holidays.

• Similarly having discovered Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series of novels, I will also find some time to watch the new C.B Strike TV series

Maile Carnegie – Group Executive Australia Retail

Over the summer I am excited to delve into some of the great content that was released in 2023.

On my list to read is The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk, a book about history and the implications of identity politics.

As a podcast lover I’m especially eager to listen to Critics at Large, a weekly roundtable that discusses emerging trends across books, television, film and more. I need the stimulus to identify some new learning and entertainment avenues to get out of the rut of digesting the same media over and over again.

I am also keen to unwind with Popcast, a fun weekly update on all things popular culture.

Gerard Florian – Group Executive Technology

For my summer reading list I’m looking forward to:

When reflecting on what I have enjoyed in 2023, there’s lots to consider. These are my top films and TV shows of 2023:

• Succession, Season 4 – the most addictive show ever! It follows the Roy family and their control of the biggest media and entertainment company in the world.

• Kelce – surprisingly good! Takes a look at Travis Kelce’s American Football career.
• Alone Australia – real reality TV. Following ten Australians who are dropped in the merciless Tasmanian wilderness, completely isolated from the world and each other.

Ken Adams – Group General Counsel

I’m looking forward to lots of reading, watching and even some binge re-watching over the break!

• I’ll be reading King: the life of Martin Luther King, a comprehensive and complete portrait about the iconic leader.
• And more of Andrea Camillieri’s Inspector Montalbano series, about a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of an imaginary Sicilian town.
• I am eagerly awaiting the last episodes of Slow Horses, season 3. A thriller/drama that follows a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents.
• On my list to binge rewatch is season 2 of The Bear, Welcome to Wrexham, and Top Gun: Maverick (about my 3rd re-watch!)

• Finally, for podcasts, I’ll be listening to the Carlton Football Club podcast
• And The Reith Lectures, which allows us to hear from a variety of different experts followed by a lively question-and-answer.

Elisa Clements – Group Executive Talent and Culture

Reflecting on 2023, there have been some favourite books read and shows binged:

• Coming in at number 1 is definitely The Bear. The depth of characters, the acting and the chaos – I can’t wait for season 3!

• My favourite business book of 2023 was No rules RULES by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer. It’s the fascinating account of how Netflix became so successful (it’s all about the talent!). Not sure that some of the ‘no rules’ would work in financial services… but I loved the reference to radical honesty.

For the Australian summer break, I am looking forward to…

• Reading Breath – the new science of a lost art. A friend gave me this book recently and I am curious to learn how breath and mind are intertwined.
• Rewired – outcompeting in the age of digital and AI. These topics are a MUST! I am keenly growing my knowledge about this exciting (and daunting) future… and how it will transform the way we work and live.

• For my summer binge watch – definitely the final season of The Crown. I am a little sceptical given the negative reviews…but I will have to watch and make up my own mind. 
• Finally, I have loved watching Formula 1: Drive to survive, season 5. I am buckling up for a new batch of episodes in February and I can’t wait. This is a great one to watch with the whole family.

Mark Whelan – Group Executive Institutional

Over the summer break I am looking forward to reading, watching, and listening to some fantastic content.

To read:

• This one is on the more serious front, but I’m going to read More than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and the Ability Bias in Tech. Written by a data scientist and AI researcher, Meredith Broussard, the book explores bias in AI and machine learning.

To watch:

• I’m hosting clients at Taylor Swift’s Melbourne concert in 2024, and not being a ‘Swiftie’ myself, I’ve been told to watch Miss Americana. It’s a slightly older documentary, but I’m looking forward to understand the person behind the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift.

• I really enjoyed watching Drive to Survive, so I will catch up on Break Point which follows the 2022 Grand Slam tournament as we head into the 2024 Australian Open

Tony Warren – Group General Manager Communications and Public Affairs

When considering the books I have on order to read this summer, three stand out:

• Free Market: The History of an idea by Jacob Soll. This book is a couple of years old, but is apparently a good read and provides a deeper historical understanding of a concept that remains crucial, if under challenge.
• Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century by Joya Chatterji. Like many people, I am increasingly fascinated by India and its rise to power and influence in the world. This book comes highly recommended by the great scholar William Dalrymble.
• The year of the locust by Terry Hayes. For my fiction hit, I am very keen to read this spy thriller. Hayes’ last book, I am Pilgrim, was written over ten years ago and it was a great read. I may have to reread that this summer too.

As for television, like many I am really looking forward to watching the new season of Slow Horses. The first two series were wonderful and this is modern streaming television at its best.

Paul O’Sullivan – Chairman of ANZ

It has certainly been a year for fantastic content, these were some of my top reads of 2023:

• Joyce Moullakis and Chris Wright’s The Millionaires’ Factory – The inside story of how Australia’s Macquarie Bank became a global giant with an entrepreneurial approach.
• Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta. This book was kindly gifted to me by Vyomesh Chandan, Head of Markets, ANZ India. It takes you through the metropolis and explores the many characters and stories within it from Bollywood stars, to underworld gangs, all through the eyes of the author Suketu.

During the January break, I am looking forward to reading The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, a study into all things AI and how we must learn how to maintain and control these powerful technologies.

Finally, The Bond King by the host of NPR’s Planet Money, Mary Childs. The story of Bill Gross, the American investor who changed the game.

Kevin Lee – Model Governance Manager and ANZ Book Club organiser

I organise a monthly book club that simultaneously meets in-person at ANZ’s 833 Collins Street foyer and virtually by dial-in for remote participants. The book club started with ANZ staff in 2014, has met over 100 times, and expanded to include members whether part of ANZ or not. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to contact kevin.lee2@anz.com.

Here are some recent highlights:

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: The story of Elizabeth Zott, who becomes a beloved cooking show host in 1960s Southern California after being fired as a chemist a decade earlier. It recently was adapted into a TV miniseries.

• Yellowface by R.F. Kuang: An unsuccessful young author, finds herself the only witness to the death of a Chinese-American author who is an industry darling. She decides to position herself as a friend of the author and begins to edit and re-write Athena's manuscript, This book pulled on punches about publishing culture, social media, who gets to tell stories and representation.

• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: A gothic horror novel centering on a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her. It is currently being adapted for TV.

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: Takes place in the Great Lakes region before and after a fictional swine flu pandemic. Written before Covid, book club members found it interesting to compare the author’s depiction to our lived experience. Recently adapted into a TV series.