How Women Rise – Break The 12 Habits Holding You Back From Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen & Marchall Goldsmith

As a leader of a female-dominated company in a female-dominated industry, why so many agencies are led by men has always been an issue I have wondered about. If I am going to be able to assist the female leaders at OH Partners to become the amazing industry leaders I know they can be, I thought I had better get educated. This book showed me some of the obstacles and unique challenges our female leaders face and I hope over time I can help many of them go further and lead more fully with this wisdom in hand. – Matt Owens

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

The title is clever but misleading. It’s actually about what to care about and what to let go. I love the storytelling and writing style of Mark Manson. I have ADD and it kept my attention. Finished it in three days! – Scott Harkey

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

This book is a poetic, mysterious and thrilling novel about two fraternal twins and their childhood experiences in the small area of Ayemenem, India. It’s a somewhat challenging read because of the non-sequential narrative and poetic liberties the author takes, but a can’t-put-it-down book because of the stories regarding love, loss and the turbulent history of rural India. Highly recommend to any Lit nerds like me! – Sam Lowy

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

Ever get stuck before a project even starts? Trying to reduce procrastination? Need tips on how to get creativity flowing? Look no further. Kurtz keeps it real in this short but visual read about process and how to combat perfection/procrastination. – Maddie Lydon

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan

This memoir is about William Finnegan’s surfing life. It was captivating and the perfect summer read. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to trade in your car for a surfboard and never look back. – Lia Fondrisi

Lean In: Women, Work, and The Will To Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

This was a fantastic read and I could 100% relate to her story. It describes how sometimes we are our own worst enemy and we unintentionally hold ourselves back. It’s a great mix of data, research and personal stories in Sheryl’s own quest to the top. Not only does it help to identify the problem, but also offers advice, techniques and a sense of mentorship. If you’re a woman and looking for personal growth and empowerment, pick this up today! – Stephanie Walaszek

Creative Quest by Questlove

When I heard Questlove put out a new book about the creative process, I signed up for a free Amazon Prime trial membership just so it would get shipped to me faster. Creative Quest is a guide to the role of creativity in everyday life and my favorite part of it is that Questlove draws from his lifetime of experiences to offer insights into how to build the best creative life, and how to let the best creative life build you. – Justin Yee

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

If you love Chris Colfer from Glee, then you will love his six-book series called The Land of Stories. Well, I think you will love it regardless if you don’t know who Chris Colfer is. The book is a great way to escape into the fairytale world and go on countless adventures with many beloved characters we all grew up with and some new characters you will wish you grew up knowing about, like Trollbella. Once you start reading this series you will not want to put it down. Enjoy ✨ – Paige Buffington

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

There are fascinating lessons about what it means to truly be creative. Many people believe that creativity is reserved for the arts, but there are many ways to express your own imagination and individuality to build something impactful for both you and the world around you. – Hillary Houghton

A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic by John Ferling

It was an age of fascinating leaders and difficult choices, of grand ideas eloquently expressed and of epic conflicts bitterly fought. Now comes a brilliant portrait of the American Revolution, one that is compelling in its prose, fascinating in its details, and provocative in its fresh interpretations. From a creative standpoint, don’t we all take that leap in the dark when we create? And that leap (of faith) is what makes all the difference in the world. – Frank Ippolito

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

We all like to think that we know what makes us happy in life, but Daniel Gilbert is here to remind us that we actually don’t. In his book, “Stumbling on Happiness,” Gilbert discusses some traits of the human psyche that allow an individual to remember the past, predict the future, and experience the present. If you have ever found yourself saying “it seemed like a good idea at the time” or “what in the world was I thinking?” this book will help you understand your inevitable poor decision making. – Alexis Cantu

How Green was my Valley by Richard Llewelyn

This novel tells the story of the Morgans, a family from a small mining community in one of the South Wales Valleys. The story is told from the perspective of the youngest Morgan son, Huw, who at 50 years old and preparing to leave his home reminisces about his childhood and the valley he grew up in. This novel is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I’ve ever read. Though the 1947 movie adaptation won an Academy Award for best picture, the real magic lies in the pages of lyrical storytelling by Richard Llewelyn. – Nikole Unterreiner

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Watership Down is a timeless tale of friendship, courage, fantasy and humanity’s impact on the natural world. Told through the narrative of rabbits, this story will warm your heart, break your heart, and inspire you to be a better person. Bonus! BBC and Netflix are working on a short TV series of Watership Down to be released in late 2018. – Hannah Steward