Happy summer to you! This week marks the official beginning of summer, a time of long days, hot weather, cold drinks, cool beaches, and—of course—best reads.
We asked around the office to see what everyone is reading at One Legal. Now we want to share our top summer reading recommendations with you. From inspirational collections to business must-reads, sci-fi favorites to standout fiction, we’ve got flavors for every reading taste.
Dan Clark, Product Manager
Hounded by Kevin Hearne – The last of the Druids lives peacefully as the owner of an occult bookshop in Arizona who shapeshifts in his spare time. That is until an angry Celtic god catches up with him in pursuit of the magical sword he possesses.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown – Explore the Way of Essentialism not by adding productivity techniques or improving time management, but by following a systematic discipline for uncovering what is absolutely essential.
Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth About Reality by Brad Warner – Both grounded in traditional Zen principles and revolutionary, the author calls on the wisdom of punk and pop culture icons as well as Buddha in a hilarious and gritty perspective.
Lili Daniel, Customer Success Manager
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks – Learn how to eliminate the barriers to success and overcome false fears and beliefs, from New York Times bestselling author.
Heart Talk by Cleo Wade – This beautifully illustrated book of poems, mantras, and affirmations offers a creative boost of empowering inspiration.
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott – The 25th edition of a now-classic, this timeless message of understanding explores the nature of relationships, including love, sensitivity, and becoming one’s own true self.
Lindsey Dean, Senior Marketing Manager
The Third Hill North of Town by Noah Bly – On a spur of the moment road trip to confront her tragic past, one woman forges a surprising bond with two young men who will inadvertently become an important part of the story. Coincidence and believability collide in this ultimate page-turner.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wrecker – A creature made of clay and a fire spirit trapped in a human body encounter each other on the streets of 19th century New York City—from opposite sides of the Jewish and Syrian communities.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi – This sweeping family saga follows two half-sisters: one as she is sold into slavery and sent to America, the other when she marries a British slaver and remains on the Gold Coast.
Lisa Eggers, Community Marketing Manager
I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll – A moment of indecision leaves one woman wracked with guilt after the disappearance of another. This psychological thriller makes you ask yourself “What would it take to make you intervene?”
When Never Comes by Barbara Davis – When a woman with a traumatic past faces fresh tragedy and betrayal, she must decide whether to keep on running to protect herself or stay despite the risks of loving again.
Pandemic (The Extinction Files Book 1) by A.G. Riddle – After a deadly outbreak begins to creep across the globe, a leading epidemiologist must stop the disease and uncover the conspiracy behind it before it’s too late.
Senai Embaye, Communications Specialist
The Power of Habit by Charlie Duhigg – Changing a habit, as well as triggering other good habits requires an unwavering belief and a plan to change bad routines in one’s loop. This book is a top choice for those interested in understanding this concept as well as the research findings and real-life examples.
Brooke Greene, Customer Success Specialist
My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella – What is it like when everyone around you seems to have a perfect life, but you’re struggling to stay afloat in less than ideal circumstances? Vibrant characters merge with brilliant storytelling for readers who want to find out.
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty – Alice wakes up on the floor of the gym with no memory of the last ten years. As she tries to unravel how her life has changed so much from the happily pregnant newlywed she still feels she is, she’ll wonder if starting over is even an option.
Visnu Ghosh, Customer and Market Insights Analyst
Beneath the Lion’s Gaze by Maaza Mengiste – At the start of a revolution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1974, one family wrestles with their choices and what the fight for survival and freedom will ultimately mean for their country.
Josh Hanft, Director of IT
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow – An obsessive DEA agent, brothers of drug cartel royalty, a callous hitman, and others among a brilliant cast of characters must a world of drugs you’ve never seen before, from New York City to Mexico City and beyond.
Richard Heinrich, Director of Marketing
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot – The real-life story of the woman behind the first ever ‘immortal’ cells, a critical tool in the development of countless treatments, which were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen – After the Fall of Saigon, a half-French, half-Vietnamese army captain builds a life in Los Angeles, while secretly acting as a double agent for communist leaders in Vietnam. It’s part gripping spy novel, part striking story of love and betrayal.
The Innocent by Ian McEwan – One British-American intelligence officer explores how far he’s willing to go as he works to infiltrate a Russian communications center from Cold War-era Berlin. Will the horror of a single evening show him how far is too far?
Glenn Lindo, Senior Systems Administrator
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek – Dig deep into the “why” of leadership, success, loyalty, and movements, in the book that answers the fundamental questions around what the key differences are between success and failure.
It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff – Successful management tips straight from the commander of a technologically advanced vessel. See through the eyes of the crew, communicate, focus discipline, and more to turn your own ship or business around.
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown – Pioneering researcher and noted thought leader Brené Brown explores the concept of vulnerability and how it impacts our interactions at every level. What if we had the courage to step into the arena of our next opportunity?
Nicole Lucero, Deputy Director
The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate by Fran Hauser – Advice and hard-won wisdom detail how to balance being empathetic with being decisive, how to rise above the double standards that can box you in, how to cultivate authentic confidence that projects throughout a room, and much more.
Whole Detox by Dr. Deanna Minich – This book offers personalized recommendations focused on diet, activity, and lifestyle. It will help you lose a few pounds, improve overall physical and emotional health, boost energy and find purpose and passion.
Katie McGonegal, Email Marketing Manager
Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty – Sam and Clementine are an ordinary yet busy married couple trying to balance work and family life. But disastrous events occur when the couple is invited by an old friend to a party, and lust, betrayal, and doubt are unleashed
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee – A reluctant gentleman’s Grand Tour is supposed to be a last hurrah with his best friend–even if his sister is along, too. But a year of debauchery turns into a harrowing manhunt after his reckless decision, and everything he holds dear is called into question.
Marquis Morrow, Junior Software Engineer
Mastery by Robert Greene – Unearth your own potential for mastery with this guide to apprenticeship and absorption of knowledge. The author studies with great minds such as Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci, and other Masters.
Mark Schwartz, Court Relations & Public Policy Manager
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan – A normal Italian teenager moves from smuggling Jews out of Nazi-occupied Milan to forced enlistment into the German army. When he’s recruited to drive for a Third Reich commander, he begins to spy for the Allies from the inside.
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks – This collection of short stories by the beloved actor are studies of character, brimming with life and asking questions about the human experience that are universally approachable.
Mike Stevens, Director of Sales
One Second After by William Forstchen – One man struggles to save his family after a powerful electro magnetic weapon sends the country back into the Dark Ages. This book has been discussed by Congress and the Pentagon as a realistic look at a potential weapon that everyone should read.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – A historical epic from noted thriller writer following the monk and the mason turned architect behind the construction of the greatest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Jorge Suarez
It Gets Better by Dan Savage and Terry Miller –This iconic book collects an array of essays and stories from celebrities and everyday people, encouraging LGBT students who were bullied at school that they are not alone and life will get better. Based on the original life-changing video series.
Lora Templeton, Senior Campaign Manager, California
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr. – A Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist traces the story of a reclusive heiress and the mystery surrounding her unoccupied houses and hermetic life.
Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France by Caroline Moorehead – The full story of the small French village and its inhabitants who helped save thousands of resisters, freemasons, communists, Jews, and more who were wanted by the Gestapo.
Alyssa Weis, Product Manager
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – When a teenager witnesses the death of her friend at the hands of a police officer, she must navigate the tragedy amidst a shattered balance of her two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she grew up and the fancy suburban prep school she now attends.
How to Win Friends & Influence People – Yes, really! If you’ve missed this ultimate guide to success in business and beyond, let this be the summer you finally give yourself the boosts found in Dale Carnegie’s classic.
That’s our list of everything we’ve been reading and loving lately.
What’s on your recommended list for summer reading? We would love to hear your suggestions in the comments!
