The month of August offers some respite, a chance to reflect and reset before September kicks things into gear once more. The Vogue Business fashion executives’ reading list brings together books exploring algorithms, attention, taste, art, identity and ecological responsibility. These books span hard-hitting non-fiction, thoughtful memoirs and page-turning fashion biographies, taking a closer look at some of the forces shaping fashion and society today, from the way that algorithmic recommendations shape taste to earning attention in a fragmented media landscape. This reading list gathers global leaders from across the fashion, luxury and retail industries to share the essential reads that have changed their outlook, informed their worldview and shaped their leadership. It got me thinking about how we define taste in fashion and how much of it can be trained.