Whether your favorite reading spot is the beach, the pool, the porch, or a cozy chair at home, summer is the perfect time to pick up a good book. At the Community Foundation of Howard County, curiosity is part of who we are. We love learning from our community, our nonprofit partners, our donors – and, when we have the chance to slow down, from the pages of a great book.
As summer winds down, we asked members of the CFHC team to share a favorite book they read or are still reading this season. We hope you’ll discover a title to add to your own reading list before turning the page to fall.
Melissa Curtin, President & CEO
Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector by Vu Le. “I’ve been a Vu Le fan since he started writing on behalf of all nonprofit professionals in 2013. He is an advocate for change in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector for systems that aren’t supporting efforts on both sides – giving and receiving – and the populations served. Now is a great time to reimagine the work we are all doing – together.”
Dan Flynn, Director, Development & External Relations
You Like It Darker by Stephen King – “This latest collection of short stories made for a perfect and fun beach read. The collection has the usual incredible character development and digs into aging, regret, loss, and the darker realities of life.”
Dee Athey, Director, Grants & Community Engagement
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhorn – “This WWII historical fiction novel tells the story of Australian war heroine Nancy Wake, the unsung French Resistance leader who was #1 on the Gestapo’s most-wanted list by the end of the war. The novel covers Nancy’s life from the early 1930s when she was a journalist based in Paris (at one time she interviewed one Adolph Hitler) through her time with the French Resistance and finally, as a British Special Operations Executive-SOE. It is an extraordinary journey by a remarkable woman.”
Jay Vidyarthi, Vice President, Finance & Operations
The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson – “Atkinson is a gifted storyteller who brings the early Revolutionary War era vividly to life.”
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Senior Advisor, Philanthropy & Communications
The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist – “After meeting Lynne Twist and hearing her speak at the Philanos PowerUP! National Conference this past February, I knew The Soul of Money would be my next read, and I’m loving her inspiring perspective on generosity, abundance, and philanthropy.”
What book would you recommend? We’d love to hear what’s on your reading list as we head into fall!