books we're reading right now
Need a break from that second season of who even knows what show? We polled the Rhone team and put together a list of what we are currently reading and what you should be reading. So set down the remote, take off those blue light glasses, and let’s start reading.
1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
If you haven't read it already, you've likely heard of it. The Alchemist tells the story of an Andalusian shepherd boy, Santiago, who wants nothing more than to travel the world to find the greatest treasure. It is a story filled with pearls of wisdom and reminds us all to follow out dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.
2. Undaunted Courage by Stephen A. Ambrose
Though a little dense, Undaunted Courage is a complete account of the Lewis & Clark expedition exploring the then-unknown parts of the Louisiana Territory in a quest to find the route connecting the East to the Pacific Ocean. The rich detail of the landscapes and characters throughout not only delivers a nostalgia for a time gone by but also offers adventure and escape from current life sheltered in place.
3. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Quickly becoming an American Classic, American Dirt tells the story of Lydia Quixano Pérez, her son Luca, and her journalist husband. It takes place in the Mexican city of Acapulco where Lydia runs a bookstore. When she and her family become entangled in the drug cartels because of an article written by her husband, she and her son are forced to flee, becoming migrants and leaving behind their comfortable middle-class lifestyle.
4. Nine Stories by JD Salinger
Nine Stories is just as it says: Nine stories written by one of the great 20th century authors, JD Salinger. Read them all or take your pick:
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A Perfect Day for Bananafish
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Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut
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Just Before the War with the Eskimos
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The Laughing Man
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Down at the Dinghy
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For Esmé--with Love and Squalor
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Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes
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De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period
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Teddy
5. The Brain's Way of Healing by Norman Doidge, MD
The Brain Way of Healing dives deep into how the incredible process of neuroplastic healing really works. Norman Doidge delves into cases of healing from chronic pain or learning disorders being normalized all resolved by awakening the brain's capacity to heal itself.
6. The Jordan Rules by Sam Smith
If you are loving Netflix/ESPN's latest Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance", then this is right up your alley. The Jordan Rules takes gives us a behind the scenes look at Jordan's career and his time with the Chicago Bulls.
7. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
The Moviegoer is essentially a story of salvation. It chronicles the life of Binx Bolling, a stockbroker who lives quietly in suburban New Orleans. He has a love of movies and let's life float on by. But in a bizarre turn of events during Mardi Gras, Binx seeks new meaning in life, meaning that couldn't be found in the movies.
8. Burn Your Portfolio by Michael Janda
Burn Your Portfolio is perfect for current or aspiring designers. It dives into what they don't teach you in design school, but seemingly should. It goes through real-world practices, dos and don'ts, and unwritten rules of the trade.
9. Rocket Men by Craig Nelson
Historian Craig Nelson takes us through the often unheard of details of man's first trip to the moon through interviews, 23,000 pages of NASA oral histories, declassified documents on the race to get to space, Nelson's Rocket Men is an exciting and somewhat unspoken tale of the USA's push to get to the moon and what happened when we got there.
10. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
You can never go wrong with the classics. Many of us have heard and have probably quoted Thoreau, but have you sat down and really spent time with his work? Here's your chance. Walden captures Thoreau's observations about nature in a way that few could. He has a way of turning even the simplest thing into the most beautiful.
