As we all try to take a little time this summer to reflect on our current situation, our careers and our families, we thought we’d share some of our new favorite resources for growth – both personal and professional. This last month of summer is perhaps a time when you are considering a career pivot. Or, you might be doubling down on learning a new skill to become the best at what you already do. You might even be contemplating your role in the universe, your city or your community. 
Books are one of the easy ways to delve into new information, learn and then grow in both your knowledge and your EQ, which in turn helps us in all the areas of our lives.
We hope these suggestions offer you the positivity and lift that they have given us.
Eight Books Worth Your Attention in August:
The Ride of a Lifetime, by Bob Iger – Bill Gates says that this is one of the best business books he has read in several years. Iger’s detailed explanation of what being a CEO of a huge company is really like from the inside of Disney. If you need business insights or just a great read, Bob’s stories from one of the most transformative times in Disney’s history are highly entertaining.
The Choice, by Dr. Edith Eva Eger – Partly a memoir and partly a guide to processing trauma, this book chronicles Eger’s journey from Auschwitz to the United States where she became a therapist. Her unique background gives her insight into helping traumatized people, and perhaps right now you can find comfort from her suggestions on handling difficult situations.
Untamed, by Glennon Doyle – Activist and writer Glennon Doyle’s beautiful words paint a picture of freedom for all women who have sacrificed who and what they want to do and be in the world, and directs them toward their own untaming, uniting all women in motherhood, passion, grief, resilience, marriage and love. Since its release, it has been at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list and has been enjoyed by women and men alike.
Don’t Let Your Struggle Become Your Standard, by Jose A. Flores – In addition to the inspiration that Jose A Flores’ story possesses, his book offers anyone steadfast encouragement to breakthrough a struggle in their own lives. He was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at a young age and suffered insecurity for most of his adult life until he decided life is for the living and dedicated himself to transformation.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear – This book provides a framework for improving your life every day using practical strategies to form good habits, get rid of bad ones and design an environment that will lead to your success. You will be inspired along the way by the true stories from athletes, artists and business leaders who have used James Clear’s science of small habits to leap to the top of their chosen field.
Inclusify, by Stefanie Johnson – Employees have two seemingly opposing goals: both to fit into a group and to also stand out as an individual. This book can be viewed as a roadmap for leaders on inclusive culture that brings out the best in others by embracing their differences while including them in the company’s workplace policies.
How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi – This book’s mission is to challenge those of us who believe we are not racists to become something else: antiracists. Ibram X. Kendi asks us to support ideas and policies affirming that “the racial groups are equals in all their apparent differences – that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group.” Chapters in this book explore power, culture, behavior, color, space and ethnicity.
Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates – Framed as a letter to his teenaged son, this beautifully woven story is built from personal narrative, reimagined history and emotionally charged reporting illuminating our past, confronting our present and offering the reader a transcendent vision for a way forward. This one has been named one of the most influential books of the decade.
Let us know if you’ve read some of these or have others that are your favorites! Or, if reading is not your thing, Bill Gates also suggests learning to play Bridge, which he does with Warren Buffett – his favorite Bridge partner these days – using the online platform Bridge Base to play.
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