Summer Reading List For The Young Professional
Fact #1: Studies show that 78% of people miss the reading lists that used to hang overhead like a storm cloud during summer vacation in high school. Fact #2: Fact #1 was a fake fact. No one misses reading lists. Although the high school days are long over, it’s time to bring back the summer reading list with this collection of beach bag-worthy reads:
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
This book is the perfect kick that every young professional needs once in a while. Meg Jay replaces the cultural idea that “thirty is the new twenty” with a new idea that your twenties are the time to make the most of your life and start carving your path. It simultaneously empowers you and terrifies you by giving you a new sense of possibility for your life.
Perfect for: An afternoon coffee break. Meg Jay incorporates hundreds of studies with real anecdotes from her years as a clinical psychologist, making this book relatable and incredibly easy to read.
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz
For social entrepreneurship geeks like us here at YCB, this book is a gold mine. Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of social venture capital fund Acumen Fund, shares the rich and inspiring story of the early days of the Acumen Fund and her own growth into social entrepreneurship. The Blue Sweater is the perfect story of trusting your gut and chasing your dreams to make an impact on the world.
Perfect for: A long day at the beach. Jacqueline’s story reads like a novel and is impossible to put down. This is a quick refreshing read that lends itself perfectly to a couple of hours at the beach.
Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 486 Easy(Ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown
Sometimes it’s hard to be an adult. Apartment hunting is terrifying, and finding a good mechanic seems like probably the hardest thing in the world. Adulting is chock-full of practical tips for everyday life as a self-sufficient, independent person.
Best for: The morning commute, if you are a public transportation user. The book is separated into small paragraphs for each informative tip. Because of the nature of the book, you can pick it up and put it down without losing the flow of the writing, leaving you immune to the constant interruptions of loud passengers and the bump of briefcases against your head (it happens sometimes).
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Everyone’s reading it. Oprah’s reading it. So get in on the conversation and read it. Some readers call it a manifesto for the privileged, and some call it an inspiring call to action for women, historically underrepresented in positions of power. It seems like everyone has an opinion on this book, so now it’s your turn. COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg has written an unapologetic memoir/self-help book/manifesto geared toward the young professional woman, but applicable to men and women at every stage of their career.
Best for: A morning read or quick lunch break. Lean In is a page-turner, but it takes some time to digest.
Fill your mind with wisdom and your bag with books. Summer is the perfect time to get some reading done — while other beachgoers are slipping slowly into a sun tanning coma, you can sit back, crack one open (a book, I mean), and enjoy your new knowledge.
Photo courtesy of: Levoleague.com
