9 favorite books we read in 2018
With the hundreds of thousands of books published each year it can feel daunting to pick a book you’ll actually want to sit down and read.
From trade shows and events to skiing in British Columbia and client trips to Africa, the Verde crew is always heading out for the next adventure. With all the hours we spend traveling and on the move, a good book is crucial to our packing lists. From informational books to guilty pleasures the Verde crew has compiled a list of our personal favorite reads from 2018! Check out the Verdeans full list of suggestions with personal descriptions, below.
The Tao of Billy Murray: Real-Life Stories of Joy, Enlightenment, and Party Crashing
“Someone once told me Bill Murray would walk up to total strangers, tackle them, and he would say "No one will believe you," and run off. How awesome is that? I have enjoyed most of Bill's movies over the years and this book does a fantastic job telling many of his stories and pranks on and off screen. The book is a fun and fast read that will make you laugh out loud about the man, the myth, and the legend.” - Chris Dickerson
Small Great Things
“This is about an African American woman working as a labor and delivery nurse in Connecticut. Her patient is a white supremacist who requests she not be their nurse. The baby ends up dying in the first 20 or so pages of the book and the black nurse is charged with murder. It's a fascinating look at race relations in our country and it's one of the most important books I've read in a long time.” - Julie Evans
Deep Survival
“One of my favorites! Gonzales tells real life stories of survival and the science of how our brains process information resulting in surviving or not... one of the stories is about a friend in a whitewater accident (he lived :). I think everyone should read this before heading out into the backcountry.” - Tracy Johnson
Kiss or Kill, Confessions of a Serial Climber
“What can I say...I'm a huge Twight fan.” - Chris Talevi
Coyote America
“This book tells the story of the coyote throughout American History – Flores calls it a "5-million year biography" of the animal. Coyotes are the ultimate survival animal and despite being hunted in extreme ways for years, have thrived. Fun fact: when a coyote population is under threat, a female coyote will have larger litters – going from 5-6 pups to 12-14! This book gives a super interesting look at Native American stories, US policies towards wildlife management/conservation, and our relationship with wild animals today.” - Alice Baker
The Nordic Theory of Everything
“The author, Anu Partanen, does an excellent job of putting into words the differences between American and Finnish (or Scandinavian more broadly) culture that I have observed for the past 7 years since moving here. The book is a deep dive into why life is so different in the U.S. and Finland - and is a relevant read considering recent political changes and turmoil in the U.S.” - Erika Kuorikoski
Gone Girl
“Guilty pleasure for sure, but such a good story. I couldn't put it down! And when you're done with the book, you should rent the movie starring Ben Affleck who is soooo dreamy! “ - Becca Katz
The Big Burn
“The story of the biggest fire in American History. It talks a lot about how we fight forest fires and how we can improve the management of our public lands.” - Jordan Wilsted
Yes Please!
“Who doesn’t love a good comedian autobiography? Written more as a collection of thoughts, lessons, lists and random tidbits - Poehler’s style of writing makes you feel like you’re sitting next to her as she writes every word herself. The perfect book if you're looking to laugh a lot and learn a few good life tips along the way!” - Campbell Moore
Before We Were Yours
“My favorite book I read this year!! Based on the heartbreaking true events of orphanages in the 1940s and the corruption that changed generations of families. I loved that each chapter told a small part of the story for reach character . and made you guess what would happen next - plus a happy ending!” - Marisa Dobrot
Have a favorite read in 2018? Share them with a comment on our Facebook page - we want to hear about all of the favorites this year!