Dulce Cayetano (developer, DevOps) kicks things off with three book that focus on current issues and events:
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
“I loved reading this book by Barack Obama. It helped me understand the world of politics and clarified the power of politicians, their limitations, and what we, as voters, can do to help. Even though the book is about politics in the U.S., a lot of it can be transposed to Canada, too. Some passages made me tear up, as they were masterfully described and filled with emotion, a sense of community, and love for all human beings.”
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates
“This is a book I needed to read. It opened my eyes by giving me a well-informed view of what the [environmental] problem is, what needs to be done, and what every field of expertise and normal citizens can do to help, while also caring for those in need.”
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
“I really enjoyed reading this book because it talks about a very important subject, which is how to address systemic racism. It was very easy to read and allowed me to take time to reflect on my implicit biases and start working on them.”
Caroline Gilbert (manager, products and projects) suggests a book that also broaches race and inclusion, but in a more fictionalized way:
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“If you were ever curious about whose speech Beyoncé chose to sample on her single “Flawless”, look no further. Americanah is a must read. I was in awe at the way Ngozi Adichie played on themes like migration, love, and politics while remaining funny, touching, and quick-witted. Her portrayal of blackness and blunt depiction of privilege will make you question what you think you may know about the current state of affairs, from the U.S. to abroad. I loved how she detailed the non-American black experience within America; I discovered a whole new facet of the race conversation which remains relevant today. You will not regret adding this book to your list of summer reads.”
Do you love to learn while keeping things simple? Our manager of development and operations, Gabriel Gélinas, found the best of both worlds in this light and entertaining read:
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe
“Alright, I’m not a huge reader, but the books I can’t help but open and devour are the ones that break down different scientific topics. I love learning more about things I don’t know much about. I get so absorbed in the comic strip-style pages loaded with content topped with a humoristic twist, that I can spend dozens of minutes contemplating a single page.”
If you’re a fan of Japanese animation, why not discover the book that inspired a classic film with this suggestion from product owner Élie Vachon?
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
“As a young teenager, I became passionate about manga and anime, something which has been with me ever since. One of my first favourites was Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro), an incredibly wonderful movie directed by legend Hayao Miyazaki. The movie was a (quite liberal) adaptation of the book by British author Diana Wynne Jones. This summer, I plan on finally discovering the original story and learning more about the inspiration behind the animated masterpiece.”
Lastly, for a proper catch-up session, Vanessa L’Esperance (developer, iOS) invites you to dive into a captivating book series:
The Expanse by James S. A. Corey
“This series is a perfect balance between the science fiction and thriller genres. Not only is it a wildly immersive series, but it is also a beloved TV show. I cannot recommend these books enough.”
Happy reading from the entire team! And don’t forget to keep your eyes safe from UV rays this summer – we just might be able to help you with that >
