Summer Reading 2021: What Our Team Can't Put Down
With the first 90 degree days hitting Benson Executive Search’s Boston headquarters, it feels like summer 2021 is finally here in earnest.
With the pandemic no longer acting as a deterrent to summer activities, travelers are taking to the skies, beaches, and ball games that were forced shut last year. This offers many more opportunities to start (or finish!) that new book, whether your reading comes while sitting in the lobby of a hotel or waiting in a long line at the box office.
We asked our team what they’ve been reading and listening to, and wanted to share the results with our readers.
Alice Benson
“The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: I’ve been reading this for one of my book groups; it won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and this May was adapted as a miniseries by Amazon Prime Video.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: From the author of Nightingale, this 2018 historical fiction novel tells the story of the Allbright family, following their move to the Alaskan wilderness and the ensuing challenges they face upon arrival.
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery: I never like to be too far away from animals! So to keep them in my thoughts, this lighter read tells the story of Christopher Hogwood, a pig from New Hampshire who teaches the author that with love, almost anything is possible.
On the audio front, I’ve been listening to The Ministry of Ideas, hosted by Zachary Davis. It’s dedicated to investigating and illuminating the big ideas that shape our societies and our world.”
Bob McCarthy
“My regular magazine rotation consists of Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Rolling Stone. Depending on your mood, each has its place during a commute and under an umbrella. However, Garden & Gun is my new favorite periodical, and I encourage people to at least Google it before you laugh...
On the literature front, I’ve been reading Radical Candor by Kim Scott, a wonderful book about managing and building better relationships, and I’ve been slowly working my way through Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers.”
Suzanne Solleder
“I’ve been burrowed into The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan. It’s a very funny memoir, describing ‘that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap’. Corrigan is a poignant storyteller and family experiences that resonate with me and my own upbringing.
Below that on my shelf is Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s obviously a classic, and I’m enjoying the parts on cognitive biases and differentiating.
After finishing those, next up is Educated, the memoir by Tara Westover recounting the many unbelievable stories from her life. Following the book’s publication, she was named one of the Time Most Influential People of 2019.
On the audio front, you can usually find me listening to Smartless with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, or The Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd.”
Susan O’Leary
“For me, it’s The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine. It’s twisty, spellbinding, and addictive, everything I want in a beach read!”
Vahan DerSimonian
“My summer reading docket begins with two recent gifts. The first is Tribe of Mentors by NYT #1 bestselling author Tim Ferriss. This book is a compilation of tools, tactics, and habits from 130+ of the world's top performers, and has been both fascinating and informative.
Next is Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild. Into Thin Air recounts the true story of the 1996 Mt. Everest summit attempt, of which Mr. Krakauer was a part of. The book is suspenseful and extremely well written.”
Lucy JREIGE
“This summer, I’ve been reading The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry, a wise and warm look at building relationships. I’ve also started Between Grit and Grace by Sasha Shillcutt, which is filled with stories from a diverse set of courageous, smart, and inspiring women.”