Great Books
Looking for a little insight? The following is a list of books I have personally read and found helpful in my own path towards becoming more articulate. Pick up whichever copy* (or copies plural) strikes your fancy best.
Love + Work: How to Find What You Love, Love What You Do, and Do It for the Rest of Your Life
by Marcus Buckingham
This is one I keep referring all my friends to. It gives readers the perspective to broaden how they think about their skillset, and therefore what they can go on to do with that skillset.
Find Your Why: A Practical Guide to Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team
by Simon Sinek, David Mead, Peter Docker
A couple family members mentioned this title one summer, and I found it genuinely “practical.” There’s plenty of step-by-step exercises to help the reader more powerfully pitch what activities light them up and why.
Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work
by Tania Israel
An insightful read that aims to build bridges between people from all walks of life. I sometimes use the ideas from this book to flesh out the psyche of literary characters too!
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer
by Walt Whitman, with Loren Long (Illustrator)
You could probably find a copy of the poem floating around on the internet, but having sweet visuals go along with Whitman’s lines is lovely too. A great reminder that sometimes humble simplicity is the best communicator.
Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children
by Doris Stickney, with Robyn Henderson Nordstrom (Illustrator)
The subtitle may say that this is intended for little ones, but I found myself returning to it several times in recent years when the situation called for it.
On Fairy-Stories
by J.R.R. Tolkien
I discovered this piece while writing my MFA thesis and have loved it ever since. An insightful rebuttal to those who criticize fantasy stories (and/or their writers) too harshly.
The Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives by Lajos Egri
by Lajos Egri
Many students read this book as part of a creative writing course curriculum. While it may feel a tad dense at times, it’s the one book from all my classes that has stayed with me the most. (And I’ve taken many classes!)
Strengths Finder 2.0 - Discover Your CliftonStrengths
by Tom Rath
Many people purchase this book to take an aptitude test, which tells you what specific strengths you personally match with. While I’ve found it spot-on and helpful for my own professional needs, you could also treat the list of strengths like another tool to help build an interesting mix of character profiles for your next project.
* This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I specifically partner with Bookshop.org, because every purchase on their site supports local, independent bookstores. Happy reading!