06-19-2017
Summer Reading for Fun and for Learning
Dear House Rules,
This time of year, summer vacations begin, and I don’t think anyone in our office has had time to read more than an email or whitepaper all year. With that in mind, can you recommend some good books to stash in the old beach bag? Not necessarily the best-sellers – we can get that information from plenty of other sources – how about what books your staff is reading?
Signed,
I feel the need – the need to read
Dear Need to Read:
What a unique (and timely) question! Everyone here at Xavier Creative House loves to read and, as a company, we encourage reading! In fact, earlier this year, our CEO Sunny White visited The Pathway School and read The Big Book of Manners to the students as part of the NEA’s Read Across America Week.
Summer means our team is looking forward to relaxing with a good book and to learning more about how we can improve our careers and professional lives. Please enjoy our summer reading selections and let us know your recommendations in the comments!
RELAXED READS
I Let You Go, by Clare MacKintosh
“The newest release from the author of The Girl on the Train. Super-fast read and great recommendation for a summer book. I loved it, especially Part 2. Lots of twists and turns.” – Sunny, Founder & CEO
The Comet Seekers, by Helen Sedgwick
“A layered and nuanced story about relationships, missed chances, and new opportunities told through across centuries and set against the appearance of comets in the Earth’s sky.” – Whitney, Marketing & Project Coordinator
Shades of Magic, by V.E. Schwab
“A fun adult fantasy series (3 books in total) about London and three other alternate dimension Londons in the 1800s and a man who can travel between them. I love a book that uses color to paint vivid pictures, though the words are just black and white.” – Jenna, Chief Creative Officer
The Muhammad Ali Reader, by Gerald Early
“Tells the life one of the greatest athletes and civil rights icons in our nation’s history through provocative short stories and published media stories.” – Doug, Copywriter
Watership Down, by Richard Adams
“This allegorical, genre-defying book never gets old. It works as a thrilling saga of a band of outcasts’ struggle for safety, as a simple hero’s journey, as a subtle cautionary tale about abusing the environment, and even as a self-help book – all wrapped up in a story about rabbits. Beautifully, masterfully written by the late Richard Adams, it’s a must-read (and a total page-turner too!)” – Katy, Senior Medical Writer
PROFESSIONAL READS
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
“An exploration of the combination of talent, resiliency, and hard work needed for success, Grit helps you understand and lay out a plan for achieving your goals” – Whitney, Marketing & Project Coordinator
“The ultimate guide to building a business and raising a family like a pro. ” – Sunny, CEO & Founder
The Cheese Monkeys: a Novel In Two Semesters, by Chip Kidd
“An autobiographical novel by one of the greatest graphic designers America has to offer, this short but poignant book covers a brief period in Chip’s college life. I find it incredibly important in our careers to step back and remember where we came from. It helps ground us to where we currently are.” – Jenna, Chief Creative Officer
“Author Rhonda Byrne, like each of us, has been on her own journey of discovery. In The Secret, she explains with simplicity the law that is governing all lives, and offers the knowledge of how to create – intentionally and effortlessly – a joyful life. – Sunny, CEO & Founder
Who Moved my Cheese?, by Spencer Jones
“An oldie but a good, in the fast pace business world today this book is great at helping us get a handle on the constant change around us.” – Bethany, Project Manager
Enjoy your summer reading, everyone!