Oh yes. It’s that time of year.
Book time!
I’ve been stacking my night table with a delicious assortment of books in anticipation of those glorious days when nothing is scheduled. When it’s just me, a bag of salt & vinegar chips, and a tall diet coke.
As soon as the days grow long and summer is clearly here, I head out to the book store to purchase my summer reads.
So to save you all the exhaustive energy it takes to walk down book aisles, I give you a few selections to consider.
Here are my top picks for all motivational, creative, fictional, and business reading this summer…
Art Books & Creativity
Creative Quest by Questlove
The first line in the intro says it all…Decades into my career, with many albums and songs under my belt, I still don’t know if I’m truly creative.
Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon by Susan Seid
I love, love, love this book. It’s for all of YOU who want to peer into someone’s very cool, colorful and creative life.
How to Catch a Frog by Heather Ross
This particular title is her autobiography of growing up poor and independent with an infinity for everything home focused and creative. It’s full of pain, loss, failure and triumph, all put forth with remarkable wit and honesty; a great read if you wonder how your parenting style affects kids as they grow up and make their mark in their world. I’m currently loving this book, for both the exquisite writing style and her pull-me-in stories.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
The author shares her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity, asking us to embrace our curiosity and end needless suffering.
Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster
Motivational
The Second Mountain by David Brooks
Oprah interviewed David on SuperSoul Sunday last month and I ordered the book through Amazon 15 minutes into their conversation. I started reading it on my trip to Portland, underlining sentences that were beautiful, thought-provoking and painfully true. I’m on page 23 because every single page deserves savoring. So far this maybe the best book I’ve read in a long time.
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingris Fetell Lee
Learn to make small changes to your surroundings and create extraordinary happiness in your life with groundbreaking research from designer and TED star Ingrid Fetell Lee.
Teaching
Happy Teachers Change the World by Thich Nhat Hahn and Katherine Weare
This book is bigger than I wanted it to be, but the title was just too good to pass up. It’s a joyous and re-energizing practical guide for teachers on caring for themselves and their students, with inspiring wisdom from real educators.
Fiction & Novel Reads
Lost and Wanted by Nell Freudenberger
An emotionally engaging, suspenseful new novel from the best-selling author, told in the voice of a renowned physicist: an exploration of female friendship, romantic love, and parenthood–bonds that show their power in surprising ways.
A Piece of the World by Christina Bake Kline
A stunning novel about friendship, passion, and art, inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s mysterious and iconic painting Christina’s World.
The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
The Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
This is Happiness by Niall Williams
A profound and enchanting bestselling novel from Booker Prize-longlisted author Niall Williams about the loves of our lives and the joys of reminiscing.
Business
This is Marketing: You Can’t be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin
I’m about a third of the way through this one and soaking up every word. It just might be my favorite marketing book because of Godin’s straightforward way of telling the truth about marketing. He really is a genius. He also writes with such economy that it could be a book about writing.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
This one was recommended by a couple of ladies in my business mastermind. And when they suggest a book, you bet I’ll read it.
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Business Made Simple by Donald Miller
Mindset
Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success by Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch and Sean Lynch
I get a little suspect when it takes 3 people to write a book. The truth is, I found this book accidentally. When I moved into my new office space, this book was in one of my cupboards. It seemed to say, “You just made a great decision”. That I was meant to be here, in this rented and very expensive space. I mean, wouldn’t you have felt the same if you saw a business book called Spark?
Thank you for putting together book list like this. Seeing what is on book shelves from other locations is like being in the biggest book store in the world! I know I would never see many of these titles if not here. There are just so many differences in what is promoted locally and regionally and then nationally. I appreciate this!
Hi Patty, thank you for sharing the list. Just so you know the book “ Everything is figureoutable Is from Marie Forleo not Will. I read it a few years ago.