Those who follow my feeds will have guessed by now that reading is my superpower (when I haven’t shared that strength in person). One of my favorite summer activities was heading down to the public library for a stack of books, and I’ll shout out to the Jervis Public Library for starting me on the bookworm’s path. Fortunately, technology has made retrieving and reading books much easier for me, and I’ve been logging what I’ve read for a few years. If you feel the same way about reading, here are some ideas from my reading list to get you started.
Business & Leadership
Lost and Founder – Rand Fishkin
We’ve been discussing startup finance for the past two months, so it seems appropriate to share a founder’s story. Here’s an introduction to the author from his website sparktoro.com:
“Rand Fishkin is cofounder and CEO of audience research startup SparkToro. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through his writing, speaking, startups, and his book, Lost and Founder. When Rand’s not working, he’s usually cooking a fancy meal for the love of his life, author Geraldine DeRuiter. If you bribe him with great pasta or great cocktails, he’ll spill big tech’s dark secrets.”
If I hadn’t already read the book, I’d want to read it now!
Fulfilled: The Passion & Provision Strategy – Kathryn & Michael K. Redman
I wanted to read this book from the moment I saw its description in my BookBub newsletter. The authors share their experiences as illustrations for their thesis, which is that a business owner should understand six areas critical to business success.
Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts–Becoming the Person You Want to Be – Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter
In my opinion, executive coach Marshall Goldsmith is one of the best writers about personal and professional self-improvement today. In this book, he discusses how our reactions to emotional ‘triggers’ lead to outcomes that are opposed to our desires. His focus is on how to recognize these triggers and make different choices for better results.
Listening to Other Voices
Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic – Michael McCreary
This memoir is a wry look at Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from a person on the spectrum. I first learned about ASD by reading Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (bonus book!). Michael’s book is his family’s story through his eyes, and the style and format of the book were as enjoyable as the content.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents – Isabel Wilkerson
It took a few reminders by colleagues to get me to pick up this book (thanks, Josh!), but I could not put it down once I started. The author compares the caste system of black and white in the US with the incredibly similar systems in India and the Third Reich. I liked her analogy of the US as an old house in need of many repairs, and understanding what’s wrong is a good step towards that repair work.
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause – Ty Seidule
It might seem odd to add this book to the other voices category. I think Colonel Seidule (USAR RET) shares his personal history along with a thoughtful rendering of the history behind many of our historical monuments and place names. His passion for understanding the past shines through every page and does him credit.
Travel
In a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson’s books are easy to recommend; they are both hilarious and well-researched. I always want to travel to see for myself the locations he describes. I’m sure I won’t ever have quite the same experiences, though. This book is about his (mis)adventures in Australia, a country where every living thing is somehow dangerous. It’s also the only place to see some fantastic sights (like stromatolites).
Culture Shock! (various authors)
If you are traveling to an unfamiliar country, reading can help prepare you for the inevitable cultural differences. These books are also fun to read if you aren’t traveling but want to get a varied perspective on world events. There are multiple volumes for different countries, cities, or topics (like travel medicine). I’ve read the ones for Germany, Munich, Taiwan, and India for various trips or work roles, and all have given me good insights.
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders – Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, & Ella Morton
Atlas Obscura is an online travel guide detailing unusual sights around the world. While browsing the website can be fun, reading this curated collection of odd and unique things and places to see was a more relaxing way to armchair travel. There’s a second edition now, too!
Just for Fun
Vacationland – John Hodgeman
Many people are familiar with John Hodgeman’s work on The Daily Show or Apple vs. Mac commercials. His books are full of his dry, self-deprecating humor on the absurdity of American life. This one documents, among other things, the author’s engagement with the state of Maine, nicknamed Vacationland for a license plate slogan and various other speculations shared in the book.
The Invisible Library series – Genevieve Cogman
I especially enjoy finding a new series with multiple books that I can binge read. Genevieve Cogman’s series is a steampunk-style fantasy with a massive international organization called the Library at its core. Books in this universe determine the nature of reality in its many worlds. The protagonists don’t always have all the information they need when they retrieve a particular book. All three volumes are quick and exciting reads, perfect for summer fun.
The Flavia de Luce series – Alan Bradley
If you enjoy a historical mystery, especially with some science, you will appreciate Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series. The first of eleven books (to date) is titled The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The 11-year old heroine solves mysteries in 1950s England using her bicycle, knowledge of chemistry, and brain. The puzzles include her family’s history, a thread that runs throughout the books.
Find one of these books at your local library (you do have a library card, right?) or bookstore, and spend a few profitable hours stretching your mind and heart this summer. At the very least, you will have an answer to the question, “What did you do on your summer vacation?” I’m always on the hunt for a book recommendation. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or Twitter with yours!
Reach out to me if you want to know more or discuss your medical product development or business challenges.
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Text Copyright © 2021 Katrina Rogers
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