My summer reading list
Welcome to a special edition of our newsletter! With us on a season break—new episodes coming in September—I wanted to share what I’ve been up to this summer.
I love the summer, with the promise of longer days and warmer nights, and not having any fixed plans. For me, it’s a time to catch-up with friends, organise days out together, BBQs, and generally do very little.
This summer in particular, I’m feeling the need to take it easy. I’ve spent the last few months in non-stop meetings, planning one thing or another, and spending way to much time starting at screens and scrolling through content. It’s time to put that to one side and focus on the here and now. I’m forcing myself to rest and recharge.
Being bored is good, it allows the imagination to wander. I know some of our best ideas come when we do next to nothing. Plus, rest is incredibly essential to your general wellbeing. For me, swimming is where ideas come, so I’ve made it a daily activity, going from one side of the bay to the other. I’m hoping some of these ideas will translate into fun new ways to entertain you and the larger What I Did Next audience; from fun TikTok content to innovative ways to get interesting responses from my guests.
Another thing I’m doing is reading for pleasure. I’ve been raiding my bookshelf to while away the hours, so here’s what I’m reading. Some are old favourites while others I’m reading for the first time. But they’re all great summer reads and give me great food for thought.
by Tim Marshall
An amazing approach to better understanding why countries act the way they do. Our geographic location dictates so much of what we can and can’t do. Unputtdownable!
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I love the way Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes – rich, languid and textured. This is a fab gift and a super quick read – highly recommend!
by Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens was a prolific writer and never feared poking and prodding the powerful with his polemics. Reading him is not easy but you come away having been challenged.
by Roald Dahl
The great Roald Dahl has been hit by woke culture and many want him ‘cancelled’. I loved him growing up, losing myself in his eccentric and weird worlds. His writing transcends ages and can be read again and again.
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