Between the covers: everything we read this summer
The sun loungers and long, lazy evenings of summer are starting to feel like a distant memory. But in the spirit of a new term (and worse weather) we’re sharing some of our favourite reads from the last few months. Â
It’s an eclectic list. From magical realism and detective novels to speculative nonfiction, Team Distinctive has burned through a pile of brilliant books. Hopefully our choices inspire your own autumn reading. Â
Katie Howick
I’ve done most of my reading on the daily commute this summer. It’s been less ‘beach reads’ and more ‘bus reads’. Having said that, Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams was enough to make me miss my stop. It’s a fascinating exposé of Meta’s inner workings, and details how a social platform built on idealism became of symbol of technology’s dark power. You’ll never look at Mark Zuckerberg in the same way again.Â
I also loved The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, a fictionalised account of a real historical figure – 20th-century German director G. W. Pabst. After fleeing Nazi Germany for America, he returns to care for his ailing mother and becomes a (reluctant) cog in Hitler’s propaganda machine. This book felt more like a twisted fairy-tale than a biography. It’s a brilliant depiction of moral cowardice in the face of authoritarianism.Â
I also raced through What Happens if Reform Wins by Peter Chappell. Described as a ‘nonfiction thriller’, this book charts the chaotic fallout of a Reform majority at the next general election. In a nutshell: things go wrong, fast. From a defunded BBC to devastating floods in Bristol, Chapell imagines how Reform’s policies would affect our everyday lives.Â
A recommended long-read is The Memory Maker by Tim Requarth. As a neuroscientist, Requarth explores how Sora helped to embed ‘deepfake’ memories in some of its users. A fascinating study of how AI can exploit human vulnerabilities.Â
Arianne Smart
The summer has flown by, and my reading highlights involved introducing my four-year-old to the world of Roald Dahl (we started with George’s Marvellous Medicine), devouring Bella Mackie’s What A Way To Go in a few days (highly recommend, a great read), or re-reading Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah (a favourite of my late-Mum’s). As the rainy nights close in, the priority now turns to the stack of non-fiction in my to be read pile.Â
What I have spent a lot of time on, though, is podcasts, tuning in on long summer dog walks or while tackling the never-ending household to do list. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day remains a firm favourite, and I highly recommend listening to Andy Burnham’s honest and open discussion about his career, family and ambitions; Hannah Murray’s extraordinary journey with a ‘healing organisation’ and mental health; and Charlie Mackesy on how grief powered his creativity.Â
I also regularly listen to When It Hits the Fan for media and PR insights, We Need To Talk for raw and honest celeb chats, and Off Menu for food, fun and nonsense.Â
Emma Beavis
Over the summer, I’ve tried to take more of a focus on consuming literature that follows themes of well-being and positive change. Sometimes it can be hard to navigate through a world that feels big and complex, so taking a calmer approach to the content I absorb definitely helps! Â
I started a new book called Make Life Happier by Mark Williamson, the founder of Action for Happiness, which includes practical tips for being more mindful, present and how to improve your own mental well-being and the well-being of those around you. Â
Action for Happiness has been a part of my life since 2020 when I found their resources useful during Covid and if you haven’t come across them yet, I’d definitely recommend having a look at some of their webinars or even their daily affirmation notifications.Â
Alongside this, I’ve also been reading articles around climate change, with a focus on what individual impact we can make to help our natural world and how to get a grasp of climate anxiety, by channelling it into actionable small efforts.Â
As we know, visuals, illustrated articles and guides can be a fantastic vessel for communicating complex or emotionally-charged topics – making them easier to digest and understand. Here’s a few of my favourites from this summer:Â
Ryan Devlin
I’ve taken to doing most of my reading during the evenings, as it’s miles better for switching off the mind than scrolling through the phone, right? It’s been a bit of a mix this summer, too, as it’s mood dependent on what I read or listen to.Â
A regular go to for me is a short business fable called Who Moved My Cheese, by Dr Spencer Johnson. It focuses on four characters – two mice (Sniff and Scurry) and two small people (Hem and Haw) – searching for cheese in a maze, and it illustrates how people react to change and why adapting quickly can lead to better outcomes. Â
As someone who has experienced a fair bit of change recently, particularly moving from one end of the country to the other, this story helped me as I set up a new life in a new location. If you’re experiencing change in any way, it’s a must read.Â
From a built environment perspective, this summer I was hooked on All In: How We Build a Country That Works, by Lisa Nandy MP. As a values-led engagement practitioner this resonates with me, as it highlights how by giving communities a stake in the outcome, finding strength in our differences of opinion, and by rewiring the relationship between people and government, we can realise the potential the country has by working together. Â
And finally, the book I’m currently working on is No Plan B, by Lee Child and his son, Andrew Child. In this adventure, Reacher finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time (again!), as he uncovers a far-reaching conspiracy after witnessing a woman being pushed under a bus, which the authorities label a suicide. If you’re into the Reacher series, or even the films, get yourself on the books.Â
Ben Lowndes
I’m a dreadfully slow reader and always have a book on the go. These tend to cover leadership, business, politics, 1980s and 90s culture and football.Â
I’m also increasingly into fantastic writing on Substack, where we have a steadily growing presence – see various sites we follow here. Â
The book I choose for this post has a personal connection with the team, while also being a tremendously fulfilling read: Good Journeys, by our friend Ben Veal. Ben is a fellow PR professional, based in the South West. He’s a superb writer who cares deeply about the world around him.  Â
Published earlier this year, his book shares observations from special people who have interesting things to say about purpose and life. I was delighted to join his book launch and receive a copy this summer and read it over a few sittings. Â
It’s an uplifting read and a timely reminder for me of why what we do matters. Â
Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.
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