French philosopher René Descartes said that reading all good books is like conversing with the finest people of past centuries.
In our annual reach-out to Luxury Law Alliance advisory board members and partners, we asked about the books lining their shelves. They were generous enough to share some of those reads, spanning genres from historical fiction to the reimaging of one of the classics.
Two for the Lions
Mulberry’s group general counsel and company secretary Kate Anthony Wilkinson reads purely for pleasure during the summer months. And her favourite read of the season was Two for the Lions by Lindsey Davis.
Two for the Lions is a 1998 historical mystery crime novel and the 10th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome and Tripolitania between December AD 73 and May AD 74, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the execution of criminals in the arena, by trained lions.
Kate says the historical descriptions are beautifully written, but this is not a stuffy history lesson.
“[The main character] Falco is the modern-day investigator just set in ancient Rome,” she explains. “The stories are amusing, sometimes complex. There is suspense, multiple clues and different dead-ends, allowing the reader to escape the current day and speculate as to guilt or motive alongside Faldo. There is always the explanation of the crime and motive at the end, and along the way the reader learns some history, geography, politics and sociology. What’s not to enjoy in an escapist summer novel.”
Machines Like Me
With artificial intelligence exploding into our lives, says Freeths IP and media partner Iona Silverman, Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan “feels like a must-read for everyone right now”.
Machines Like Me is a 2019 novel set in an alternative 1980s London where humanoid robots exist. The novel explores the themes of love, ethics and artificial intelligence through the story of a man, his lover and his android.
“This is a beautifully written, fictional story about Charlie’s relationship with neighbour Miranda, and Adam, the advanced robot that they share,” Iona explains. “Although the book was first published in 2019, and is set around 40 years ago, it is a very modern take on machine learning which brilliantly illustrates the ethical, moral, legal and emotional considerations we will face when AI becomes a person we can interact with.”
Moral Ambition
In Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference, Dutch historian and author Roger Bregman argues that success should be measured by societal benefit, not personal gain.
It is on PVC Corp. senior vice president and assistant general counsel Jeff Helman’s shelf. Jeff explains that the book’s theme is that most people find themselves working in “mind-numbing, pointless or just plain harmful” jobs.
“The solution to this is moral ambition, which is the will to be among the best but with a different measure of success, that focused on solving the world’s problems,” Jeff says.
When the focus changes to societal benefit, Bregman posits that we will join a growing movement of pioneers who are already living out this ethos. They are the builders, the problem-solvers, the doers who have chosen a path less travelled. Moral Ambition reminds us that the real measure of success lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we contribute, and shows how we, too, can build a legacy that truly matters.
James
“If you haven’t read it, read it!” says Laura Ganoza, co-chair of Foley & Lardner’s fashion apparel and beauty industry team, about James by Percival Everett.
The novel is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, but narrated by Huckleberry’s friend, the fugitive slave Jim, rather than by Huck as in the original. James won the 2024 Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award for Fiction and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
“It’s a beautifully written book,” Laura says, adding that: “You do not need to dig up your high school copy of Huckleberry Finn to read this book. It stands on its own as an incredibly imaginative and engaging story of resilience, perseverance and dignity. It deserves each and every award and accolade it has received and then some.”
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