Summertime calls for a good book. Once you find yourself by a pool, in a plane, or you have a lazy afternoon, instead of reaching for your phone or the remote, try picking up a good old-fashioned book.

Remember those summer reading lists in high school? Your English teachers decided which books you were going to read; but now, you get to read whatever you want! There’s a plethora of material at your disposal so take advantage of a good story or learn something new. Don’t let the countless options deter you. There’s a topic you’re fascinated by and we challenge you to dive into a book on that topic.

If you need a little direction, we’re here to give you some recommendations. The sections below are divided based on the type of reader you want to become this summer. Enjoy!

Lose Yourself

Find yourself engulfed into the fictional world crafted by the author who intentionally takes the reader on an entertaining journey.

These books are best for when you want to be entertained and get lost in a story.

Odd Thomas

By Dean Koontz

“Fate isn’t one straight road…there are forks in it, many different routes to different ends. We have the free will to choose the path.”

Imagine a world where a supernatural gift transforms your life. This isn’t a superhero tale; this is how one insecure guy lives his life while using his sixth-sense to solve disturbing crimes. Time flies while reading this page-turning thriller.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

By Lewis Carroll

“I’m not crazy. My reality is just different than yours.”

Chances are you already know these stories; now introduce yourself to the original plot created by Lewis Carroll. While reading, a wave of nostalgia is inevitable while you revisit these classic characters.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

The Hangman’s Daughter

By Oliver Pötzsch

“If you want to know who is responsible for anything, ask who benefits from it.”

This historical-fiction piece transports the reader to a tiny Bavarian village in the 1600s. A murder, a conspiracy, and a town panicking from suspected witchcraft. Learn a little about this time period while enjoying this thriller.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Educate Yourself

Do you want to learn about a certain subject? You can expand your mind and learn something new about a particular topic. Not all information is in textbooks. Authors are continually finding new ways to communicate information in more fun and engaging methods.

Increase your knowledge with these recommendations.

The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet

By Benjamin Hoff

“By the time it came to the edge of the Forest the stream had grown up, so that it was almost a river, and, being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved more slowly. For it knew now where it was going, and it said to itself, ‘There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.’”

Learn about the principles of Taoism, an Eastern philosophy focusing on the force behind everything in existence. The author’s style allows Westerners to learn about this philosophy through the characters of Winnie the Pooh. We guarantee you’ll have a smile on your face while reading this book.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

By Malcolm Gladwell

“The success of any kind of social epidemic is heavily dependent on the involvement of people with a particular and rare set of social gifts.”

Get amazed by Malcolm Gladwell’s research about how certain ideas and behaviors go viral and then spread throughout communities. You’ll learn why some personalities help spread information and how some historical events were influenced by an individual’s ability to communicate a simple message.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life

By Pat Williams

“Walt was a walking paradox. Though probably the greatest nostalgist who ever lived, he was fascinated by the future. Most important of all, Walt didn’t just predict the future and tell stories of the future. He made the future happen.”

Want a little bit of inspiration mixed with a delightful history of Disney? Then pick up this book to learn Walt’s story. You’ll learn about how Walt’s upbringing shaped his personality which led him to accomplish so much during his life.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Unwind Yourself

Once you’re getting ready to power-down for the night, try reading instead of watching TV. This list includes books where you don’t need much mental power to comprehend the material. I find comics and plays to be perfect to just zone-out before bed.

Batman: The Long Halloween

By Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

“When faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem… your only option is to act swiftly, some might even say irrationally. Removing the most dangerous elements first… and methodically attacking each subsequent challenge in a separate, but deliberate manner.”

To give you a good starting point into Batman comics, check out this work which influenced the recent Batman Trilogy from Christopher Nolan. This is a great tale filled with familiar villains and impressive drawings.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Calvin & Hobbes: It’s a Magical World

By Bill Watterson

“It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy… Let’s go exploring!”

Get ready for childhood nostalgia by picking up a Calvin & Hobbes comic book. These books include collections of Bill Watterson’s daily newspaper strips. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll ponder life’s meaning. That’s the power of these comics.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

By Steve Martin

“I could dream it forever and still not do it, but when the time comes for it to be done, God, I want to be ready for it, to be ready for the moment of convergence between the thing done and the doing of it, between the thing to be made and its maker. At that moment, I am speaking for everyone; I am dreaming for the billions yet to come; I am taking part of us that cannot be understood by God, and letting it bleed from the wrist onto the canvas. And it can only be made, because I have felt these things: my lust, my greed, my hatred, my happiness.”

Find yourself entertained by the fictional setting Steve Martin creates with Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein interacting in a Parisian café. Silliness, delight, soul-searching, and chaos follows.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Pivot Yourself

Are you looking to improve yourself? Only you can know what you want to work on to become a better version of yourself. It is your job to discover what kind of topic to help you find ways to upgrade yourself.

If you want a good place to start your improvement journey, here are a few reads on how to think and act in your day-to-day life.

The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

By Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

“I actively train my students that when they make a mistake, they are to lift their arms in the air, smile, and say, ‘How Fascinating!’ I recommend that everyone try this.”

Discover how adjusting your thought process can yield to a more optimistic life. A series of techniques are listed by this couple so you can find which strategy you prefer. This book leaves you in a good mood and ready to confront the challenges ahead of you with a more positive outlook. How fascinating!

Watch this TED Talk and you’ll want to read this book.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Think and Grow Rich

By Napoleon Hill

“The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge.”

One of the classic self-help books where Napoleon Hill shares his findings from interviewing accomplished individuals like Andrew Carnegie. This book helps you shift your thinking to embrace the challenge of becoming financially and spiritually wealthy.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

By Charles Duhigg

“The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.”

Life is about patterns which are formed by a series of habits. Why not improve your day-to-day habits to become a better version of yourself? Charles Duhigg, a New York Times columnist, illustrates his research to inspire you to start shifting your current behaviors by starting small.

Check out your local library or find this book on Amazon here

Happy Summer Reading!

These short lists of recommendations feature a few of our favorites and if you want a personalized recommendation, please feel free to contact us!

Also, if you have a book recommendation we need to add to our reading list, please leave a comment or contact us!