My Summer Reading List

With loads of school work, extracurriculars, jobs, and spending time with friends throughout the school year, there isn’t much time left to wind down and pick up a good book. Now that summer is here, it’s the perfect time to catch up on reading. Here is a list of five books that I look forward to reading this summer.

1. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

The first book on my summer reading list is Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg. In this book, the author draws from research to illustrate what the world’s most successful companies and professionals do to be more efficient and productive in their work and lives. Duhigg helps to explain why Saturday Night Live became one of the longest lasting shows in TV history, and how Disney’s Frozen became one of the highest grossing films of all time. I previously read The Power of Habit also by Charles Duhigg and I have implemented the principles from this book into my own life so I am excited to find more tips that I can use on a daily basis.

2. The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley

Next up on my list is The Autobiography of Malcolm X. This book illustrates the life of Malcolm X, the controversial civil rights activist. I am interested in learning more about the perspective that he had on racism and the Black Muslim Movement, along with the events in his childhood that shaped this ideas.

3. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

This is a book that I have been meaning to read for a while but never got the chance to. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a guide on how to fulfill your dreams. It combines the mindfulness of Eastern cultures along with the Western desire for external success. Deepak Chopra is a well-known advocate of Eastern medicine and has written over 80 books with The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success being the most successful.

4. The Tanning of America by Steve Stoute

Steve Stoute is an American businessman who has helped to transform companies in order to connect with a new generation of consumers. Stoute is well known among many Fortune 500 companies like State Farm and McDonalds, as well as celebrities like Jay-Z and Will Smith. In his book, he explains how hip-hop has transformed a new generation as well as the rules of the economy. This book is useful to anyone who wants to be informed of the ways in which pop culture can be used as a guideline to revitalize a brand, or for those who want to learn more about the rich history of hip-hop.

5. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Most of the books that I typically read along with all of the other books on this list are non-fiction so I decided to switch it up for the last book. The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel that touches on the subjects of gender, power, and religion. The story follows the life of Offred, a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead where the production rates are low so she is assigned to have children for wealthy couples. She has virtually no rights and she dreams of escape from her situation.