What’s on your summer reading list?
With much of the UK experiencing a rather soggy July, it’s hardly felt like summer for much of the season. But that hasn’t stopped some of adland’s best from diving into a book.
Indeed, the summer holidays are the perfect time to get reading done, whether you’re adventuring abroad or cozying up at home. Industry leaders shared what they’re reading this summer and why with The Media Leader.
Michael Brown, managing partner, head of insight and research, UK and EMEA, UM
“My reads this summer have a definite culinary flavour.
“The book I’ve been looking forward to reading for months is Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. This is an account of a turnaround in the fortunes of a New York restaurant, although it is being increasingly seen as a kind of blueprint for masterful client servicing. This book has awoken quite a bit of excitement lately, as it was featured in an episode of the TV series The Bear.
“I’ve also got one of Anthony Bourdain’s books plated up for my holiday: Kitchen Confidential, a blood-and-guts account of his own experiences in the hospitality sector, infused very heavily with his profound love of food.
“There’s a corner of the Colombian seaside which has got my name on for later this August and I’m equally as excited to tuck into these books — both love letters to craft.”
Dora Michail-Clendinnen, chief strategy officer, Ozone
“A friend recently recommended Polly Samson’s A Theatre for Dreamers, which I’m excited to read over the summer. It was published in 2020 but, with two young children, you can assume that I’m somewhat behind on my reading list!
“A Theatre for Dreamers is set in the 1960s among an artistic community on the Greek island of Hydra. I love the Greek islands and have spent lots of time island-hopping over the years. I’ve not been to Hydra but, as any fan of Leonard Cohen will tell you, he spent much of his twenties there and it’s where he met his muse, Marianne Ihlen (of So Long, Marianne fame).
“Leonard and Marianne and other real-life artists feature in the novel, fictionalised by Samson against the backdrop of an idyllic island and driven by the gendered politics of the 1960s and what it means to be artist and muse.”
Chris Dunne, head of marketing, Thinkbox; CEO, Outvertising
“I’ve just finished Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard — if you want something epic and formidable for the beach, then this is the one. It gets to grips with the fact and fiction of the ancient Roman world as you walk in the sandals of some of its most famous leaders.
“We generally think we know a lot about the extravagant life of the Roman emperor — all sex, power, corruption, conspiracy and murder. But Beard does a brilliant job of getting under the skin of the myths and legends, using hard evidence to get to the truth and allowing the reader to make up their own mind (*tenuous work link klaxon*).
“It’s a weighty read and probably one to crack through in the morning before you get stuck into the Piña Coladas. And maybe keep a nice Richard Osman on the side as a palate cleanser.”
Nicola Kemp, editorial director, Creativebrief; columnist, The Media Leader
“This summer, I have been re-reading Tamu Thomas’ glorious take-down of toxic productivity culture: Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy. A book I love so much that I have been obsessively buying and gifting to friends and colleagues — despite the fact the title feels like a judgement of the recipient.
“The truth is we should be judging ourselves more. Not because we aren’t working hard enough, but because many of us aren’t making the space to rest and read the other 11 months of the year. Like puppies aren’t just for Christmas, reading isn’t a joy we should reserve just for summer!
“This book is a reminder that there is another way of living. An invitation to get off the treadmill of toxic productivity, with a beautifully written manifesto for a better way of living. A way of life that involves breaking free from the adrenaline-fuelled loop of constant overwork at the expense of our wellbeing.
“Tamu’s writing is both blistering and brilliant. Finally giving her words my full, undivided attention meant I got so much more out of it the second time around. Read it and re-read it — you won’t regret it.”
Mike Follett, managing director, Lumen Research
“I was planning to read Andy Clark’s The Experience Machine on my hols. But I made the mistake of picking it up one Saturday morning and didn’t put it down until Sunday night.
“In simple and accessible language, Clark talks through the idea of the brain being a ‘prediction engine’, endlessly making guesses about what’s ’out there’ and using data from our senses to validate these hypotheses or challenge them.
“It’s important for us marketers to understand that, for most things, most of the time, most people’s view of the world (and view of the ads that appear in that world) is imperfect, indefinite and uninterested. That’s why it’s so important to make ads as easy to notice as possible and use brand assets that are distinctive and memorable.
“But what am I going to read on holiday? Can Clark predict that?”
Maria Iu, deputy editor, The Media Leader
“I like my pop culture to be discussed with a seriousness that verges on the academic. OK, this is no Simon Reynolds or Jon Savage, but Michael Cragg’s Reach for the Stars is a more light-hearted oral history that covers a pivotal time in British pop.
“Plus, it’s filled with anecdotes you didn’t know you needed, from how Emma Bunton almost became Bianca from EastEnders to how Five (5ive for the purists) said ‘Nah’ to a tune that became a huge hit for NSync.
“A serious yet fun look at a genre considered mostly silly, but actually created as well as reflected crucial moments in British culture and history.”
Jack Benjamin, reporter, The Media Leader
“I’ve got a handful of books I’m keen on getting through this summer. I’ve already read Salman Rushdie’s Knife — a great book celebrating the fight not just for survival but also for love and free expression that Rushdie has been on for most of his adult life.
“Currently, I’m working my way through The English Patient for the first time and dreaming of being in a Tuscan villa — albeit one not filled with mines. And still on my list is the late Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy, which I’m hoping will scratch my ongoing detective fiction itch.”
What are you reading this summer? Let us know and we’ll consider adding to this list. Send in your book recommendations to news@the-media-leader.com to be featured.
Check out last year’s summer reading recommendations for further inspiration:
Classics, creativity and sci-fi: What the industry is reading this summer