We are looking forward to sunny days reading and relaxing by Barton Springs Pool and we hope you are making time for rest and recreation too. At Sedera, we celebrate taking time to invest in one’s spiritual, social, physical and mental health. That is why we created the Sedera 2019 Summer Reading List, a collection of our team’s favorite books to inspire healthy minds, hearts and lives.
This first section of book recommendations corresponds with our core values.
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover – this inspiring read tells the story of a young woman who was raised by a survivalist family who did not believe in formal education. Yet she was able to earn prestigious degrees from Harvard and Cambridge Universities.
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell – learn how successful and renowned individuals gain their claim to fame in this in depth look at how to become an outlier.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D Vance – the author of this memoir is a true testament to hard work paying off and provides a compassionate perspective on his Appalachian roots.
The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks – Brooks examines how individuals stay joyous during the turmoils of life. He offers wisdom on how to pick a vocation, how to live out a philosophy, and how we can begin to integrate our commitments into one overriding purpose.
An Unexpected Turn: Inspired by a True Story by Ellen Carlisle – This is the story of a crude oil ship captain who is prevented by the WWII from returning to his family in Holland, and instead circles the Southern hemisphere delivering oil to Allied forces. He meets a special woman in South Africa, and the tale unfolds between her home and his home in Holland. It’s a compelling story with several questions of what’s right and wrong at a time when everyone was challenged. Most importantly, this novel was written by one of our very own Sedera Members! How wonderful is that?
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle – author Gregory Boyle describes his experiences founding and running Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in Los Angeles. This story reminds us how to maintain a loving heart, even in times of failure.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – this slim, yet beloved book is a must-read for everyone. It is a simple story of self-discovery that dives into the complex concepts of following dreams and listening to one’s own heart.
Gilead: A Novel by Marilyn Robinson – this artfully crafted piece of fiction is the story of a retired minister reflecting on his past. It raises questions about how people reconcile faith in a challenging world and most importantly, stay rooted in love.
Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff – this dynamic memoir follows Goff through his adventures touring the world, making friends in Uganda and talking his way into law school, all along the way making lasting impacts in so many lives with his compassionate and loving demeanor.
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel – no need to plan summer travels after reading this book. The Life of Pi is truly transportive in both space and emotion. Gear up for an adventure that will rock your boat. This is an incredible story of finding solutions to impossible problems.
The Power of Positive Thinking: 10 Traits for Maximum Results by Norman Peele – sometimes the best solution to a problem is a change of perspective. This straight-forward, no-nonsense guidebook to success is written with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life.
Meaningful Work: A Quest to do Great Business, Find Your Calling and Feed You Soul by Shawn and Lawren Askinosie – this book will leave your mouth watering and your spirit inspired. Learn how a high-powered lawyer decided to embrace a career change to follow his passion of chocolate making.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg – NYTimes investigative reporter, Charles Duhigg explains the latest research on behavioral science and how we can start and maintain habits that create huge, impactful results.
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives our Success by Adam Grant – this book deeply resonates with our values at Sedera. The author takes a close look at the forces that cause some people to rise to the top while others sink to the bottom. We’ll hint as to why: it has a lot to do with lending a helping hand in times of need.
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown – a beautiful read that clarifies the roll of leadership inside and outside the office. Brown, in her signature way, distills research and anecdote into a highly readable book that will empower everyone to be better community members.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni – reveals why leaders often struggle. He outlines a powerful model and actionable steps that can be used to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team.
Everybody, Always: Becoming Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff – Goff takes readers on a journey into the secret of living without fear, constraint, or worry. The path toward the liberated existence we all long for is found in a truth as simple to say as it is hard to do: love people, even the difficult ones, without distinction and without limits.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Origin by Dan Brown
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Dune by Frank Hebert
Animal Farm by George Orwell
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Lord of the Rings Series by JRR Tolkien
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1963 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Crone and Suzanne Stabile
The Alhambra by Robert Irwin
The Culture of Honor by Danny Silk
Becoming Beyonce: The Untold Story by J Randy Taraborrelli
