JW Marriott’s GM Karl Hudson’s home library has travelled with him across eight countries

Who: Karl Hudson, 63, was appointed general manager of JW Marriott Singapore South Beach in August 2025. Formerly Marriott International’s regional vice-president for Japan and Guam, the hospitality veteran joined Marriott in 1997.

Born in England and raised in New Zealand, he has developed a love of bak chor mee (minced meat noodles) generously doused with black vinegar, as well as pandan cake, since taking on his Singapore posting. 

“I just moved to Singapore in August, and our family has been quite busy settling in. We have a home library that has travelled with us across eight countries. This time round, we shipped about 200 books from Japan, where we had lived since 2019.  

I tend to stick to reading one book at a time. I’m rereading First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. It’s a life-changing book for me because while it’s often framed as a management classic, it’s really about having the courage to question assumptions – about leadership and how people actually thrive at work. 

That thinking resonates deeply with my philosophy as a hotelier. Hospitality, at its core, is about people and connection. Every guest arrives with different expectations, moods and experiences, and we’re only ever as good as the experience we create for the next guest who walks through the door.

Books like these reinforce the idea that great service doesn’t come from rigid rules, but from empowering individuals to play to their strengths and show up authentically.  

Other business titles that I return to include The Spirit To Serve: Marriott’s Way by J. Willard Marriott Jr and Kathi Ann Brown, and You Can’t Lead With Your Feet On The Desk by Ed Fuller. Some might consider these ideas dated, but I’ve always felt the principles remain timeless.  

On weekends, I usually take an afternoon nap, and when I wake up, I’m able to settle into a book with real focus. I keep my naps to 26 minutes – which, according to Nasa research, is considered the optimal time for resting while still waking up refreshed and alert. It’s a small ritual, but one that creates the right headspace for reading.  

Over the years, I’ve had to be intentional about streamlining my home library, especially when relocating to Singapore. What remains on my shelves today tends to be books I know I’ll return to – ones that feel familiar, grounding and relevant no matter where I am. 

Having spent 12 formative years in New Zealand where I attended high school and university, I still have a deep affection for the country. I recently acquired John Key: Portrait Of A Prime Minister by John Roughan, which offers thoughtful perspectives on leadership, empathy and decision-making under pressure.  

At the other end of the spectrum, I enjoy Barry Crump’s semi-humorous novels like Bedtime Yarns and Crocodile Country. Crump’s writing continues to resonate with me for his sharp observations of New Zealand culture and everyday life.

I’m also looking forward to building a small collection of books about Singapore. I already have Up Close With Lee Kuan Yew: Insights From Colleagues And Friends.

I’ve always been drawn to biographies and autobiographies like Parky by Michael Parkinson, because they reveal the human side of leadership – the doubts, trade-offs and defining moments that don’t always make it into headlines. 

I read on my favourite Chesterfield armchair. If I reach for a drink, it’s usually hot sencha or matcha. 

When our four children were younger – they’re all in their teens now – my wife and I made a habit of encouraging family reading time after meals at restaurants. While the adults lingered over coffee and conversations, the children would settle in with their books, turning those quiet moments into something both grounding and shared.  

We’ve always believed that the foundation of a lifelong reading habit starts early, and that it’s important to meet children where their interests are. If a child loves football, give him or her a book about football, or a story where that passion is woven into the narrative. Reading should feel like discovery, not obligation.  

When I travel for work, I always take a book along. On flights, I enjoy dipping into magazines such as The Economist. It’s one of the few moments when time slows down – a welcome pause between destinations. 

I prefer books to digital readers. There’s something about holding a book, a hardback one – its weight, its presence – that no screen can replicate. 

I love the smell of old books. To me, it’s the scent of aged cardboard – and, to my nose, very similar to the smell of old LP sleeves. I collect vinyl records, mostly first pressings from the 1950s to the 1990s. Jazz and rock from that era make up the bulk of it, and I’m drawn to the same sense of craft, history and texture that I find in books. 

I’m very much a hardcover person, and my shelves hold more than 40 biographies and autobiographies, ranging from politics to comedy like So, Anyway… by John Cleese. Many of these titles come from my mother, who lives in New Zealand. 

My parents usually send me books for my birthday and at Christmas. Before mailing them, my mother always signs her name on the inside cover. It’s a small gesture, but one that means a great deal to me – a quiet, deeply personal way of staying connected, no matter how far apart we are.”

Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that Mr Hudson was appointed in September. JW Marriott has since clarified that he was appointed in August.