What I'm reading this summer

With summer in full swing, I'm finally starting to tackle my warm weather reading list. For the second year in a row, I thought I'd share what's on my bookshelf for the coming weeks. The works cover a wide range of topics and genres – from historical fiction, to espionage thrillers, to nonfiction studies of our country and our world – and I look forward to finding the time (hopefully) to read all of them:

My nonfiction picks:

• The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard – Based on a true story, this book details the history of the "Flying Gang," a group of 18th century pirates in the Bahamas whose self-made democracy perished at the hands of Captain Woodes Rogers. As a former history major in college, I'm fascinated to learn more about the group's unexpected approach to self-government and the political atmosphere that drove both their system's success and collapse.
•  The Soul of America by Jon Meacham – Released against the backdrop of today's increasingly complex and uncertain political environment, Meacham highlights different critical moments in our nation's history and illustrates that there is still reason for optimism about our country's future. I focused much of my undergraduate studies on 19th and 20th century U.S. history, and I find Meacham's approach to identifying recurring themes and patterns very appealing. I also recently viewed the stirring eulogy he gave at former First Lady Barbara Bush's funeral and have been eager to read more of Meacham's work.
• The Perfect Weapon by David E. Sanger – In his nonfiction work, New York Times national security correspondent David Sanger explores how cyberwarfare is rapidly changing today's geopolitical landscape – an essential topic for any modern corporate leader to understand.

In addition to those selections, I'll also be indulging in a few fictional thrillers, each of which is the kind of summertime page-turner I enjoy:

• The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille – This novel follows protagonist Daniel "Mac" MacCormick, a U.S. Army combat veteran whose work trip to Cuba takes an exciting, dangerous turn when he learns that his client's grandfather stashed away $60 million before fleeing Castro's revolution.
• The Other Woman by Daniel Silva – Last year, I read Daniel Silva's House of Spies, and this year, I'm reading Silva's latest work. The book follows the twisting story of Gabriel Allon, an art restorer and assassin who's tasked with waging a war against Russian forces, along with the woman who's keeping their secrets.
• Spymaster by Brad Thor – This Cold War thriller centers on Scot Harvath, a talented counterterrorism operative, whose mission sends him into the heart of Europe's shadowy and deadly international intelligence circles.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comment and share your recommendations below.