Books For You To Read This Summer

Throughout the year I have Higher Ed professionals at all levels ask me for “must-read” book recommendations. Last summer’s most popular choice from my list was Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.

Whether you’re looking for something for yourself or your entire team, the list below covers a wide range of topics, themes, and skills that have come up frequently during the thousands of conversations I’ve had over the past year.

Some of these I’ve already read, and the rest are on my list for this summer and the remainder of 2026. I hope one of them finds its way onto your porch, or into your bag for the beach, the pool, the plane ride, or that long car trip.   

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey – Trust is the foundation of every strong relationship, and the speed at which it's established is a critical component of a successful leader and team.

You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy – The importance and power of active listening.

The Service Culture Handbook by Jeff Toister – Developing a customer-focused culture so powerful that your employees always seem to do the right thing. They encourage each other, proactively solve problems, and constantly look for ways to go the extra mile.

Experience is Everything by Jeannie Walters – In today’s hyper-connected world, delivering exceptional customer experience is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s the key to growth, trust, and long-term loyalty. Walters offers a transformative guide to reimagining customer experience as a mindset, strategy, and daily discipline.

Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal – A manual for leaders looking to make their teams more adaptable, agile, and unified in the midst of change. It’s a a masterclass in breaking down silos.

The Rising Leader Handbook by Mark J. Silverman – Leadership is a learned skill and Silverman explores leadership from four crucial perspectives: Leading up, Leading across, Leading Your Team, and Leading You.

Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson – You'll never look at failure the same way. Practices, skills, and mindsets to help you replace shame and blame with curiosity, vulnerability, and personal growth.

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport – If you listened to my recent podcast episode with NACAC CEO Angel Perez, this book came up. It provides a roadmap for accomplishing a multitude of things without overload and burnout.

Crucial Accountability (Third Edition) by Joseph Greeny and Justin Hale – This updated edition gives you skills to foster trust and collaboration, hold anyone accountable, and resolve problems―effectively and permanently.

Creating Superfans by Brittany Hodak – The award-winning entrepreneur and keynote speaker has managed fan-engagement campaigns for brands including Walmart, Disney, and Amazon. Hodak teaches you how to turn customers into lifelong advocates.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m always curious to hear what others are currently reading, what they just finished, or what’s in their queue/stack of books waiting to be read? Let me know here.