IPA’s 2025 Book Club

We’re thrilled to announce a brand-new series on the Innovative Payments Pod! Over the next year, we’ll be diving into six thought-provoking books that challenge the way we think about payments, compliance, and the world around us. Whether you’re curious about ancient philosophy or cutting-edge technology, this series offers something for everyone in the payments community.

Here’s what’s coming:

January/February: The Republic by Plato – What can a 2,400-year-old text teach us about governance and justice in modern payment systems? A lot, as it turns out! We’ll explore the foundations of ethical decision-making and how they resonate with today’s compliance challenges.

March/April: The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian – Artificial intelligence is reshaping the payments landscape. Join us as we unpack the ethical dilemmas and opportunities AI presents, drawing lessons from this compelling exploration of how machines align (or don’t) with human values.

May/June: Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb – In a world of constant disruption, how do we build systems that don’t just survive but thrive in chaos? Taleb’s insights on resilience and adaptability offer vital lessons for payments professionals navigating uncertainty.

July/August: What Money Can’t Buy by Michael J. Sandel – Are there things money shouldn’t buy? This philosophical deep dive into the moral limits of markets challenges us to think critically about the role of payments and financial systems in society.

September/October: Personalized by Mark Abraham and David C. Edelman – Customer strategy in the age of AI takes center stage. Learn what’s next in personalization and how it impacts compliance, privacy, and the future of payments.

November/December: Money: A Story of Humanity by David McWilliams – Take a journey through the history of money and its profound impact on human civilization. This episode will close out the series with a big-picture reflection on where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

We can’t wait to bring you these insightful conversations! Whether you’re a payments professional, compliance expert, or simply a curious mind, this series will inspire new ways of thinking about the challenges and opportunities shaping our industry.

Follow the Innovative Payments Pod on your favorite podcast platform and join the conversation. If you have strong opinions about any of these books, we’d love to hear from you! Consider joining us as a guest on the podcast to share your insights. Let us know which book you’re most excited about in the comments below!

​Ben Jackson is the Chief Operating Officer of the Innovative Payments Association, a leading trade association representing companies in payments. With over two decades of industry experience, Ben is dedicated to providing valuable information, advocacy, and support to help members improve financial outcomes for consumers, businesses, and government agencies.