3 books for your summer reading list

Looking forward to some reading this summer? Here are three books that we think are worth adding to your reading list:

Patience and Fortitude: Power, Real Estate, and the Fight to Save a Public Library by Scott Sherman

If you work in a nonprofit, you’ve likely heard the argument that nonprofits should be run like corporations. But is that really the magic solution for the challenges of the nonprofit sector? Sherman reveals how bottom-line business logic very nearly doomed this iconic public research library.

Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken

Sometimes we need to take a step back and remember why we get up each day and dedicate ourselves to working for a nonprofit. Hawken’s book explores the history, ideas, and strategies of the social justice movement.

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

If you’ve ever felt like your nonprofit is the underdog in its fight to change the world, Gladwell’s exploration of the dynamic between underdogs and giants will strike a chord. In this book, Gladwell argues that there’s power in “using what you got.” It’s a lesson in resourcefulness that will resonate with anyone who devotes time and energy to the nonprofit sector.

If you’re interested in adding more books to your summer reading list, check out our list of twelve great reads for nonprofit fundraisers. Happy reading!