LETTERS TO WORDS TO MEANING

Summer is a lovely time to relax with a good book. In the last few month's I have savored some new favorites.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink, I borrowed from a co-worker and devoured it. This book explains the importance of actually using a creative brain and outlines the six fundamentally human abilities that are absolute necessities for professional success and personal fulfillment. Although this was a quick read, it made me rethink some things that had been filed in the back of my mind. In a world consisting of fast paced automation, being "smart" and quick is simply not enough in order to maintain our current standard of living. If we want to excel we must stand out, and start using the creative side of our brain, connect with people spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, and progress though critical [design] thinking. 

Another read I quite enjoyed this summer was Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Now, I listened to this book, and I'm so glad I did because the accents and the amount of character's and developing random story lines within this plot would probably have been enough to pull one's eyes out. Listening to it was less overwhelming and easier to keep straight what was happening. As complex of a story this was, it ended up all coming together gorgeously and being a beautifully intricate story of two people and their fate. I was truly connected to most of these characters. Well worth the hours and hours it took to get through.

And finally, the last book I wanted to touch on was Lean In (Women, Work, and the Will to Lead) by Sheryl Sandberg. Can I even tell you how much her writing comforted me and opened my eyes to her perspective. This powerful, intelligent, hard working woman understands how I feel within my insecurities, hopes/dreams, and goals – personal and professional. Her stories, her thoughts, her ideas... For any woman who is educated, driven, perplexed, confronted, determined, connected... this is worth the read. I loved this book and I hope to meet her and tell her in the future. Cheers!