--- title: "We Asked, You Answered: What Are Your Recommended Summer Reads?" id: "55687" type: "post" slug: "we-asked-you-answered-what-are-your-recommended-summer-reads" published_at: "2023-07-20T19:00:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T18:16:12+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/07/20/we-asked-you-answered-what-are-your-recommended-summer-reads/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/07/20/we-asked-you-answered-what-are-your-recommended-summer-reads.md" excerpt: "From fiction to business topics, association professionals are reading a little bit of everything this summer. Read on for some book recommendations from your colleagues." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Leadership" - "reading" - "recommendations" - "summer" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » We Asked, You Answered: What Are Your Recommended Summer Reads? Looking for something to read on the beach or lake, in the backyard, or even on a plane this summer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether you like fiction or something more directly related to your work, here are some recommendations from fellow readers. ### Lynn Grone Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness American Gastroenterological Association *The House in the Cerulean Sea* by T.J. Klune. It is ultimately a story about inclusion told masterfully through the experience of a lonely government worker who finds an unlikely family. ### Heidi Ellis Senior Director, Membership and Partnership Strategy International Society for Technology in Education *The Business of Belonging: How to Make Community Your Competitive Advantage* by David Spinks. It provides good research and actionable takeaways to create, build, and leverage your community to help achieve your organization’s business goals. ### Lynette Pitt Executive Director North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys *Swimming Between Worlds* by Elaine Neil Orr is a story about the internal struggle of living up to the expectations of family and society during the start of the civil rights era in the American South. An excellent read that in some ways resonates again today. ### **Kristen Rayner** Program and Marketing Manager, Member Experience Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association *Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know* by Adam Grant. Summer is a great time to recharge your creative thinking, and this book will help you do that. A beautiful reminder to engage and re-engage, particularly with your thoughts and assumptions. Spring cleaning for your brain! ### Christopher Mundschenk, CAE Executive Director Building Service Contractors Association International *The Infinite Game* by Simon Sinek. This is a great book that reminds you that most organizations think with a finite approach, but each of us can choose to act with an infinite mindset. Simon’s books are so well-researched and written; they are loaded with illustrations and stories that reinforce his points. One of the key takeaways that sticks with me is the mindset of managers at the Four Seasons Hotel and the difference between, “How can I get the most out of my people?” and “How can I create an environment where my people can do their natural best?” (DaniloAndjus/iStock) [Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Tags: [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#reading](https://associationsnow.com/tag/reading/) [#recommendations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/recommendations/) [#summer](https://associationsnow.com/tag/summer/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents Practical AI-How Associations Are Putting It To WorkJanuary 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/01/29/associations-now-presents-practical-ai-how-associations-are-putting-it-to-work/) - [PodcastWhy Associations Must Rethink Learning and Community TogetherMarch 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/why-associations-must-rethink-learning-and-community-together/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2023%2F07%2F20%2Fwe-asked-you-answered-what-are-your-recommended-summer-reads%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !