7 Books To Inspire You This Summer

Your Summer reading Book Club!

​It’s holiday time!  

We hope you're getting to enjoy sunny climates or awesome vistas, or however you intend to recharge before winter hits.  Taking a break away from the 9-5 and daily grind gives us space to refocus and look ahead to the coming months with more clarity about what we want to achieve before the end of the year.  

​But this is not the time to start drafting your five year plan (unless you really want to!). Take a look at these motivational and thought-provoking books to get some life lessons poolside.

Blink - Malcom Gladwell

This book is so good I have 2 copies in my bookcase.  Gladwell suggests that we only need a small amount of information to come to conclusions and make decisions.  Gladwell’s scientific research has an anecdotal feel, making it a more accessible behavioural psychology read.  

Coming to an understanding that your gut instinct seems counterintuitive in our data rich era.  Although snap decisions are not without issues of bias or stereotyping, Blink reminds us that in the moment, we may have enough information and know enough to make a call.  

Steve Jobs - Walter Issacson

As a society, we love to celebrate brilliant people while often happily glossing over their most human flaws.  Issacson’s biography of Jobs doesn’t shy away from his often temperamental behaviour, and doesn’t try to excuse it, allowing the reader to make up their own mind.  

More into fashion than tech? Another example of a brilliant person who was also kind of problematic is Coco Chanel. Lisa Chaney’s Life of Chanel celebrates the pioneer Chanel, while highlighting some of the questionable decisions she made in her lifetime.  Both books indicate that the road to success is rocky, and encourages us to be better humans should we ever look brilliance in the eye.  

Behave - Robert Sapolsky

I’m a psychology enthusiast having studied extensively, but it is so surprising to me that we still don’t fully understand the inner workings of the brain.  Behave describes how and why we do what we do from a neurological standpoint. From political views, wars and gender bias - the biology of the brain is pulling our levers whether we realise it or not.  

Behave begins with some heavy scientific terms, so if you are looking for something less like a textbook to go with your suntan, check out The Private Life of the Brain by Susan Greenfield.  

Thrive - Arianna Huffington

I read this during my first startup experience, when I thought fewer hours slept and more emails were badges of honour.  Huffington describes how exhaustion inspired her to start a sleep revolution, which has only got stronger with the wellness movement.  

​For those of us who like to boast about how busy or stressed we are, Thrive reminds us about the cost of this lifestyle.

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist comes up on everyone’s reading list, but that doesn’t diminish how influential this book is, and it is notably the second best-selling book of all time.  The allegory centres on a shepherd boy who goes on a journey to realise his ‘Personal Legend’. Coelho’s simple but poetic style still incorporates realities such as the fear of failure, the importance of committing to a decision while living in the present and finding gratitude in our daily lives.  

​I would recommend coming back to The Alchemist in times when you need a reminder of your strength or when you are focusing on your journey towards your own ‘Personal Legend’.

The Diving Bell and the butterfly - 
​Jean-Dominique Bauby

A true story about individual strength, Bauby’s memoir describes the life-changing stroke he suffered that resulted in his paralysis and locked-in syndrome.  His previous life as editor-in-chief at French Elle magazine is detailed as a stark comparison to his locked-in life, in which he can only blink his left eye to communicate.  The Diving Bell and The Butterfly describes the vibrancy of the human spirit, whatever form the body has.

​This book will remind you feel to gratitude for not only those small wins, but also those small moments that so frequently pass us by.  After you finish this book, stop, and look around.

Humans of New York - Brandon Stanton
​

Not a big reader?  Stanton’s online photo project has been turned into a book that showcases the kaleidoscope of NYC society with one clear message: there is more that binds us than separates us.  The short captions that accompany the photos tell tales of heartache, humour and strength.

​This is a great book to pick up when you’re back from holiday and procrastinating over your To-Do List, as it reminds you that all struggles are real, but some might be a little more real than others.  So get going on those outstanding tasks!

What have you been reading this summer?  Tell us in the comments!