The days are long, temperatures are rising, and restless children are complaining of endless boredom. That can only mean one thing: Summer is here, and with it the chance to trade your desk for a beach chair and a great book. Just in time for the slow season, we have book recommendations that may help you pass these lazy days of summer.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
The book, the first volume of a Pulitzer Prize-winning trilogy, traces Roosevelt’s life from his early childhood in New York City through personal tragedies and his rise in politics, including his election as president in 1901. The book is part biography but also offers a portrait of American culture in the late 19th century during the Gilded Age, a period of concentrated power in political machines and corporations. Roosevelt laid the groundwork for the FDA, National Park Service, and the Panama Canal while his antitrust efforts earned him the nickname “Trust Buster.”
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey
For adventure seekers, The River of Doubt may be worth a read. After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever. This gripping adventure will place you beside Roosevelt’s crew, wanting to see what’s next.
1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History
Many have heard of the 1929 stock market crash as the catalyst of the Great Depression. Yet, few know what led to the crash or its economic, legislative, and regulatory repercussions. Andrew Ross Sorkin, a New York Times columnist and cable television host, traces the stock market boom, crash, and its aftermath. Rather than writing a straight historical narrative, Sorkin weaves together vivid portrayals of key figures who lived through the period. To do so, he drew from personal diaries, newspaper articles, architectural records, and even Federal Reserve Board minutes of the period. A great teacher can make history come alive, and the author does a great job of putting the events of 1929 into context, weaving in the points of view and experiences of bankers, investors, and politicians of the day.
Theo of Golden
The self-published novel, which in June topped the New York Times bestseller list, follows a newcomer to a small town who discovers pencil portraits of local residents hanging in a coffee shop. The stranger quietly buys and returns the portraits to the people they depict in exchange for their personal story. Through these conversations and small acts of kindness, he transforms the lives of those around him. The biggest takeaway is… we’d all be a little bit better off if we’d listen more and talk less, a worthy skill many of us can relearn.
These are books recommended by Heritage associates, clients, and other ardent readers. Full disclosure: we have no relationship nor any financial arrangements with the authors, publishers, or retailers. Simply put, these are books we thought you might enjoy. Please enjoy your summer.
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