Today a reader, tomorrow a leader

At Guild , we believe in the potential of life-long learning to enrich lives. In that spirit, I wanted to share the words in the article title from Margaret Fuller, an American journalist, editor, and early supporter of providing education and employment opportunities for women.

This year, we continue Guild's tradition of sharing book recommendations and gifting every Guilder a book of their choice. Below is a list of recommendations from the executive team that we hope you will enjoy.?

Bijal Shah

• Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina. This may be a children’s book, but it offers timeless insights on do’s and don’ts in business and entrepreneurship. After reading it, and frequenting our local farmer’s market, my daughter was inspired to launch her first venture: a juice (aka lemonade) stand. Over many bedtimes we discussed concepts introduced in the book like value versus cost-based pricing, meeting the customer where they are, and having grit and persistence. I’m not going to lie, the best part of reading the book was the action coming out of it: building our juice stand together -- a fun and memorable experience for our whole family!?
• The Complete History & Strategy of Costco, Acquired Podcast (Listen Here ??). This year, podcasts have been my primary mode of knowledge consumption, so I want to share one that left a lasting impression on me. At just over three hours, this podcast tells the fascinating story of Costco’s rise from modest beginnings to becoming one of the most admired retailers in the world. The podcast explores key decisions behind its success—like its membership model, streamlined product selection, and strong commitment to employees—offering valuable lessons wrapped in an engaging narrative. I encourage you to listen, reflect, and consider how we might apply these lessons to elevate our work every day. Also, as a sidenote, I’ve found every Acquired Podcast I’ve had time to listen to deeply engaging and enlightening.?

Alana Brandes

• The Women, by Kristin Hannah. I’ll be honest, I had every intention of devouring tons of best-selling academic, business, and self-development literature while on parental leave - I even made myself a lofty list pulling from Terrence, Rohan, and other voracious readers’ top choices. But once that baby came, ALL I wanted was to curl up with feel-good fiction and my favorite genre - psychological thrillers. If you’re anything like me, the escapism of a good mystery thriller can’t be beat - and I spent many nap times flipping the (Kindle) pages of Shari Lapena, Lucy Foley, Karin Slaughter, and Freida McFadden. During this special, emotional and often vulnerable leave, I found myself leaning deep into my female friendships in ways I hadn’t done in a while. Which is why The Women, a historical fiction novel by Kristin Hannah, really hit the mark for me. The Women follows a young, bold nurse who starts her career tending to soldiers in the Vietnam War and forms sacred friendships in the midst of horrific death and destruction. It follows her back to the States where she struggles with anti-war sentiment and PTSD, and once again turns to her female companions for life support.?

Chris Garber

• Outlive, by Peter Attia. This book kick started a personal focus on my own health this past year, and I found it to be thought provoking and practical. It centers around the science and medicine behind increasing your “health span” - maximizing the years of your life where you can live unencumbered by disease or physical ailments, working backwards from your values and how you want to be able to spend your time in the last 10 years of your life. Through a focus on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental health Peter Attia lays out a modern formula for a personalized, proactive approach to managing your health to help you not just live longer - but live better.

Dan Haley

• Elon Musk, by Walter Isaacson. Reason 1: Even before he was tapped to head up a potentially massive government efficiency/cost reduction effort, Elon Musk was by most any measure one of the most influential and fascinating people on earth. Whatever you know (or think you know) about him, the understanding that this extremely readable, well-written profile affords is valuable to understanding what makes the guy tick. Reason 2: Every single person who has read this book on my recommendation has come back to me with a combination of “thank you” and “there are so many things about him that I had wrong.” Some of those people came off the book appreciating Musk more, some came off of it despising him more intensely, but, again, every one of them has thanked me for the rec. It’s a compelling, timely read.
• Wool, by Hugh Howey. Reason 1: Terrence recommended it to me, and Terrence recommends good books. Reason 2: This book is the source material for the Apple TV series “Silo.” If you enjoy that show, the book (and the subsequent two sequels) offers so much more depth, character, and world–building. It’s dystopian sci-fi for sure, so if that isn’t your thing, ignore me (and Terrence). But mostly, Wool is a compelling twist on some increasingly-possible what-ifs as the pace of technological development around the world continues to accelerate.??

Jonathan Marek

• Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, by Alison Fragale. A “likeable badass” is both warm and assertive, high status and high power. My entire life I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by likeable badass women: my mom, grandmother, wife, former (and current!) bosses, and mentees. I believe we need more in the world. Beyond philosophy and stories, the book gives practical, specific, research-driven tips that will help you increase likeability and assertiveness. And while written for women, it isn’t just for women. The techniques are relevant for everyone!

Marty Martinez

• The Accidental Super Power: 10 Years On, by Peter Zeihan. Peter is a geopolitical analyst who articulates America’s unique advantages in geography, demographics, and energy independence, solidifying its status as a global superpower. He explains how the U.S. shaped the modern globalized economy after WWII, using free trade and alliances to counter Cold War adversaries. The Bretton Woods system fueled global industrialization and population growth, but as demographic pyramids invert in nations like Japan, Germany, Russia, and China, the geopolitical balance is shifting. With the Cold War over, the U.S. is stepping back from its role as global security provider, triggering the largest geopolitical realignment in 80 years. Zeihan's forecasts link macro-trends to key current events, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU dynamics, American populism, and global trade shifts. This edition reconciles his 2014 predictions with recent developments.

Rebecca Biestman

• Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See. This multi-generational novel that takes place in 15th century China is part historical fiction, part mystery, part love story, but above all, centers around the importance of female friendship. Women across almost 100 years form tight bonds that help them overcome the bounds of tradition in order to lead lives of importance and meaning. You’ll learn a lot, probably cry a lot, but most of all be in awe of the strength and resilience of these women.
• We Will Rock Our Classmates, by Ryan T. Higgins. This children’s book is very popular in the Biestman household and tells the story of Penelope, a T Rex who has aspirations of being a rock n roll star in the school talent show. Penelope will show you and your kids that sometimes sharing who you are can be show-stoppingly scary, but that it’s also always worth it!

Rohan Chandran

• Had a lot of must-reads this year, and they’ll all be on my substack by early January when I publish my annual review (here’s 2023’s review in the meantime: https://substack.com/home/post/p-140052530).
• Fiction: Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee. There are many themes that are surfaced and explored in Pachinko, but as a Third Culture Kid it was the struggle around identity and belonging (am I Korean? Japanese? Both? None? Does it matter? Do I want it to matter?) that resonated deeply. It’s a four-generation piece of historical fiction that is fluid in pacing and structure, and yet kept me wanting to read one more chapter before putting it down for the night.
• Non-Fiction: The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson. Even more powerful than I imagined it would be. Wilkerson writes beautifully and evocatively, and tells a story that manages to lay bare the realities and lasting consequences of systemic oppression at an all-too tangible individual level, whilst also celebrating the possibilities that the human spirit enables in countering that. We have a long, long way to go - and if you’re looking to further your understanding and be part of a continued sustainable transformation, read this.?

Terrence Cummings

• Ours Was the Shining Future, by David Leonhardt. This book traces the history of the American dream, focusing on the post-World War II period, while also examining the forces that have since undermined it. Our company is about helping millions to achieve or hold onto the American dream, and understanding its history is essential to preserving its future.
• Chain-Gang All-Stars, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. This novel follows incarcerated individuals who fight for their freedom in a brutal, televised, fight-to-the-death-style competition. It’s a rare take on social justice, reality TV, and capitalism…packaged with the intensity of the movie Gladiator.? Entertaining with unique social commentary.?

Now, I’d love to hear from you:

• What books made your 2024 unforgettable?
• Did you come across any life-changing reads or listens?
• Which stories or lessons stuck with you long after the final sentence?

Drop your recommendations in the comments below. Let’s create a little book club of inspiration together. Who knows? Your suggestion might just be someone else’s next must-read.