I spent a portion of the summer traveling, which meant a lot of time to read and listen to some great content. These books and podcasts have inspired some summer musings for me, and I hope you have the chance to enjoy them as much as I did!
Books
The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell your Ideas by G. Richard Shell – One of my June reads in Barbados. As I read, I thought about the strategic framework we have developed and the work ahead as we broaden and deepen our mission to expand the nature of school.
The Real World of College: What Higher Education Is and What it Can Be by Wendy Fischman (parent) and Howard Gardner – This book contained a lot of awesome research on college students that supports Beaver’s approach to high school education.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones – I started this read in Barbados where there was a history of enslavement connected to the economy that parallels that of sugar plantations in the Southern U.S. In order to meet social justice challenges, we have to be willing to face the dark side of our own history.
Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America by Gigi Georges (recommended by Yolanda Wilcox González) – While we explored Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and northern Maine in the van, we listened to this audiobook, which we found enlightening and informative.
Harlem Shuffle: A Novel by Colson Whitehead — I was captivated by Whitehead’s Underground Railroad and heard him speak while in Cleveland so I knew I had to check out Harlem Shuffle.
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn – This was a great novel that includes an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I enjoyed it while we were at the Roosevelt ‘cottage’ on Campobello Island in Brunswick, Canada.
All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King – I read this autobiography at the start of the summer and found it to be an inspirational read.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – I just picked it up on someone’s recommendation.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – I wanted to read something connected to the future of artificial intelligence, and this was the perfect novel for that!
Big Citizenship: How Pragmatic Idealism Can Bring Out the Best in America by Alan Khazel (founder of City Year) – This was recommended as a book that explores the role of social entrepreneurship in our future and offers a hopeful outlook.
Podcasts
Dare to Lead with Brene Brown
Particularly interesting episode: Her interview with Ruchika Tulshyan, author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Sense of Belonging at Work, a book now on my fall reading list!
As We Work Wall Street Journal
Particularly interesting Episodes: Power Play: Online Reviews are Changing Internships; and More Skipping College Today: What will that Mean for Tomorrow
Sway hosted by Kara Swisher
Particularly interesting episodes: First Person: She is Gay and Republican. Is there a Place for Her in the G.O.P.? (an interview with Jerri Ann Henry, former leader of the Log Cabin Republicans)
The Daily New York Times