My Summer Reading Recommendations
These books will make you laugh, cry, think, and fight for good. Plus, they’re all just really great reads.
It’s always a good time to read a great book, but come summer, I seem to have a bigger stack of must-reads on my nightstand than usual. I read over breakfast, read on my balcony, read while I wait for appointments, read before going to bed. Reading simultaneously lets us disconnect from our own lives and connect with ideas and lives and stories we might not otherwise.
These are some of the best books I’ve read lately—from fiction to self-help, from essays to memoirs. Each of these books has expanded my worldview, provoked some valuable self-reflection, and overall kept me turning page after page, eager to read just a little bit longer.
I hope you’ll get as much out of reading them as I have.
For the science and health nerds: Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, by Peter Attia, MD, takes a whole-self approach to living your healthiest, happiest, longest life possible, and how and why mainstream medicine doesn’t go far enough to prevent against the most prevalent diseases of our time. Dr. Attia outlines a proactive strategy for longevity so that we can live better and longer (healthspan and lifespan). He draws on the latest science to deliver innovative interventions for optimizing exercise and sleep, and shares tools for addressing emotional and mental health. The payoff: A long life that you love. Sign me up!
For the history buff with a good sense of humor: In The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, John Green looks at a different part of the Anthropocene era—that’s the one we’re currently living in—and how humans have shaped it for better and for worse. The spin: Green writes each essay as a review (yeah, think Yelp). He rates cable news, the longevity of our species, Dr. Pepper, and plague, among other markers of our time, each with surprising observations about life and how we collectively live it.
For the historical fiction fanatic who loves bada$$ heroines: The two WWll era sisters in The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, have different lives and different concerns in their home of Nazi-occupied France, but each survives the unimaginable, persevering for their own sake and for those they care about. The story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and unputdownable.
For the self-growth gurus: In The Color of Emotional Intelligence: Elevating Our Self and Social Awareness to Address Inequities, psychotherapist Farah Harris first establishes what emotional intelligence (EQ) is: The ability to recognize your own feelings and how they affect other people, as well as understanding the emotions of others. Her book illustrates how marginalized people use EQ to navigate a white, male, cis-gender world, and how we can all hone our EQ in order to better relate to ourselves and everyone we come in contact with.
For the runner, writer, or anyone who relentlessly pursues their passion: Author Haruki Murakami, perhaps best known for his magical-realism fiction, turns his attention to his passion for long-distance running in his memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. As a runner, you’ll relate to the life lessons he learns while training for a marathon, and if you also happen to be a fan of his other work, you’ll appreciate how he relates running to writing—and describes so vividly what both pursuits mean to him.
For the eco-anxious: In nearly every conversation I have around environmental sustainability, people tell me they want to help but don’t know where to start. In her book, One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Help Save the Planet, environmentalist Heather White helps us see exactly how each of us can lend our unique skills, time, and expertise to the eco-cause. She makes taking action seem not only easily doable, but irresistible.
For anyone going through a difficult time: Grief can come in many forms and for many reasons. People grieve in different ways, on different timetables—and Rebecca Soffer has written a guide to help each of us process and live with loss in our own way. In The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience, Soffer draws on her own experience as she offers a sensitive, realistic roadmap for the rest of us.
For anyone trying to make their mark on the world: It feels like we all need our own brand these days—a public persona that represents who we are and what we have to say at work, in our personal lives, and on social media. No matter where you are on your personal brand-building journey, Aliza Licht’s book, On Brand, is filled with actionable, real-world advice on how to shape your personal narrative.
😋 What I’m eating: When I’m trying to beat the “hangries” and the heat, my go-to snack is a Sweet Nothings Squeezable Smoothie. Each flavor—Strawberry Beet, Mango Carrot, Pineapple Spinach, and Blueberry Kale—packs fruit, vegetables, and fiber-rich chia seeds into a portable pouch.
🎧 What I’m listening to: Sara Noll Wilson really knows how to have a conversation! That’s why I’m loving her podcast Conversations about Conversations! I can verify from personal experience that Sarah’s charm, wit, and line-up of interesting guests (yours truly included 😉) will keep you listening, laughing, and thinking over each and every episode!
🧦 What I’m wearing: You know that feeling when you finally find the right pair of socks—perfect cushioning, true no-show, and not too hot, thin, or thick? I’ve found my new favorites: Feetures High Performance Max Cushion No Show Tab socks. They come in fun colors as well as classic black and white—I like to stock up on the 3-packs so there’s always a clean pair in the drawer.
🧢 What I’m sporting: Sun protection is no joke, especially when you love the outdoors the way I do. I love the Vuori Sombra Sun Hat for its wide brim, open top (air flow, yes please!), and adjustable fit. Also, if I’m being honest, it looks really cute on.
💚 What I’m doing: As if Heather White’s book isn’t motivation enough, the One Green Thing Service Superpower Assessment quiz makes it that much more fun—and easy! Did I say easy?—to figure out how you can help promote sustainability and preservation of Earth’s natural resources. Answer a few questions about your personality and interests, and you’ll get an email custom-tailored to your strengths and skills.