It’s summer. It’s really summer. This is the time to read. 

What’s next to your night table? What book is stashed in your backpack? How many books do you have loaded up on your Kindle? While there are a bunch of great books that have recently come out, there are several more coming out, in the next few months, that really deserve a lot of attention. I’m voracious when it comes to business books.

Here are the next 7 business books that everyone should read (because I can’t wait to get in on them!):

• Rising Strong by Brene Brown. Long before she became a household name and buddies with Oprah, Brene was just someone that I happened to sit next at the TED conference and instantly fell in love with. When she took the stage several days later, I watched everyone in the audience (and then everybody online) fall in love with her as well. She’s a researcher on vulnerability, but she’s really a teacher of life. This next book? It’s about getting up when you’re knocked down. She’s a treasure. Rising Strong comes out on August 25th, 2015.
• The Very Little but Very Powerful Book on Closing by Jeffrey Gitomer. There are few people who can write a business book that both makes me laugh out loud and also makes me want to close the book and knock myself upside the head with it, for not doing the very simple and smart things that Jeffrey Gitomer writes about. This guy literally wrote the book on sales (The Sales Bible), and then followed it up with a must-have series of books on networking, relationship-building and more. I’m honoured to call him a friend, but I’m a total fan of everything he writes. This one comes out in December, so order it now before you forget.
• Louder Than Words by Todd Henry. Ugh, it’s a tough question to answer: how do you find your voice? It could be in words. It could be in your startup. Finding your voice… your authentic voice is a long, hard journey. Most are not cut out for it. Most would not believe that you could learn how to find it. When Todd Henry asked me to blurb his latest book, I was flattered. I’m such a huge fan of everything that he does for people in the creative space. I loved his last book, Die Empty. I still think it’s one of the best titles for a book on creativity. Louder Than Words comes out on August 11th, 2015 and I can’t say enough good things about it.
• The Brand Flip by Marty Neumeier. I have read loved and re-read every little book that Marty Neumeier has written. I use the word “small” in a thanking way. Marty writes books that you can read in a few hours. They are small and beautifully designed (re: simple). The ideas and depth of the words sink in. Slowly. Over time. This new one comes out on August 13th, 2015. 
• Steal The Show by Michael Port. I do love to speak in public. If there’s something that I love more than giving a great presentation, it’s learning how to get better. Speaking in public is a performance. That’s what the best of the best know. Do you want to know how that level of quality speaker gets better? They spend time with Michael Port. I really can’t wait to get my hands on this book! I’m sure it will be filled with gems. This book comes out on October 6th, 2015.
• Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle. I also love books that are written by people with big brains. It’s hard to find a bigger brain than Sherry Turtle. If you haven’t read her astounding book, Alone Together, you don’t know what you’re missing. In this book, the media scholar dissects our sacrifice of face-to-face conversations that now take place in 140 characters through mobile devices. Her question is this: is our lack of conversation killing relationships, productivity and creativity? This book comes out on October 6th, 2015, and I really need to get my hands on an advance copy.
• Television Is the New Television by Michael Wolff. I had heard about this book coming out, and I thought I would pass on it. I don’t think television will look anything like television in the next short while. Then, I read Bob Lefsetz‘s piece on the book, Television Trumps Digital, I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself, “If Bob says to read, I have to read it.” This book just came out. 

What’s the next business book that you’re going to tackle?