THE BOOK BUNCH RETURNS!
This week, our First Pres staffers enjoyed the highly-anticipated second annual Barnes & Noble Book Day! Akin to a school field trip, they caravaned to Colonial Plaza with curiosity abuzz! Time was gleefully spent wandering through the stacks, whispering about what seemed enticing, chatting about faves, and making the impossible decision to choose just one.
Search below to find your reading doppelgänger. You might even be inspired to add a few new books to your reading list!
Kicking us off, we have Triple-A: Alda, Alice, & Alexa! Alda is exploring Bad Girls of the Bible, while Alice is studying Leading from the Middle, a guide on how to influence all levels of an organization. And, Alexa snagged Aisha Muharrar’s Loved One, a coming-of-age story of love and loss.
Andrew, our resident author, took a gamble on SinLinYu’s new book, Alchemised, and buddy, Bobby, began his quest into the quietly but not-so-secretly top-tier fantasy series by Robin Hobb, beginning with Assassin’s Apprentice.
Comer makes an appearance for the second year in Alex’s selection, Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. Delaney chose the now-classic The Meaning of Marriage, by Tim Keller, and Hannah Martin will explore The Joy of Slow, a book on the wonder of homeschool learning.
Hector wisely chose to dive into the epic of Greek history and mythology (which features his namesake), Homer’s The Iliad.
Jack went for a classic—one of his great loves, The Adventures of Indiana Jones, and Christina finally acquired one she’s had her eye on for years, a book about her favorite-ever Disney illustrator, The Art and Flair of Mary Blair.
From SHINE: Kami selected Angela Flournoy’s The Wilderness, and Leanne picked up Emily Henry’s cozy beach read, People We Meet on Vacation. Susan expanded her repertoire of classic literature with Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Anna will enjoy Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams.
Lindsey went for Sarah MacLean’s These Summer Storms, about a family who finds themselves connecting in spite of having to compete for an inheritance. And Taylor opted for the latest from acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, Counting Miracles.
Next, Lisa picked out A Sheepdog Named Oscar, an ode to good boys everywhere. And Shirley grabbed Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso.
Martha chose the vital memoir of loss and healing, C.S. Lewis’s A Grief Observed. Jacob delved into the realm of neuroscience with Rachel Barr’s How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend. And Tanner chose a tale of community and hope in Michiko Aoyama’s The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park.
Current Orlando Fellows and seasonal-staffers, Matt & Mary Morgan, landed on Jesus the King and C.S. Lewis’s Signature Classics.
Nick doubled down on the pursuit of endurance with David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds.
Paul made a further investment in his counseling expertise with the important and insightful Adult Survivors of Emotionally Abusive Parents. And Karen picked out Sarah Damoff’s The Bright Years, a generational saga of a Texas family.
Other Noteworthy Selects:
Bret Allen → A Land Remembered
Carla Shehane → The Body Keeps the Score
Case Thorp → Heretics and Heroes
Danielle Rossi → History Matters
Emily Dotson → Great Big Beautiful Life
Jonathan Wagner → Collected Poems
Victoria Suarez → Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want To Do?
Werner Herzog once famously said, “Read. Read read read read read.” No other pastime so thoroughly expands one’s experience and capacity for understanding for oneself and compassion for others. No matter your area of interest or walk of life, pick up a book and start to form the essential habit of reading today. It’s a habit you’ll never regret!
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For more excellent recommendations, check out our staff choices from last year’s Barnes & Noble day, as well as picks from our Senior Leadership here and here.
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"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” -Proverbs 18:15