PerkettPR Staff Picks for Must-Read Summer Books

It’s safe to say that communications professionals are pretty voracious readers. After all, our business is staying on top of and in the mix with massive amounts of content, so there’s more than a good chance that our eyeballs track back and forth across screens and pages for at least part of each day.

But when was the last time you really read something? No, we’re not talking about Google alerts, news scans, blogs or client placements – but a good old-fashioned (or digitized for our Kindle/iPad contingent!) book.

Summer is the perfect time to make a dent in your personal library – and if you want a little inspiration, check out what’s on our must-read list while squeezing in some vacation time before the kids head back to school:

Professional/Business Reading

• Content Marketing: Think Like a Publisher by Rebecca Lieb: “It’s all about the content these days, and her insights from our recent interview with her made me want to learn more.”
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain: “As a society – and especially in our industry – we tend to undervalue introverts. But as one myself, I’m excited to see another speak up in favor of a different angle and approach to team dynamics.”
• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg: “Not necessarily because I am dying to read it, but because I am a little skeptical. Need to find out for myself!”
• Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi: “It’s always good to brush up on networking skills, so I’m looking forward to Keith’s insights on how to turn conferences, meetings and casual contacts into opportunities for mutual success.”
• Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, EBooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman: “We all know that content is king, and each brand has the opportunity to be its own publisher. I’m looking for tips on how to help create bold content that will resonate with audiences.”

Personal/Pleasure Reading

• South of Broad by Pat Conroy: “Not a quick beach read, but his stories about the south and all of its many charms are always a nice escape to somewhere warm and different. I really liked Beach Music, too, and would recommend that first to see if you like Conroy’s style.”
• Inferno by Dan Brown: “Brown’s books speak to my appreciation of history and my interest in the impact of religion on society and culture, as well as my (and everyone else’s) fascination with a good conspiracy theory.”
• The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins: “I’m a little slow to the party with these, but better late than never! They’re chock-full of cliffhangers, so I’m on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what Katniss Everdeen will face next.”
• Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture by Andy Cohen: “I’m reading it on the iPad and absolutely loving it…super funny!”
• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: “I quickly read through this and book two (Shadow of Night) and am now eagerly anticipating the next in the series. A history scholar and teacher, Harkness combines her passion and curiosity to create an amazing, rich story and uniquely compelling characters that stay with you long after the book ends.”
• The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer: “If you’re looking for more intellectually stimulating material…I just finished it, and it’s terrific!”
• Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich: “I’m hooked on them and am eagerly awaiting number 20. Any book that has you laughing out loud is better than therapy as far as I’m concerned!”

If one of your favorite books didn’t make the list, let us know. What are some of your recommended summer reads?