From a celebrated novel about passionate affairs in the City of Canals, to self-help guides about running businesses, to a New York Times best-selling biography, check out this summer’s reading list from 21 creatives—like L’Objet’s Elad Yifrach, Foundrae’s Beth Bugdaycay, designer Marcel Wanders—and let them inspire you to pick up a book this summer. Now all you need to do is find the time.
Design
Book Report: 21 Designers Relay What They’re Reading This Summer
Scroll through this guide for the best of the written word.
Scroll through this guide for the best of the written word.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
“I was introduced to this book by a friend, and read it for the first time six months ago. Its wisdom is so profound that I was compelled to share it with my entire team as we continue to plan the growth and development of L’Objet. The premise of the book is that each of us should connect with, and live in our, ‘Zone of Genius’—the set of activities and talents you are uniquely suited to do; your special gifts and strengths. It’s one of the main ingredients for a happy, fulfilled life. It’s so important that we each connect with that special gift we were born with, and learn to focus on and perfect it. The book also explores our relationship with time, suggesting that for life to flow as it should, we need to develop a harmonious relationship with time. You are where time comes from. As someone who constantly travels the globe to work on dozens of projects at a time, this revelation has been a game-changer.”
—Elad Yifrach, founder and creative director, L’Objet
Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West
“This book is a real standby for me. It always makes me laugh with its gentle humor. I think it’s important to read books that weren’t written or published in this decade—that aren’t contemporary literature. For example, the style this book is written in is different: the characters are exploring their own values, their interpersonal relationships—and that’s the point of the book, rather than some concrete, goal-oriented finale.”
—Beth Bugdaycay, founder of Foundrae
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
“So far, I’ve found Why We Sleep very fascinating. I’ve always been a huge advocate of getting eight hours of sleep every night, and I stumbled across an article by Dr. Walker that sparked my interest. There is a lot behind why you should prioritize sleep and the benefits. Lack of sleep contributes to so many ailments in society today, and the details to how this all works are clearly outlined, referencing studies that are amazing to read about.”
—Shanan Campanaro, creative director and founder of Eskayel
Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Dr. Spencer Johnson
“I just finished reading Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Dr. Spencer Johnson. We continue to reflect on the changing nature of our business, and this book is a good tool for it. Besides, we have just moved office space, and that comes with both challenges and opportunities for the team. We are living through a very interesting moment in time to observe resilience, bravery and determination—qualities that I ask of and cultivate within my team.”
—Marcel Wanders, designer
I Don’t Have a Favourite Color by Hella Jongerius
“Vitra gave it to me as a gift. I have it at home and look at it from time to time, but I haven’t had the time to actually read the whole book. This summer will be the perfect time to do so.”
—Nani Marquina, founder and creative director, Nanimarquina
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
“Vuong’s debut novel tells the story of a long love letter from a son to his illiterate mother. It caught my eye after I read the New York Times review about the powerful and emotional relationship between the two, and their world of being immigrants in the U.S. As the mother of a young boy raising her family in Istanbul, I can imagine the strong mother-and-son bond they share, and will definitely be reading this on a beach in Mykonos this summer.”
—Milka Karaagacli, founder, Kismet by Milka
Map Addict by Mike Parker
“This was given to me by a friend who knows that I’m map nerd. I’ve always been fascinated by maps—from following our routes in the road atlas as a child, whilst on holidays in our family camper van; to now being the owner of the complete set of Ordnance Survey 1:50000 maps, all 204 of them.”
—Emma Sewell, founder and designer, WallaceSewell
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
“Penguin Vintage Classics recently asked if they could publish its European Series of five books, using images of our fabrics as the dust jackets. The titles are Don Quixote, Madame Bovary, The Leopard, In Europe and Death in Venice. Death in Venice has always been one of my favorite books—and is also an inspiring and beautiful, yet haunting film, which was directed by Luchino Visconti that starred Dirk Bogarde and Bjorn Andresen. So when approached by Penguin, this rekindled my love of the book. I shall read it yet again and imagine myself in Italy.”
—Harriet Wallace, founder and designer, WallaceSewell
La Toile du Paradis by Maha Harada
“This novel by Japanese writer Maha Harada explores the mystery surrounding Henri Rousseau’s painting “The Dream.” It’s a great art mystery that makes you want to go to the museum and muse about the secrets behind your favorite works of art. I’m planning to read this on my summer vacation to Europe this year, and go explore the museums in town.”
—Hanako Maeda, creative director, Adeam
Barragán Guide by Fernanda Canales, Ilaria Valente, Federica Zanco, and Felipe Leal
“I don’t consider this homework because Barragán has always been my color hero. After visiting his home in Mexico City, it became even more apparent to me that he understood the power of color was palpable and nuanced. More than any other architect, he intuited color in the most profound and moving ways. Just looking at his work will make me feel like I am on vacation.”
—Laura Guido-Clark, designer
Exponential Organizations by Salim Ismail
“This summer I will be reading the book Exponential Organizations by Salim Ismail. I’ve heard great things. It illustrates what an exponential organization is today, with an analysis of present and future companies—a subject that, as a businessman, interests me a lot. I believe it is a fundamental text to understand the dynamics of innovation; its impacts and consequences. I’m looking forward to it.”
—Edoardo Caovilla, CEO and creative director, René Caovilla
Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade
“This summer I am reading Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade. It is the perfect compilation of mantras that helps inspire me throughout the day. I love to read brief poems or words that can invoke thought. I highly recommend it.”
—Oleema Miller, co-founder and creative director, Mikoh
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
“This summer I am re-reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I read the book several years ago when it first came out, and I actually dreamt about it becoming a movie. When they announced this summer that they are working on a movie, I was so excited and decided to re-read the book. I am midway through, and have loved it just as much as the first time I read it.”
—Kalani Miller, co-founder, Mikoh
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“Music has always been a driving inspiration and release for me. So throw in a good read that involves love and rock ‘n’ roll, and I’ll be all about it. And a friend recommended it to me.”
—Cortney Bishop, founder, Cortney Bishop Design
Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder by John Waters
“This summer I’m about to read—I’m sure very swiftly—John Waters’ new book Mr Know-It-All. I’ve been a huge fan of everything John Waters for ages. Although he’s most well-known for his irreverent films, his writing is brilliantly funny. I’m always down for a bit of social commentary and his version is particularly enjoyable.”
—Chris Benz, creative director, J. Crew
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
“It’s a story about a young boy whose mother dies in a terrorist explosion at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In the ensuing chaos, he escapes with his mother’s favorite painting, “The Goldfinch,” a priceless Dutch masterpiece. It is a heartbreaking story set in present-day New York, which I read when Delvaux opened its first flagship boutique on Fifth Avenue. The book made me cry, it made me laugh, but the story is above all one of hope.”
—Christina Zeller, artistic director, Delvaux
Love Saves the Day by Tim Lawrence
“I’m reading a few books, depending on the mood I’m in. I tend to read a lot of history that is inspired by my travels. This summer, my wife and I are taking a vacation to Sicily, so I’m reading Sicily, An Island at the Crossroads of History by John Julius Norwich. I also have an old paperback of The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller that I take to the beach or pool with me. It takes place in the late 1930s, when Miller is immersed with the Greek islands while the continent of Europe is on the precipice of war. Finally, my subway read is Love Saves the Day by Tim Lawrence. It’s a history of dance music and DJ culture in New York City in the 1970s. I grew up in a suburb of New York in the ’80s, and loved all things music. I started to DJ when I was 14 years old, and went to as many clubs as I could get into at a young age. This book takes me through the evolution of it all, and it’s a lot of fun to read.”
—Robert McKinley, principal, Studio Robert Mckinley
Becoming by Michelle Obama
“I have been trying to get to this book all year. I love learning more about strong, brave and articulate women. Hearing their stories helps me stay focused on improving myself, and also reminds me that there are often long winding roads that get us all to the right place. I find Michelle Obama incredibly inspiring, and look forward to understanding how she became who she is.”
—Eva Zuckerman, founder and designer, Eva Fehren
Proposals for the Feminine Economy by Jennifer Armbrust
“Challenging the outdated system of masculine business marked by greed, power, and focus on the bottom line, this tiny but mighty book tells us how we can embrace the feminine values of empathy, self-care, and loving what we do to rewrite what business can look like. It is a hugely empowering, holistic vision for a new economic paradigm founded on feminine and feminist principles that is hitting home big-time for me personally.”
—Heidi Baker, founder and designer, Ozma
On the Manner of Negotiating with Princes by Francois de Callieres
“Written in 1716 by the ‘envoy extraordinary of Louis XIV, this wise and charming study of the art of negotiation is reputed to be the best manual of diplomatic methods ever written. I love History and particularly the XVIIIth century.”
—Isabelle Dubern, co-founder, The Invisible Collection
“Actually, this summer I may spend more time writing than reading. We’re working on a new book about color and color combination that will be launched in the Fall and there’s still plenty of work to do to make it an inspirational and very practical guide.”
—Sarah Lavoine, founder, Maison Sarah Lavoine