Remember the days of reading books assigned to you over summer break? I dreaded those assignments. I was not a reading type of kid—I was the out-at-dawn, back-at-dusk, covered-in-grass-stains type. But in my wiser years, I find I like to dive into some good books over the summer.
Here are a few of my recent favorites:
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin
While it’s practically required reading for creative types, this book’s appeal goes far beyond that. Rubin shares steps for living a more creative life, drawing from his experience in the music industry…but the insights apply to just about anyone.
A few snippets of wisdom from the book:
“When you create, you really only have two jobs.
Job #1 is to show up.
Job #2 is to do. That’s it.”
“Look for what you notice but no one else sees.”
“The universe is only as large as our perception of it.
When we cultivate our awareness, we are expanding the universe.
This expands the scope, not just of the material at our disposal
to create from, but of the life we get to live.”
–Seth Godin
The Life Brief: A Playbook For No-Regrets Living – Bonnie Wan
Ads can make life look perfect. We all know that’s not real life… but we can borrow from the strategy behind them: the creative brief.
Bonnie Wan, a partner and head of account planning at Goodby Silverstein and Partners, shows how applying that same process to your own life can bring clarity and direction. This book is more than just a read. It’s an interactive workbook that helps you live as your fullest self.
– Fast Company
FAILED IT! – Erik Kessels
I am a big believer in failing forward as fast as you can. Let’s face it, everybody screws up now and then. This book is a great reminder that failing can be a great step forward if viewed the right way.
―ItsNiceThat.com
Unstuck – Keith Yamashita & Sandra Spataro
Feeling stuck in a business rut? This one might be just what you need. Drawing from work with companies like Sony and Disney, the authors help you unpack where you are, identify key challenges, and find the tools to move through them. It’s smart, actionable, and surprisingly motivating.
If you end up reading one of these books this summer, let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Happy reading!
Dave
