From our playbook: 11 hot summer books for changemakers

Picture this: You’re in a hammock. The sun is shining, your dog is snuggled in, and you’ve got a sweet summer drink on the little table next to you. You’ve slapped on the sunscreen, and a hat, and you take a deep breath, enjoying the breeze.

Then you open a book on how to be bold, be heard and make impactful change this fall.

We asked our network of diverse changemakers for recommendations for other Canadians to consider reading this summer, and we also gathered up some recommendations of our own.

First, recommendations from our changemakers, along with an explanation of the book from publishers:

1. Ils étaient l’Amérique by Serge Bouchard 

As a member of a book club for many years, I have a long list of books, mostly in French! So my suggestion will be Ils étaient l’Amérique from Serge Bouchard, a renowned doctor in anthropology and specialist in Indigenous peoples. 

This book puts to light the importance of Indigenous leaders such as Donnacona, Membertou, Anadabijou, Tessouat, Langlade, Pontiac et Kondiaronk and others. 

– Lili-Anna Pereša, President and CEO, McConnell Foundation

2. Power to the People, by Danny Sriskandarajah

What I am excited to read this summer is Power to the People by Danny Sriskandarajah.

Danny Sriskandarajah learned all about the importance of being an engaged citizen thanks to his Tamil migrant parents moving from Sri Lanka to Australia. As the first Rhodes scholar from an Asian immigrant background in the UK, Danny’s been leading the charge in various civil society organizations and has become a big name in the third sector.

His book promises to be a bold, lively call to action that aims to get people all around the world more involved in their communities. Danny tackles issues like voter apathy and the feeling that elections are pointless because politicians are too busy with short-term stuff to deal with big challenges like climate change, inequality, and digital disruption. The book is also chock-full of inspiring stories of people power in action, from a volunteer-run repair café in Danny’s own neighborhood to Avaaz’s awesome campaigns against corruption in Brazil.

– Kate Higgins, CEO, Cooperation Canada

3. Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crisis by Jonathan S Blake and Nils Gilman

Here’s mine: Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crisis by Jonathan S Blake and Nils Gilman.

The clear and urgent vision behind this book imagines a new way of running the world that actually tackles big global issues and their effects on our local communities. 

Deadly viruses, climate change, and pollution don’t care about national borders—they spread everywhere. However, the power and resources to deal with these problems are mostly stuck at the national level. This mismatch between global problems and national solutions is causing all sorts of failures.

Blake and Gilman challenge the usual way of thinking about how we interact with the planet and how we govern it. They offer a groundbreaking new framework that focuses on embracing our global reality and finding better ways to manage the challenges we face.

– Jayne Engle, Mission Co-Holder, Dark Matter Labs

4. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

My summer book that I am taking to Italy is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

I have gotten into stoicism over the past few months and am very drawn to the lessons and virtues he espouses, like living a life of courage and justice. 

It’s a great reminder for how to live in constant improvement both for self and community.

-Phillip Haid, Founder & CEO, Public Inc.

5. The Social Safety Net: Canada in Decline by Nora Loreto

I’ve pre-ordered this book.

Canada’s social safety net is fraying. Why does it feel like everything is collapsing?

Canada is at a crossroads. Neoliberalism has hollowed out and sold off the social services Canadians rely on now more than ever and has brought into stark relief the dissonance among colonial, Indigenous, and some of Canada’s most at-risk groups.

The Social Safety Net tracks the 40-year attack on Canada’s social safety net. As neoliberalism has matured in Canada, Canadians are seeing the impact of these attacks: unreliable health services, crises in education and social services, and a society that feels like it is losing cohesion.

The Canada in Decline series is the story of Canada’s untenable status quo and the forces that have led us to where we are today. It outlines the choices we need to make and the possible paths forward to fix what is crumbling around us.

– Narinder Dhami, Co-Founder, New Power Labs

On our own list, we have six books to recommend for your summer reading, in order of how I randomly stacked them up on my desk:

1. Embracing Ambition: Empowering Women to Step Out, Be Seen & Lead, by Jenny Mitchell

“Embracing Ambition” brings together 12 amazing women leaders from all over North America with one clear mission: to share their stories and inspire the next wave of women leaders. 

These women come from all walks of life—non-profit trailblazers, corporate masterminds, entrepreneurs, educators—you name it. The book dives into the challenges ambitious women might face, offers real-world solutions from those who’ve been there, and includes thought-provoking questions to fuel your own leadership journey.

2. The Resilience Plan by Marie-Helene Pelletier

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with. Whether you’re leading the charge or part of a team, you’ve got to work on building and maintaining your resilience. That’s where having a resilience plan comes in handy.

Award-winning mental health guru Marie-Hélène Pelletier taps into her clinical know-how and deep dive into business practices to show how resilience is your best shield against burnout. She’s all about helping you build your own custom resilience plan with strategies that fit you perfectly—no cookie-cutter solutions here!

3. The First Time Manager: DEI, by Alida Miranda-Wolff

Being an inclusive manager is all about juggling power and compassion every day. When do you put an individual employee’s needs first, and when do you prioritize the team? How do you respect one person’s boundaries without stepping on someone else’s toes?

Alida Miranda-Wolff, who’s helped hundreds of organizations foster belonging and effective DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, shares her expertise in this practical guide. She knows the common mistakes and the action steps necessary to make DEI work. This book gives new managers the mindset and tools to build truly inclusive teams.

4. Justin Trudeau on the Ropes, by Paul Wells

The Liberal Party of Canada’s roughest decade wrapped up on October 19, 2015. That’s when Justin Trudeau took the reins, ending Stephen Harper’s ten-year Conservative run. Trudeau’s vision was all about optimism—you couldn’t miss the word “positive” in his victory speech, not to mention his talk of “sunny ways” and “hope and hard work.” But as luck would have it, he faced some pretty stormy weather ahead. Charm alone wasn’t enough to navigate the tough times that followed, and Trudeau found himself struggling right from the start.

Fast forward a decade since his deep dive into Stephen Harper’s reign, Paul Wells, one of Canada’s top political writers, shifts his focus to Justin Trudeau. In his new book, Wells explores Trudeau’s mix of talent, ambition, and trust issues in an era where trust is hard to come by.

5. From Ideas to Impact, by Michael Sheldrick

Fast-track your social impact by driving big policy changes!

Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder of Global Citizen—a powerhouse organization aiming to end extreme poverty—has teamed up with governments, businesses, foundations, artists, and regular folks to channel over $40 billion globally in the last decade. In “From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World,” he offers a powerful and insightful look at how to make a real difference by pushing for policy changes. 

This book breaks down the traits of successful policy entrepreneurs—those visionaries who turn big promises into real-world results.

6. The Art and Science of Connection, by Kasley Killam

Get ready for a game-changing take on health that introduces a crucial piece of the puzzle: social health—the part of wellbeing that comes from feeling truly connected.

Exercise, eat right, see a therapist—most wellness tips focus on physical and mental health. But Harvard-trained social scientist and social health trailblazer Kasley Killam says there’s more to the story: human connection is key.

Just like we work out our bodies, we can flex our social muscles too. In “The Art and Science of Connection,” Killam blends cutting-edge science, fresh mindset shifts, and practical tips to lay out the first-ever guide to being socially healthy. This book is a perfect remedy for the loneliness epidemic and a refreshing manifesto that redefines wellbeing to include physical, mental, and social health. It’s your go-to handbook for living your best life.

Tell us this made you smarter | Contact us | Report error