Summer Reading List

Nearly twenty years ago I read “The Fountainhead” & “Atlas Shrugged” back to back. It wasn’t the first time I had been introduced to Ayn Rand’s philosophy. Having it displayed with such eloquence through fiction, though, really hooked me in. I had just graduated from the University of New Haven with my Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. My roommate and I were desperately looking for work in our chosen field. We lined our front hallway with the formal rejection letters we received. We called it the hall of doom. It seemed funny at the time. Even with student loans looming.

I have started to read “Atlas Shrugged” again. Partially, I want to see if it will still inspire me. Partially because with the current economic situation, I want to see if I can draw any parallels or gain any insights. Admittedly, I also want to see it through the lens of someone who is in mid-career versus in the beginning of one. And, heck, I have plenty of time on my hands to tackle the tome – all 1168 pages of it.

So, what inspired me about this book when I was in my early 20’s? Quotes like: “Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision” gave me hope. Dagny Taggart is one of the strongest female protagonists you’ll ever have the joy to read about. She motivated me. She’s a smart, ethical, risk-taking, driven and successful character. I also remember being jazzed about the notion of meritocracy and one day being a leader who does the right thing with conviction and passion and doesn’t get muddled down with collusion, favors and politics. I was thirsty for a female role model who focused on achievement, on producing things that mattered and who got things done through her capability and intelligence. That was Dagny Taggart.

Now, I’m only 83 pages into it this time around. So, I can’t draw any conclusions just yet about how I’ll respond to the book as a 40 something woman with a lot more life experience under her belt. My guess is, I’ll find inspiration in these pages once more. That’s the beautiful thing about books. They can teach you, entertain you and make you think.

For what it is worth, also on my summer reading list:
-"The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway"
-"Born Standing Up" (Steve Martin’s memoir of his early days as a comedian)
-"And the Hippos Were Boiled in their Tanks" (A never been published before collaboration between Jack Kerouac & William Burroughs)

I’ve recently completed and recommend:
-"Learning to Breath" by Alison Wright (non-fiction. Very inspirational)
-"The Angle’s Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (if you liked The Shadow of the Wind – you’ll like this one too)

By the way, I don’t recommend reading “Anna Karenina” and “War & Peace” back to back. I did that one summer for some dang reason. Who wants to be depressed when it’s so sunny outside?!

If you have any book recommendations, please send them my way! Happy Reading! Happy Summer!