Book Recommendations from our Executive Team
With the New Year celebrations dying down, we are all left with our exciting (but sometimes daunting) personal resolutions for 2023. Some of us are trying to find ourselves in the gym more, others just eating a vegetable once a day. But most commonly, a lot of us find ourselves wanting to read more often. Whether it is one book a month or one book every 3 months, reading more frequently is one of the most common resolutions people make every year.
That being said, it can be difficult to actually find books to add to that long list. Sometimes, a good book recommendation can go a really long way! So, we took it upon ourselves to get some for all you avid readers within our company, and ask our very own Executive Team for their favorite and current reads!
Feel free to write your own favorites in the comments below for your coworkers to check out.
Donna Preiss | Chief Executive Officer
““I love reading! Recently, it seems that I am obsessed with the World War II era.””
Most of the story takes place in Saint - Malo which Kirk and I visited this past summer. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015. Netflix is producing it as a series.
It is a true story of this famous little bookstore in Paris that has Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce , Sylvia Beach and other famous authors hanging out.
It was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book in 2013, and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
Great story about a woman who leaves a jerk husband and goes to live in Brittainy and finds a wonderful new life. Brittainy is an out way place on the coast of France. Kirk and I rode bicycles there last summer.
Kirk Preiss | Chief Fun Officer
““With regard to reading, I am a nerd and tend to read Math Books and Business books. Donna is the Book Reader in our family and she is always reading a number of popular novels that have nothing to do with business, philosophy, astronomy... etc. so that’s how we complement each other.””
I also subscribe to Blinkist. Blinkist is like Cliff Notes. It summarizes all the main points of a book in 30 Minutes.
John Preiss | President
Adam Byrley | Chief Operating Officer
““I absolutely love history, especially American history, and a crime thriller that isn’t too dark and depressing. Both right up my alley! I usually have two going at the same time so I’m going to give you both.””
I've enjoyed reading how Washington forged a nation by being humble, a good listener, and completely selfless in a time that was wrought by discontent and disagreement on the path forward.
I love this series because it's a fun detective story and usually ends with a positive twist, with the good guys seemingly prevailing in the end.
Chad West | Chief Financial Officer
““I loved this book because it takes real world examples in today’s environment and shares principles of how to apply them to a variety of situations.””
Susan Folckemer | Chief Acquisition & Development Officer
““For me, it’s all about mystery, and always getting the bad guy! That and inspirational reads.””
Life is about a series of choices, flexibility, adaptation and the moral compass to navigate.
Kyle Barger | Executive Vice President of Construction Management
Brian Reid | Senior Vice President of Information Technology
Sara Clark | Senior Vice President of Property Management
““Recently, our PML team read one of Jon Gordon’s (speaker in Utah) books called The Energy Bus. I highly recommend it!””
I thoroughly enjoyed it and its ability to give me a refreshed perspective on how I view things in daily life, both personally and professionally. It's a quick/easy read but impactful in many ways. The book offers sound advice to help be more successful while also demonstrating the importance of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones in any situation.
Sally de Sousa | Vice President of Human Resources
““When I do read, my genres of choice would be political thrillers, law enforcement thrillers or mysteries.””
