The late book critic Clive Barnes once asked: “Why summer reading? One doesn’t have winter reading, or fall reading”. Whether it’s the longer days or the slower pace that allows us to indulge in reading, these are the titles that are making the rounds in the TBT offices this summer – chosen to inspire, provoke and entertain. Dive into your next read with one of the below from our summer reading guide:

How to Fall in Love with Questions

By Elizabeth Weingarten

Who should I love with? How should I spend my time? Who do I want to be? We often seek definitive answers and fast opinions to profound questions. Instead, journalist Elizabeth Weingarten asks that we take a moment to pause. To lean into discomfort, as it often leads to deeper understanding. She draws on her own life experiences to guide us in embracing uncertainty when confronted by these loftier questions.

A Different Kind of Power

By Jacinda Adern

This book is for those who see strength in empathy. The former New Zealand Prime Minister’s memoir represents a shift away from traditional models of authority. Ardern’s legacy is built on the idea that leadership doesn’t require ego or aggression; that strength can come without force. Vulnerable yet guiding, she divulges her own personal experiences.

Is a River Alive?

By Robert Macfarlane

What does it mean to be alive? Renowned for his lyrical explorations of landscape, the British writer and environmental thinker asks us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world, as “the majority of its inhabitants are denied a voice.” He challenges the conventional view of rivers as mere resources, proposing instead that they are living entities deserving of recognition and rights. Macfarlane explores what it means to be alive: the histories, people, places and futures of water.

Moral Ambition

By Rutger Bregman

The Dutch historian and author, known for his bold provocations, has emerged as one of the clearest voices challenging a generation that he believes are sleepwalking through their career choices. His rallying cry is “moral ambition”, the belief that talented individuals should dedicate their finite working lives to solving civilisation-scale problems.

Careless People

By Sarah Wynn-Williams

Sarah Wynn-Williams delivers a page-turning memoir where she exposes the political meddling and toxic internal workings of one of the pioneering social media platforms – from someone who was deeply embroiled. As she rose to the top of the company, she peeled back the curtain to secret schemes, abuse of power, and the consequences technology has for all of us. She says, “Parents at [Facebook] talk about how they don’t allow their teens to have mobile phones, which only underscores how well these executives understand the real damage their product inflicts on young minds.”

The Care Economy

By Tim Jackson

In a world revolving around monetary wealth, this book defines the value of caring. The ecological economist and long-time advocate for post-growth societies offers a redefining of prosperity which places care at the heart of our economy. His central argument is that true wealth lies not in accumulation, but in our capacity to care – for one another and the planet.