We read. A lot. May our favorites become your favorites.
SARA’S COLLECTION
SARA’S PICK
The Art of Gathering
Meeting in person matters, but I’ve never understood the psychology behind why — until reading The Art of Gathering. Humans desire human connection. It’s biological. And when we gather purposefully, strong connections are formed and ideas flourish. Priya Parker explains not only why gathering is important, but how to do it with care. Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or a big gala dinner, Parker discusses the right number of people to have per gathering and tips like not starting off with logistics.
SARA’S PICK
The Anxious Generation
I waited for months to receive this book from the library and it was well worth the wait. Understanding human behavior is important to me. Born in 1988, my childhood was mostly non-digital. Today’s generation is so different, I needed to understand what’s working for them with technology and what isn’t. In short, Haidt explains that today’s kids are overprotected in real life and underprotected online, which has led to incredible amounts of anxiety about the world around them. Read if you’re curious about why kids are so anxious today, and get a good list of what we could be doing differently as parents, employers, and neighbors.
SARA’S PICK
Nightbitch
I read a lot of ratchet fiction, and this is the best of the best I’ve read all year. A mid-30s woman wakes up with hair on the back of her neck. Literally. She believes she’s transforming into a dog. You think it’s ludicrous, until she finds other women in the neighborhood who turn into dogs at night. This novel is the story of a midlife existential crisis that makes us question who we are, why we’re here, and what we want out of life. Go see the movie based on this novel that comes out Dec 6.
CHRISTIAN’S COLLECTION
CHRISTIAN’S PICK
The Comfort of Crows
While I do love birds, it's not the main reason I loved this book. The author documents the fairly mundane things that happen in her own backyard over the course of a year and weaves in personal details of her own life. It helped ground me in my own life, especially working in such a fast-paced, future-looking industry. Taking time to appreciate the natural world and slowing down our own pace is more important than ever and this book illustrates that beautifully.
CHRISTIAN’S PICK
Make it Punchy
Marketing is a second vocation I've embarked on after 15 years fully in design and product. This is the most practical marketing book I've read so far and one that uniquely captures how to help early-stage companies be realistic about how they market themselves early on. Most books assume large teams and budgets, this one doesn't. Everyone working with early stage companies should read this.
CHRISTIAN’S PICK
When the Heavens Went on Sale
I'm not particularly interested in space exploration (I'd much rather us fix our own planet before seeking new ones). But another founder passionate about the area recommended this overview of the space tech industry over the past 25 years and it's fascinating. It's a modern (and at times, real-time) story of the sheer effort and belief you have to have in order to bring visions to life. Before reading this, I only had old stories of software and computers to appreciate what it's like to build truly new things and commercialize them. But the author covers this space in a way that helps you really see what it's like to take moonshots.
KATE’S COLLECTION
KATE’S PICK
Using Behavioral Science in Marketing
It’s a great read that shows how understanding human behavior can really amp up customer action and loyalty. The book mixes psychology with marketing strategies, giving you practical tips to create instinctive responses that connect with people. If you want to make your marketing campaigns more compelling and boost customer engagement, this book hits the spot.
KATE’S PICK
How to Know a Person
I highly recommend How to Know a Person! It’s all about mastering the art of really seeing and understanding others, which can totally transform your relationships. The book dives into practical techniques for connecting with people on a deeper level, helping you to both understand them better and feel more seen yourself. If you’re looking to improve your communication and build more meaningful connections, this book is a fantastic resource.
KATE’S PICK
The Pocket Guide to Product Launches
It’s a super handy resource that breaks down the whole product launch process into easy-to-follow steps. The book gives you the confidence you need to hit the market successfully and really make an impact. With practical tips and strategies, it helps you navigate everything from planning to execution.
TJ’S
COLLECTION
TJ’S PICK
Invisible Things
As a big fan of Andy J. Pizza and his illustrations, it was a fun read with my daughter. The book in itself is just pleasant and fun regardless of age. Seeing every day senses, emotions, concepts as creatures made for an enjoyable read as my daughter laughed along.
TJ’S PICK
Do the F*cking Work
I used the book as a reference for some client work. But the no-nonsense, straight to the point read gets the jobs done. I think there are moments in anyones career where they may be stuck, questioning what to do next, or just having doubts and the title makes it pretty self explanatory.
TJ’S PICK
The Invention of Sound
I love pretty much anything from Chuck Palanuik. He has a dark sense of humor that always draws me into his book. It’s very rare for a book to make me audibly gasp, but there were some moments that caught me way off guard in this one. The Invention of Sound is a dark and gritty fiction book on what it means to “own sound” and the gruesome back stories that are tied to them. The story itself is a fast-paced read as you go back and forth between two characters on a collision course with each other.