What’s Oaktree Reading? 2025 Year-End Book Recommendations

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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR72LlRr-Hc

Introduction and Purpose of Video (0:00)

  • Introduction by Alex Chan, VP in life sciences lending, about the 2025 book recommendations.

  • Goal: Share noteworthy books read by Oak Tree team members over the past year.

Book Recommendation: For Blood and Money by Nathan Vardy (1:00)

  • Recommended by Alex Chan, focusing on the development of two drugs in the CLLL space, a type of cancer.

  • Detailed narrative of Bob Dugen's journey from preclinical studies to commercialization.

  • Emphasizes the extensive effort required to bring a drug to market.

Book Recommendation: Beauty Land by Marie Helen Portino (2:00)

  • Recommended by Priya Prasad Bau, head of strategic development for multistrategy private credit.

  • Science fiction about an alien protagonist evaluating Earth as an alternative home.

  • Highlights everyday interactions and relationship building, blending humor and poignancy.

Book Recommendation: Biography of Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (3:00)

  • Recommended by Jared Parker, co-head of North America for Oaktree's Global Opportunity Strategy.

  • Explores Mark Twain's life and impact, providing context for his quotes frequently used by Howard Marks.

Book Recommendation: The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina (4:00)

  • Recommended by Caitlyn Theer, associate in global convers based in NYC.

  • Fictional story inspired by a real place in Japan, exploring themes of grief and connection.

  • Features a mother dealing with loss after the Japanese tsunami, with a focus on emotional resonance.

Book Recommendation: North to the Future by Ben Weisenbach (5:00)

  • Recommended by Todd Moltz, COO at Oak Tree.

  • Chronicles a young man's adventures in Alaska, engaging with scientists and explorers.

  • Appeals to readers interested in the outdoors and environmental changes.

Book Recommendation: The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom (6:00)

  • Recommended by Katie Boyven, VP in fund accounting and operations.

  • Challenges traditional financial wealth concepts, introducing the "wealth score" for personal assessment.

  • Offers a lifetime of insights with practical visualizations of strengths and weaknesses.

Book Recommendation: Who Knew by Barry Diller (7:00)

  • Recommended by Hanku, senior VP on the Hayo Bong Group.

  • Memoir of Barry Diller's influential role in the media industry, detailing his rise from the mailroom to head of Paramount.

Book Recommendation: Age of Revolutions by Fareed Zakaria (8:00)

  • Recommended by Devon Pursuiti from the marketing and communications team.

  • Analyzes historical and current revolutions in globalization, technology, identity, and geopolitics.

  • Provides perspective on modern disruptions and transformations.

Book Recommendation: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (9:00)

  • Recommended by Phil Jabber, head of insurance solutions for Asia-Pacific.

  • Horror story about a marine biologist's mysterious deep-sea mission and its aftermath.

  • Offers a unique narrative with suspense and emotional depth.

Book Recommendation: Slanting Towards the Sea by Lydia Hillier (10:00)

  • Recommended by Susanna Paritch, part of the sourcing and origination team.

  • Set on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, exploring themes of identity, boldness, and duty.

  • Appreciated for its linguistic style and philosophical questioning.

Conclusion (11:00)

  • Closing remarks and thanks for joining the 2025 book recommendations session.