As DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith so perfectly put it in their warm-weather jam, Summertime:

 “Summer, summer, summertime. Time to sit back and unwind”.

For those reading this, I hope you’re finding time to sit back and unwind. But if you aren’t, I hope the recommendations below will encourage and motivate you to dig out some time.

We at PMG like to work hard and play hard, but sometimes our “play” is simply reading a good book, magazine, poem, online article, etc. Before COVID-19 hit, we started a book exchange for those in the corporate office – a give one, take one-type of setup- Afterwards, we found ourselves celebrating National Poetry Month in April. Even before this, it wasn’t uncommon to overhear coworkers discussing things they’ve read and recommending the readings to others.

As a result, I reached out to our internal team, our group of skilled technicians on assignment and of course, Google, to compile PMG’s list of recommended summer readings.

PMG Team Member Reading Recommendations

Car & Driver

If you’re dreaming of a ride down the highway with the top down this summer, one of our Client Solutions Managers, Brandon S, highly recommends this magazine.

Atlas Shrugged

Brandon also recommends this more dystopian piece by author Ayn Rand. It’s a book that dives deep into what a world would be like without thinkers or creators.

Blue Highways

I personally recommend this book by William Least Heat-Moon. To be honest, I received a copy of this book from a close friend and I just can’t bring myself to share the copy with anyone else. I’ll be keeping this one just for me.

National Geographic

Feeling limited in your ability to travel or visit new places? This magazine is a great option for exploration from the comfort of your own home and there is also a version for kids!

Apeirogon

Recommended by our Technical Solutions Coordinator, Brent R, this book by Colum McCann finds a way to combine two things we don’t see much together these days: politics and friendship.

Before We Were Yours

According to our Human Resources Manager, Beth B, this book by Lisa Wingate was an “incredible book” and a “really-well written story” that has encouraged her to pursue more writings by the author. This is a fictional book based on real life circumstances surrounding the Tennessee Children’s Home Society and written in the narrative voice of a 12-year old girl.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

Written by Patrick Lencioni, this a fictional book about the common hurdles that come about in a team environment and also provides actionable steps to overcome them. Josh E, a member of our ReTool team, recommended this book and believes it can be applied on both a professional and personal level.

Note: Josh also recommends the following:

  • Trinity by Leon Uris
  • The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
  • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
  • Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris

 

PMG Technician Reading Recommendations

Nic S, a CNC Machinist who has completed 11 projects with PMG since 2014, recommends a book by Eliahu Goldrat called The Goal. And, I’m glad he did – I’ll be checking it out very soon! Similar to The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, this is a business book but not your typical business book. It’s written as a novel from the perspective of a plant manager and, from what I hear, keeps the reader enthralled and the pages turning!

Children’s Reading Recommendations

If you have children in your life and you’d like to introduce them to new books, or simply encourage them to get off electronics this summer, the following books were personally recommended by the children of PMG employees:

  • How to Charm a Llama by Rosie Greening
  • Any book by author Mercer Mayer
  • Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Sky Boys by Deborah Hopkinson

Note: once you’ve read this, check out PMG’s article on Sky Scrapers here

  • The Frankie Sparks series
  • Any of the graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier
  • Wish by Barbara O’Connor
  • Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
  • I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
  • The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
  • Shine by J.J. & Chris Grabenstein
  • Akata Witch by Nnedi Okarafor

Researched Reading Recommendations

In my search online, I found many lists of the “top” books to read, but at the very top of the large majority of those lists was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Personally, I’d highly recommend that one too. Others that I found frequently recommended are below:

  • Beloved – Toni Morrison
  • The Harry Potter – I’ll be honest.,I was completely against these but, once I read the first one, I had to read the rest! Adults and children alike can enjoy this series.
  • Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven

If none of the suggestions mentioned above seem like your thing, maybe you’ll like something on the lists below:

 

Now, here is where I leave you with the words of the great author, illustrator, cartoonist, and poet Dr. Seuss:

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”.

 

About the Author

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Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach