Masayoshi Son, the Japanese billionaire investor and SoftBank mogul, likens himself to Napoleon, but a closer analogy might be Houdini. Son is as known for losing spectacular amounts of money—his Vision Fund lost more than $14 billion on WeWork—as he is for making it. Gambling Man, a new biography of Son by Lionel Barber, a former editor at the Financial Times, chronicles the investor’s triumphs and daring escapes from disaster. Son, who appeared to be veering close to bankruptcy only a few years ago, regained his fortune by betting big on A.I. So big, in fact, that last month he was onstage with Donald Trump, pledging to spend $500 billion to develop A.I. in partnership with Oracle and OpenAI. Then this past week, tech stocks, including SoftBank’s, dropped precipitously at the news that a Chinese A.I. venture, DeepSeek, may be able to do everything that ChatGPT can do, and possibly more, much more cheaply, and is available to all for free. The book vividly brings to life the crazy risks and outsize rewards that have brought the titans of Silicon Valley to this moment. ($29.99, amazon.com) —Alessandra Stanley

If anyone can get us to road-test a fashion sneaker, it’s Balenciaga. Now the house that Demna built has launched the Monday—a fresh take on a vintage running shoe. They have a handmade feel, incorporating raw edges and pronounced stitching to ensure that no one will confuse these for something your grandfather may have worn in the ’70s. (Although those sound kind of cool, too.) Available in white, black, and pink, they’re offered in both “pristine” and distressed finishes, so if you’d like to purport that you’ve been wearing these beauties for decades, so be it. ($995, balenciaga.com) —Ashley Baker

For those looking to extend Dry January into February, there are some excellent non-alcoholic beer options out there worth trying. It seems most tend to settle on Guinness Zero or Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager—those are both good dry brews, don’t get me wrong—but I’d suggest digging a bit deeper for the genre’s true benchmark: Rothaus Tannenzäpfle Alkoholfrei. Brewed with the “purest, softest spring water” from sources in Germany’s Black Forest, Rothaus excises the pilsner’s alcohol content via a steam-under-vacuum process that leaves the aromas and flavor intact—courtesy of summer barley malt (grown near Lake Constance) and aromatic hops (from Tettnang). The final product is a surprisingly true-tasting alcohol-free variant. (from $7.23, rothaus-shop.de) —Spike Carter

Snowsuit season won’t last forever. Before long, the rains will come, so be prepared. Prada’s Re-Nylon raincoat is here to help. Its ever-so-slightly oversize fit ensures that it can be layered over knits and an interior jacket, and the sporty details (like an interior-drawstring waist and jaunty hood) keep things interesting. Good looks aside, it’s environmentally virtuous, made from plastic waste that was extracted from the ocean and landfills. One percent of the proceeds goes to benefit Sea Beyond, an organization focused on educating new generations about the importance of ocean preservation. ($3,400; prada.com) —Ashley Baker

For a haircut or treatment that epitomizes French elegance, the David Mallett Salon in Paris’s Second Arrondissement is the place to go. The space is understated yet refined, with an atmosphere that speaks to both the sophistication and the quiet allure of Parisian design. (Think timeless, with a touch of lived-in character.) Can’t make it to France? Not to worry—David’s New York location brings that same je ne sais quoi to the States. And if you’re aiming to re-create Mallett’s signature polished yet effortless look at home, his styling products make it easy. They’re the perfect way to add a bit of that Parisian savoir faire to your everyday routine—no airfare required. (david-mallett.com) —Jen Noyes

When it comes to celebrating a birthday, anybody who is anybody in New York City (Martha Stewart included) has done so with a cake from Loser’s Eating House. It was founded by Lizzy Koury, and her creations look like they’re straight from a Wayne Thiebaud painting—only a little more neon and tastier. What started as a hobby pivoted to a career in 2024, when Koury baked an Aperol spritz–flavored cake for influencer Tinx and it went viral. Now each cake is placed via custom order through their Web site. Koury dares her customers to dream big and get creative with nuanced flavor requests, like a favorite cocktail or seasonal mood. If you prefer the classics, don’t fret. Koury’s chocolate cake is one of the best you’ll ever try, trust me. (loserseatinghouse.com) —Gracie Wiener