With the school year quickly coming to a close, I find myself anticipating the days when I will actually have free time to read for fun. If you know me well, you know that in the summertime I often have a book close at hand. I've always loved bringing a new book to the beach or on a long road trip, and I'm feeling especially excited to swap out my trusty Intro to Finance textbook for some lighter reads. Over the past few weeks, I've been compiling recommendations from friends, teachers, mentors, and my own research so I can prepare my Amazon order for when I come home. I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon for quite a few of these but better late than never right?? Without further ado, here are the top 12 books I hope to read this summer:
In the spirit of my upcoming semester abroad, I've been looking into books about global travel and culture. This top pick by a longtime NPR foreign correspondent explores what makes certain places happier than others and how our environments shape us to be the way we are. It's part travel memoir and part self-help book but seems like an all-around great read for anyone interested in travel and psychology.
2 // Eat Pray Love
My roommate is obsessed with this movie and had been hounding me for the past year to watch it. I finally did over Spring Break and I have to admit it was pretty good. However, I am a strong supporter of the "Books are Always Better than Movies" idea and want to put this one to the test - plus it fits in perfectly with my travel theme.
3 // I Am Malala
I was supposed to read this book earlier this year as a part of a club I joined but never actually got around to ordering it (oops). In light of Malala's recent honor from the UN, I think it's about time I learn more about her incredible story.
4 // Solve for Happy
This book came as a recommendation from a Google employee when I visited their New York HQ earlier this semester. It's written by a top exec in the company and discusses how to create and maintain happiness throughout your life. I'm thinking it might be a little over my head seeing as I'm not really one for excessive formulas and math references (ha) but I think I need to give it a try.
5 // The Secret
Another recommendation from my roommate (shoutout to you Nico!) who got this book from her dad earlier this year. Another self-help and happiness book that is supposedly life-changing. Guess I'll be the judge of that!
A few of my friends have recommended this book to me over the years and it's another one that always seems to be on my "to-read" list. A collection of essays and stories written by a Yale student who died a few days after she graduated, this book focuses on self-discovery and how we can make a change in the world.
7 // Milk and Honey
This book gained popularity over the past year or two and is, again, one that I've been meaning to read for a while. It's a collection of poems about heartbreak, healing, and hope that has impacted millions around the world.
8 // The Circle
This book was recently made into a movie starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. Set in the future, it ponders how technology, social media, and innovation could potentially threaten our privacy and society at large. I've always liked utopian and futuristic type books and this definitely seems like it would be an interesting read.
9 // The Tipping Point
A top pick for those in the business world, this book discusses how trends and social behaviors take off and spread throughout the world. As a marketing student, I think this would be a particularly interesting way to learn about buyer behavior and selling.
My dad recommended this book to me last summer and I think I started but never actually finished it. It's a true story written by the former editor-in-chief of French Elle who experienced a stroke and, as a result, suffered from locked-in syndrome. He wrote the entire book by blinking his left eyelid to choose the next letter of each word.
11 // Lean In
This was recommended to me by one of my dad's colleagues in London last year. I bought it, started it, and it's been sitting unfinished on my nightstand at home for the past year (are we sensing a theme here?). Written by the COO of Facebook, this book reflects on women's empowerment and leadership roles in the workplace. Basically she was a #girlboss before it was cool.
12 // Work Rules
Another recommendation from the panel at Google. Written by the company's former Senior VP of People Operations, this book gives tips on how to be a more creative and innovative leader. It's always interesting to learn more about how one of the most prominent companies in the world works.
If you have a book you think I'd like feel, free to send me a message or leave a comment below - happy reading!
