What I’m Reading


What Aric Wood, CEO of XPLANE, and Marvin A. Kaiser, CEO of Mary’s Woods, have been reading.

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whatimreading-Aric-016Aric Wood
CEO, XPLANE

Wood is passionate about the creative intricacies and ingenuity that go into driving positive change. “I read to stimulate new ideas and challenge my existing ideas,” he says. “Books are like travel in their ability to broaden your mind. They challenge you to grow.”

whatimreading-Lehrer Imagine hres 

Imagine: How Creativity Works
By Jonah Lehrer

“Creativity isn’t a fixed attribute, like height or IQ. It’s a skill that can be sharpened and directed over time. I challenge anyone who thinks they can’t be creative to read Wired columnist Jonah Lehrer’s book, where he explores the science behind creativity, demystifies it as a process that anyone in any role can develop and hone, and excites us with the promise of how creativity can be leveraged at all levels of society to drive change and innovation.”

 

whatimreading-theideafactory 300dpi  

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation
By Jon Gertner

“Apple didn’t create FaceTime, and Google wasn’t the first company to drive innovation by allowing workers to spend up to 20% of their time on independent projects they were interested in developing. Bell Labs, the independent R&D arm of AT&T, was for over six decades of the last century the preeminent innovation factory of its time, inventing the transistor, cellular technologies and, yes, even revealing its ‘Picturephone’ in 1964 that now we take for granted on our iPhones. Its magic was the environment and network of thinkers created specifically to foster innovation, and its innovations outlined in this book are a remarkable sourcebook of inspiration for individuals and organizations today.”


whatimreading-01 marvin-kaiserMarvin A. Kaiser
CEO, Mary’s Woods 

“At any given time, I’m usually reading something historic and something related to innovation. I enjoy life stories, history and the wisdom that comes from understanding our past, but I like to think about the future, too.” 

whatimreading-Big-Shift-pb 

The Big Shift: Navigating The New Stage Beyond Midlife
By Marc Freedman

“I’m privileged to work with and serve people in their ‘encore years,’ and I’m inspired by the many ways older adults find new meaning and purpose as they age. The Big Shift speaks to the possibilities of aging, the phenomenon of ‘late-blooming creativity’ and the opportunity to ‘live a legacy — not just leave one.’ Freedman is a great storyteller, and his books are valuable conversation starters for how individuals and communities can redefine what it means to grow older.”

 

whatimreading-Disrupt-Williams-Luke  

Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in your Business 
By Luke Williams

“‘What if’ is such an important question, and Williams challenges readers to answer it boldly. I enjoy books that challenge my thinking and offer practical tools I can use in my personal and professional lives. Whether it’s in my work at Mary’s Woods or as a volunteer with Catholic Charities, Right Brain Initiative and other organizations, I believe I owe it to those I serve to always look forward and think about what comes next. I agree with Albert Einstein, who said ‘imagination is more important than knowledge.’”