(Mondays are Lynn Miles Peisker days at The Daily Blur. Lynn’s the Executive Sister and Chief Plate Spinner at the Imagination Advisory Group. Check out her growing archive of posts here.)
My brother once told me if you want to be a better writer, read more and better books. Let’s start this summer. Summer doesn’t officially begin until later this week, so you have time to get organized and head to the library or fire up your eReader.
Here’s my summer reading list to get you started:
1. Good Company – always, whenever possible read this by best selling author, Tim Miles. Read, re-read. Post-it it up. Highlight it. It’s filled with practical short chapters and real life business stuff you can use today. I’m re-reading it in anticipation of his next book.
2. Start – Jon Acuff’s new book. I like him. Started reading his blog way back before he wrote Quitter. These books are for you if you have ever dreamed of doing something different with your life. Warning: He recommends you keep your day job. For a while anyway.
3. The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers – “And so, for me, being quiet and slow is being myself, and that is my gift.” Oh, Fred Rogers, we need more people like you. Reading this book and watching this short video from PBS (you’re welcome!) bring a nice, calming influence to my life.
4. A River Runs Through It and Other Stories – Since we are planning a trip to my husband’s childhood home late this summer, reading these stories from Norman MacLean should get me in a Montana state of mind. If you are traveling this summer, may I suggest you enjoy fiction from the area to which you are headed, not just travel guides, in order to soak up the local flavor.
5. Travels with Charley – again. I love re-reading favorites. This and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird for me are timeless and re-readable. Picked this up in a great little bookstore in Calgary in March. After I’m done, I’m passing it on my friend Ellen who is enjoying a John Steinbeck summer.
6. Decisive – The newest volume by the Heath Brothers. Switch, their book on managing change was a landmark read for me. This new book had a fabulous pre-release campaign with free downloads, which was part of what intrigued me about it.
7. Wonderstruck – A small group of us from my church are actually doing the video study that goes with this book. I am looking forward to diving in to this collection of inspirational stories from delightful author Margaret Feinberg. It was recommended to me by my best friend, Nancy, and I try to read everything she recommends. She is never wrong.
How about you? What are you reading this summer? Join me on the porch, and together we’ll read (and write) better!
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