Your summer reading list 🌴📚

👋
Hi there,

Books. We all read them… or we all say we do to score some extra brownie points with our friends.

One thing's for sure: while it’s hard to resist the pull of social media and streaming platforms, some good ol’ fashioned reading is actually really good for us. But when browsing through the endless selection out there, how are you ever supposed to pick the perfect book?

Whether you’re looking for a list of books to read or pretend to read, we’ve compiled the ✨ultimate summer reading list✨. Rather than falling back on the classic BehSci books (you know the ones), we wanted to expand our horizons to fully encompass the diverse range of perspectives both inside and outside our organization. 

So throw a towel over your shoulder, slap on some sunscreen, and get your beach bags ready. We’re about to dive into the literary waves of Book Bay. 

Until next time,

Charlotte & Gabrielle and beach bibliophiles at TDL ⛱️

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Intention: The Surprising Psychology of High Performers

By Dan Pilat, Dr. Sekoul Krastev, and Mike Ross

Intention is our superpower as a species. It anchors us in the currents of time, turning our deepest hopes into shared triumphs. This book, written by TDL's co-founders (shameless plug), combines inspiring stories about unlikely high performers—think 80-year-old nuns running marathons—and evidence from the bleeding edge of behavioral science to propose a toolkit for learning intention. Not as a fluffy concept, but as five very trainable skills. Find out what they are here.

CAITLIN'S PICK

Vi

By Kim Thúy

“A short yet generous invitation into the history and culture of Vietnam, lived out through the personal experiences of a young woman and her family who find refuge in Québec. This book was beautifully written and raw all at once. Touching, transporting, and enriching—Kim Thúy’s other novels are now on my reading list!”

— Caitlin Spence, Consultant

CYNTHIA'S PICK

The Ape that Understood the Universe

By Steve Stewart-Williams

“Given my line of work, it's no surprise that I've always found human behavior enigmatic, to say the least. Humans are just strange creatures, aren't they? So, when I stumbled upon a book that asked me to imagine myself as an alien scientist trying to understand our species, I was sold! Starting with this mindset, Stewart-Williams explores topics like altruism (or is it?), parental love, romantic relationships, and even religion, blending evolutionary psychology and cultural evolutionary theory.”

— Dr. Cynthia Borja, Project Leader

DAN'S PICK

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI

By Ethan Mollick

“Wharton professor of management Ethan Mollick is a superstar among directors at TDL due to his fantastic ability to dissect how GenAI affects education, business, and innovation by offering practical perspectives on the latest research in the field (both peer-reviewed and pre-prints). His book Co-Intelligence is probably the best guide we currently have on how knowledge workers should be using AI to create more impactful work.”

— Dan Pilat, Managing Director

HECTOR'S PICK

The Obstacle Is the Way

By Ryan Holiday 

“I find this book to be a practical guide into how to deal with adversity. It highlights the value of changing your perspective and identifying the opportunity when any obstacle arises. Now, don't worry, this is not just a list of "to-do's" or a recipe book, it actually combines philosophy, history and modern world examples to help you build your own take on how to apply this in the real world. This book is a great companion for anyone wishing to build a resilient mindset.”

— Hector Alvarado, Managing Director

JUAN'S PICK

Childish Literature

By Alejandro Zambra

“In this hard-to-classify book, Alejandro Zambra writes about his experience as a new father. With simple, precise, and delicate prose, Zambra touches on generational differences in parenthood, kids' exposure to television and tablets, his son's poetic discoveries, and his reconciliation with his own father. A moving narration that seamlessly blends non-fiction, essay, short story, and poetry to make us think about parenthood. Every parent or person thinking about becoming one should read this book.”

— Juan Roa Duarte, Project Leader

MARAKI'S PICK

We Are So Much More: Integrating the 7 Dimensions of Success for Women Leaders to Thrive at Work and in Life

By Aster Angagaw

“This book resonated with me as a Black, working mother. Ethiopian author Aster Angagaw interviews women in executive positions, delving into how they overcame the many challenges they faced to reach where they are today, setting aside aspects of themselves like motherhood and leisure. Angagaw draws from her upbringing and admiration for her mother, interweaving personal anecdotes with statistical insights on women in the global market. I'd especially recommend this book to women climbing the ladder and organizations looking to make lasting impacts.”

— Dr. Maraki Kebede, Project Leader

MARIELLE'S PICK

An Anthropologist on Mars

By Oliver Sacks

“Non-fiction for fiction lovers, An Anthropologist on Mars seamlessly blends science and literature to recount seven paradoxical yet true tales of altered selves brought about by neurological chance—like a painter who loses his ability to perceive color, or a surgeon with Tourettes whose tics vanish when he is operating. These tales capture a unique aspect of humanity, yet serve as a beautiful reminder of our ability to persist and even flourish under altered or seemingly un-ideal conditions.”

— Marielle Montenegro, Managing Director

SEKOUL'S PICK

How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion

By David McRaney

“This book gives us a peak at how minds—and in particular minds that are typically considered unchangeable—change. The mix of science and real-world examples makes for a fresh read in a space with a lot of clutter.”

—  Dr. Sekoul Krastev, Managing Director

TURNEY'S PICK

Debt: The First 5000 Years

By David Graeber 

“A fascinating exploration of debt's role in shaping human history. Ideal for anyone interested in economics, anthropology, or social justice, Graeber's captivating narrative and profound insights challenge conventional wisdom and illuminate the deep connections between debt, power, and society.”

—  Turney McKee, Director

Here’s Max taking a quick break from his favorite read.