What’s your recommended reading list for the summer? Or, to update the question, what mind-stretching experiences are on your “to do list” or have you recently had? Here are some of mine and please share yours on my Facebook page.
• Recently read: Dr. Sherry Turkle’s book, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age.
• Currently reading: Atul Gawande’s book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.
• Midway through auditing a Coursera MOOC (massive online open course): Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture, developed by Professor David Owens at Vanderbilt University and customized for the cultural sector with Jim Rosenberg, Independent Consultant and Senior Advisor at National Arts Strategies.
• Next up: Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal’s book, Wise Aging. Living With Joy, Resilience and Spirit.
• And-I’m committing to moving more rapidly through my study of Psalms, using Robert Alter’s commentary (growth for the heart and mind).
I’m also developing presentations and workshops around my forthcoming book, co-researched and co-authored with Professor Terri Elton at Luther Seminary, in which we studied a number of Jewish and Lutheran congregations and nonprofit organizations in two categories: “established and adapting” to a more decentralized, co-creative, flatter, socially networked way of working; and, “emerging and maturing” startup congregations and nonprofit organizations that are navigating the challenges of maintaining their entrepreneurial character while scaling for sustainability. Stay tuned for publication information!
In addition to focusing on these mind-stretching experiences, I am consciously avoiding mind- narrowing activities, which means ignoring most things related to the presidential campaign, where it often seems that speculation and gossip masquerade as analysis.
So are what are your mind-stretching ideas (and please share your creativity here)?