Summer Reading: The Books That Are Unexpectedly Enlightening

@TheBookMaven: “I was born with a reading list I will never finish.” -- Maud Casey

If you are anything like me, you are buying five-to-ten more books than you can possibly read at any one time. There is so much to learn and be entertained by and so little time to do it. Luckily, with summer comes beach and pool time and more of an opportunity to crack open a great book. I use the word “crack” intentionally, as we have all become addicted to the crack of social media (thank goodness, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this!). But for now, close out of LinkedIn and pick up one of these splendid reads – you’ll be glad you did:

1. The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy (by David Nasaw): This is the unfettered biography of Joseph P. Kennedy, the progenitor of the Kennedy clan. He lived one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century. He touched Wall Street, Hollywood, politics and philanthropy in an astonishing way. There is success and tribulation, but also pathos and the trials of losing sons and daughters. Joe Kennedy was the first head of the S.E.C. and we still feel his influence today in the markets.

One of biggest champions of the pre-WWII appeasement movement, Kennedy had to step out of the spotlight as he was trying to nurture the political careers of his remaining sons. There is power, sex, family, achievement, loss, political triumph and the exposition of a man who, despite being among the richest in America and having a president and a senator as sons, never fully felt he belonged.

2. Gone Girl (by Gillian Flynn): Always make sure there is some fiction on your reading list. The best fiction writers often have the best understanding of the human condition, our emotions and interactions. Aside from all of that, reading fiction is fun. Gillian Flynn will reach into your brain and twist it a few times, all the while clutching your heart. This is a story about relationships between couples. It is often said that the difference between crazy and normal are not thoughts but actions. Here in this fast-paced read you will find an exhilarating story that’s truly hard to put down.

3. Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie (by Andrew Carnegie): I personally love reading a memoir or autobiography as it is usually a person who is yearning not only to share their story, but to give all of us permanent nuggets of wisdom. It is sort of – “I figured out something in my life and before I go, I wanted to share it with you.” Carnegie's book is loaded with these types of ideas and concepts. It is a tale that is over 100 years old, but I guarantee if you read it you will find things that are applicable to you in today’s world.

"No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it," is one of the lines that really resonated with me. Another is: "People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” Trust me on this one – it is a life changing read.

Whether with these or others, make sure to carve out a little time to devour a few great reads before Labor Day. It will make you more interesting at all of those barbecues and cocktail parties. And besides all of that, it's just great fun.

For 50+ more summer favorites from Influencers, check out the full Influencer Summer Guide here. Photo: Suzana Profeta/E+/Getty Images