Summer is in full swing, and I hope you’re finding downtime to indulge in one of my favorite hobbies: reading. Unfortunately, with my twin boys graduating from high school this year and my daughter finishing graduate school, I’ve been so busy celebrating with them and helping them prepare for the next stages of their lives that I’ve had no time to sit down and read a book. Although I still listen to podcasts while trying to sneak in exercise or catch up on chores, I don’t think I’ll be able to fully pick up my reading hobby again until I’m an actual “empty nester.”  

Despite my lack of downtime, I have a book on my list that I’m looking forward to opening: “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. This novel tells the story of a woman who joins the Army Nurse Corps to serve in the Vietnam War after her brother is deployed. It follows her experiences in the war and when she comes home to a divided country. I've seen several people recommend this book, and I like historical fiction.    

Even though I won’t personally be indulging in reading books for a while, some of you will be. And since it’s that time of year to share summer reading lists, I hope you’ll read on to see what’s on our Executive Leadership Team’s to-be-read lists for the next few months.   

Michael Gampp, EVP, Chief Risk Officer: I have two books that are next up on my reading list, and both are about Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman: “Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character,” and “What Do You Care What Other People Think?": Further Adventures of a Curious Character.” Richard Feynman was recruited as a young graduate student to work on the Manhattan Project. (For reference, if you saw the recent “Oppenheimer” movie, Feynman was depicted briefly as the young man playing the drums.) Feynman led a life of curiosity and used the lens of science to prove or disprove concepts down to the smallest level. One of the last projects Feynman participated in before his death was serving as a member of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Feynman helped reveal the root cause of the shuttle's explosion–the O Rings' failure in the rocket boosters. 

Denise Brown, EVP, Chief Financial Officer: I will crack open Stephen King’s new release, “You Like It Darker.” Why? Because it’s Stephen King. After that, I may read something by William Kent Krueger. I binged on some of his books earlier this year and enjoyed his ability to bring the Depression Era characters and landscape to life. 

Christine Mayes, EVP, Chief Member Engagement Officer: I’m in a summer reading club with my young nephew, and we are working our way through “The Shadow Children” series by Margaret Haddix. I thought it might be a fun way to connect with my nephew and give me some light reading between other books. Next up on my list for the summer is “The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever” by Michael Bungay Stanier. This was recommended through a podcast, and it sounds interesting. A couple of books I just finished reading and can recommend include the “Throne of Glass” series by Sarah J. Maas and “The Happy Sales Manager: Drive Sales, Lead Your Team with Ease, and Have Fun!” by Gretchen Gordon (who I know personally). Part of the fantasy genre, the “Throne of Glass” series was a bit of a departure for me, but I had previously read a few of the author’s other books and enjoyed this one. “The Happy Sales Manager” was a nice, short read with practical reminders applicable to all business and sales processes.   

Tammy Cantrell, EVP, Chief Product Strategist: I hope I have time to read a book that Wright Patt Credit Union’s Chief Financial Officer Daniel Smith recommended to me: “How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between” by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner. 

Prashanta Pradhan, EVP/Chief Information Officer: “Death In the Stocks” by Georgette Heyer is a novel that I discovered after immersing myself in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dame Agatha Christie. I was captivated by the intricate characters and cozy mysteries they created and found myself wanting more. My search led me to Georgette Heyer, whose writing did not disappoint, particularly her Inspector Hannasyde series. In addition, “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius is a work that nourishes the soul and inspires the mind. I imagine it has been providing such profound insights and wisdom for over 18 centuries. 

Whatever your favorite hobby is, reading included, I hope you can carve out some time to enjoy it before summer ends.