Summer reading list
This is exactly the type of content I always wanted to share, but couldn’t do it properly. I sometimes mention books in my newsletter 3byMe here and there, but there was never enough space to write a bit more about a book and to make a list of book recommendations.
So here comes my summer reading list for you. I know that summer might be already over in some parts of the world, but who knows, maybe it’s coming back and you can enjoy reading a good book outside in the sun.
A little disclaimer before I dive into the book descriptions: I’m not a fast reader and I’m also not reading 20 books a year. Some of the books below are more recent than others and I picked them because I felt that they would fit for a good summer reading.
The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
I read this book last year and if we spoke since then, chances are very high that I talked about it. 🙂 It’s definitely a page-turner and will take you into a world of books and possibilities. It will speak to you if you feel regrets about decisions you took in the past, or if you are supposed to take a big decision in the months to come. I also consider it a great gift!
Big magic (Elizabeth Gilbert)
In my first blog article, I had mentioned this book already, and I’m now shamelessly mentioning it again. 😉 Look out for the “shit sandwich”, is all I can say! Elizabeth Gilbert is known for her book “Eat, Pray, Love” and in this book, she’s writing about her creative journey and her relationship with writing. It’s a beautiful book about passion, creativity and the path it takes to reach your goals.
How are you, really? (Jenna Kutcher)
Jenna Kutcher is a person I mention regularly to my fellow coaches and when she wrote a book, I had to buy it of course. 🙂 She’s known for her online courses and her “Goal Digger” podcast and in her book “How are you, really?” she writes about her own story and combines it with powerful questions. It’s a nice start for everyone who wants to start their personal development journey and get to know themselves better. For me it was particularly interesting to learn more about her and her life story. It’s an excellent reminder that what you see on Instagram is only a glimpse of what happens in the life of someone. You also learn about the rocky road it took for a successful entrepreneur to get to where they are today.
How Will You Measure Your Life? (Clayton M. Christensen)
I took this book with me when I went on a short vacation during the pandemic. It has been three years since I read it, but it is still with me somehow. The title of the book is of course already very catchy and if you then know that the author wrote it during his last months of life, it also hits differently. Yes, this is not such a light read, but maybe summer is sometimes also a good moment to take a step back and take time to ask yourself the “big question”? This book will definitely help with it - and if you are looking for a lighter version of the “big questions”, Jenna Kutcher’s book is an excellent alternative.
In one of my previous newsletter issues, I also shared an article he wrote for the Harvard Business Review. That’s a great way to start if you aren’t sure yet if you wish to read his book.
Strong Female Lead: Lessons from Women in Power (Arwa Mahdawi)
Here comes another of my evergreen book recommendations. ;) I stumbled across this book in a bookshop in Canada and am so happy I found it! It’s a selection of (real) stories of women who managed to lead by example by doing things their way and not by imitating how a typical masculine behaviour would have been. Some of the women you might have heard, some will be very unknown, but what counts is their stories.
This book inspired me also to write the following Forbes article on female leadership: What Is Female Leadership And Why Do We Need It.
Looking at this list, one could think that I almost only read nonfiction books and I admit that it’s indeed my go to category. However, I also love reading books by Marian Keyes and Marc Levy (guilty!).
Maybe you can share your book recommendation in the comments? Or simply send me a message here .