Our team at Vanderbloemen includes servant leaders, shepherds, stewards, and many, many readers. Whether you’re heading to a leadership conference or the beach, chances are one of our staff has a summer reading recommendation you’ll love.
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willick
“This was one of my favorite recent leadership reads!” says Senior Manager of Business Operations Missy Tuft. “Retired United States Navy SEAL Jocko Willink teaches that ‘leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.’ It’s a great way of looking at leadership.”
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley
At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times. Executive Search Recruiter Dawson Penshorn says, “This is a terrific book on a really important topic. Highly recommend.”
Bookworm Penshorn’s honorable mentions include Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From by Meredith Anne Miller, Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren, and his “old school pick,” In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen. “It’s complete gold and is becoming a yearly re-read for me,” he says.
Be the Unicorn by William Vanderbloemen
“I just started here,” says Marketing Intern Alex Boggs, “so I’m late to the party. But this is a great book with practical tips for becoming that much better in all that you do.”
The Perfect Story by Karen Eber
Senior Client Relations Manager Will Klotz says Eber’s book is, “A great book for ministry leaders to consider. It’s about leveraging the power of stories for connection and influence.”
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan
Executive Search Recruiter Ellie Mixon is reading this book designed to help readers, “Form a deeper relationship with God by understanding Sabbath’s true purpose, and learn how Sabbath allows us to live more fully into our status as free people, released from the grueling, incessant demands of life.” She says, “It’s just in time for summer.”
Falling Upward: A Spirituality of the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
Executive Search Consultant Chantel McHenry recommends Fr. Richard Rohr’s exploration of how we can reframe the second half of our lives as a time of great growth and purpose.
AI Snakeoil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor
William Vanderbloemen, our CEO, says “This book helped me understand a bit about AI on the whole, what it’s good at, and where it is currently lacking. The authors, on faculty at Princeton, point out that many current AI applications, especially in high-stakes domains like hiring, education, and criminal justice, are overhyped and lack the scientific rigor necessary for responsible use.” William also recommends …
Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier
“Bad Therapy discusses the growth of therapeutic practice, and explores how lack of regulation is creating a problem for our kids. Specifically, how poorly trained or unregulated therapists, flawed therapeutic practices, and the lack of accountability in the mental health industry can lead to ineffective—or even harmful—outcomes for patients,” says William.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
This instant classic helps readers find the balance between being a pushover and being a jerk. The secret? Radical candor. “She gives practical tools for people who want to be both clear and kind in their leadership,” says Marketing Intern Julia Chapman.
Work How You Are Wired by William Vanderbloemen
“I grabbed an advance reader’s copy as soon as they came to the office,” says COO Jennifer Paulson. “It’s a great book about finding the job you love by finding yourself.”
What’s on your TBR list this summer? Let us know, and happy reading!
