Bookmarked: What are you reading
Sybil Francis, Ph.D. —President and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona
Recommends: “More Than Enough” By Elaine Welteroth
Her take: “I read Elaine Welteroth’s memoir ‘More Than Enough’ to understand why my 19-year-old daughter and GenZers find her so inspiring. The former editor of Teen Vogue — Condé Nast’s youngest ever in its 107-year history — as well as its first African American editor, Welteroth brought social justice, feminist and political topics to its fashion and beauty reporting. In addition to career and life tips for young people, I love the book’s powerful message that each of us at any age and from any background has more than enough to matter and to make a difference.”
O. Robin Sweet — Executive director and CEO of Gateway Academy, Inc.
Recommends: “Look Me in the Eye” Be John Elder Robison
Her take: “Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits — an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother, Augusten Burroughs, in them) — had earned him the label ‘social deviant.’ It was not until he was 40 that he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way he saw himself — and the world. A born storyteller, Robison has written a moving, darkly funny memoir about a life that has taken him from developing exploding guitars for KISS to building a family of his own. It’s a strange, sly, indelible accounts — sometimes alien, yet always deeply human. ‘Look Me in the Eye’ is the first powerful book that helped me, personally, understand my son, who is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. John Robison and I became good friends, and he is a resource for our family and our school. I recommend this for anyone who has been touched by someone on the autism spectrum. It will open your eyes!”
Kate Wells — CEO of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Recommends: “The Pilgrimage” By Paulo Coelho
Her take: “With a milestone birthday on my horizon, I have recently found myself drawn to stories of personal journeys. This summer I am reveling in Paulo Coelho’s novel ‘The Pilgrimage,’ the author’s memoir of his literal pilgrimage across Spain on one of the Camino de Santiago paths. The account of his walk is beautiful and transports you along on his journey, but not surprisingly, what Coelho learns about himself and the human experience are the most transformative parts of this beautiful story. I regularly read novels about places I plan to travel and find they enrich my perspective and remind me to see things as others might see them. A great read for anyone embarking on a journey of any kind!”
Jackie Norton — President and CEO of the Rodel Foundation of Arizona
Recommends: “Educated” By Tara Westover
Her take: “It’s difficult to find the right adjectives to describe this book. It’s hard to read yet impossible to put down. It’s an amazing, incredible but true story of one woman’s growing up in a survivalist family in the Idaho mountains and her unquenchable desire to learn. Today’s discussions about education are filled with references to the importance of grit, determination and perseverance. All of that pales in comparison to what this astonishing young girl embraced, tolerated and survived in her quest for knowledge. This is an unforgettable book; it will transform your notions of what it means to be educated.”
