Reading list
Someone recently said to me, “I’m only as good as the last book I read.” Poignant words that got me thinking.
Whenever I’m stalled out, picking up a book usually provides the needed inspiration to get my creative juices flowing again. So what works have I checked off my reading list lately?
- Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach
- The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
- Groundswell: Winning a World Transformed by Social Technologies, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
- Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion, by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Home Town, by Tracy Kidder
Eclectic yes, but each work tells a story in a strong voice, which really appeals to me as a reader and helps me overcome those moments when the muses seem to be taking time off. You may have a valuable message or earth-shattering news to share, but if you don’t engage me with the right tone, vocabulary and cadence, count me out – it won-t hold my interest and I’m not going to get it.
While the list above includes two literary journalism pieces, a memoir and two non-fiction/instructional books, they all have one thing in common; they are centered on a personal perspective conveyed in an interesting, up-tempo, consistent voice. I couldn’t keep myself from turning the pages and that’s how you want your messages to be consumed, don’t you?
