What's on YOUR Summer Reading List?
Anyone else find it hard to make time to read? You know...the old fashion way...with a hardcover or paper back?
In our ever connected world... I know more of us have turned to e-readers on our phone or tablets. Even more prevalent are audible books so we can listen in the car or out exercising...maybe on a walk/jog. While I think that is still a good way to relax and consume content... my bias is that there is still nothing like "cracking the spine" of a new book...settling in... and physically turning the pages.
I also have to admit that over the last 10 years or so I have been terrible at reading for pure pleasure. I got into a rhythm of mainly reading books for professional development. I also found that every time I veered from more leadership or industry content to get recommendations from people I knew in "book clubs" it was too "heavy" or emotionally draining ("The Kite Runner" and "The Red Tent" immediately jump to mind). I only have so much free time in a day and I crave material that inspires me or helps me to think differently so I can clear my head at the end of a busy day before I nod off to sleep.
Inspiration Comes from Unexpected Places
So...let's go back in time...
At the age of 14... I landed in Pat (Patricia) Boyle's Grade 10 English Class and to say that I was a poor student would have been an understatement. I had no ability to keep up with the reading and I was terrible at writing in general... especially the essays that Pat assigned for each book. I clearly remember being emotionally shredded by the poor marks I was getting and the "red lines" that cluttered my awfully written papers. Pat took me aside one day after class and offered to tutor me if I was willing to put in the work. Thus began our friendship and I give her a TON of credit that I am able to string a sentence together today.
Pat also had the ability recommend books that I enjoyed reading...not that were just classics that "had to be read" as part of the high school curriculum (like Catcher in The Rye). As I gained momentum and confidence I found myself reading more...and even enjoying it. I got lost in a lot of Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Ken Follett, John Irving, Anne Rice and Agatha Christie to name a few.
Will it shock you to know that 40 years later Pat and I are still in touch? Through the wonders of social media she and I connected a few years ago. Now each year on my birthday she sends over my summer reading list. True to form...she has not lost her touch and her recommendations have sparked my love of reading for pleasure again with vibrant characters expertly woven into engaging stories that clear my head and leave me wanting more.
Pat's Summer Reading List
If you are interested...here are some of the books that are currently adorning my nightstand...
A Gentleman in Moscow, Armor Towles
Rules of Civility, Armor Towles
Olive Kitteridge, E. Strout
Olive Again, E. Strout
Why Birds Sing, Nina Berkhout
The Company We Keep, F.Itani
A Few More to Add to the List
Here are a few professional development books I have enjoyed over the years...
This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, Jay Allison
True North, Bill George
On The Edge, Alison Levine
Silos, Politics and Turf Wars, Patrick Lencioni (I actually recommend all of his fables)
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, Ed Catmull
What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, Marshall Goldsmith
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, Brene Brown
The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do, Jeff Goins
In Closing...
We all talk about "bringing our whole selves to work" and I would argue we also have to "bring our whole selves to our personal lives". In honor of that... I recently started a team meeting asking for book recommendations. It was a lively discussion and I actually got a good tip from Anne Sophie Derame and just finished The Great Wide Open by Douglas Kennedy.
We can get so caught up thinking about work 24x7 that we don't always make time for content that distracts us and that we consume for the sheer joy of a good story. I know I have been guilty of that over the years and while I don't regret it... my recommendation is to mix it up and make time for both. And who knows.... maybe it will give you a chance to connect with your team and reconnect with your favorite Grade 10 English teacher too!
Leadership Questions of the Week for YOU:
Do YOU mainly read for professional development or for pleasure?
Where do YOU find the best recommendations to add to your reading list?
Are you more into electronic content, a traditionalist who likes to hold the book in your hand or a little bit of both depending on the content?
What are YOUR book recommendations that I can add to my summer reading list?
Thanks for reading….and remember…YOU make a difference!
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