Book Wise
Book Wise
BookClub.com
Welcome to Book Wise, where we explore leadership through books. Books are “uniquely portable magic” (Stephen King) and “mirrors of the soul” (Virginia Woolf). From BookClub.com, host Britt Brewer (with guest host appearances from CEO Jonathan Munk) helps you find the next book that stops you in your tracks… and just might shape your life and career.
5 Must-Read Books on Queerness as a Revolutionary Act ft. @jpreads6
On this episode, Britt Brewer welcomes popular BookTok influencer John-Paul Kunrunmi (@jpreads6) to discuss groundbreaking titles on queerness by some of the most thought-provoking BIPOC authors of our time.What did bell hooks have to say about queerness? Is being queer really a revolutionary act? And what does sex have to do with politics? Britt and John-Paul open up about their own experiences, contemplate climbing Mount Everest, and even summon the voice of wisdom from none other than James Baldwin.Tune in for some vulnerable real talk that will bring you a new perspective on queerness that you can bring to your work and community at large.Books mentioned:• “Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain” by Jason Okundaye• “Punch Me Up to the Gods” by Brian Broome• “The Sex Lives of African Women” by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah• “In the Shadow of the Mountain” by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado• “Giovanni’s Room” by James BaldwinUnlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
Jun 27, 2024
19 min
Michelle Obama's "Becoming": The Most Popular First Lady Memoir Ever
In this exciting first edition of “Paging Dr. Books,” host Britt Brewer A.K.A “Dr. Books” opens up the request line to a book-loving caller on the hunt for an inspirational read.You can probably surmise from the name of the episode what title Dr. Books will ultimately recommend. However, before we delve into the Becoming of it all, let Dr. Books guide you through a tour of some thought-provoking, noteworthy books that standout in the First Lady Memoir genre.So, sharpen your pencil and dust off that pad — ’cause Dr. Books is in the house, and she’s ready to recommend your next favorite book!Books mentioned:• “Becoming” by Michelle Obama• “Living History,” “Hard Choices,” and “What Happened” by Hillary Clinton• “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” by Eleanor Roosevelt• “The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant” by Julia Dent Grant• “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty” by Susan PageUnlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
Jun 20, 2024
12 min
5 Must-Read Books for Aspiring Entrepreneurs ft. Degreed CEO David Blake
On this episode, Britt Brewer sits down with the CEO of Degreed and Founder of BookClub, David Blake, to discuss the 5 books that defined his career, and helped to ignite his entrepreneurial spirit.The two engage in a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from polarizing tech disrupters, to late 90s alt-rock, to the very essence of human development and learning. And, yup, you guessed it: they also trade questionable JFK impressions.So if you’re curious to learn the essential reading list of a successful entrepreneur, disrupter, founder, and leader — this Book Wise ep is most definitely for you.Books mentioned:• “Successful Intelligence: How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success in Life” by Robert Sternberg• “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz• “Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy• “The Millionaire Next Door: The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko• “Elon Musk” by Walter IsaacsonSources:Audio clip featuring Walter Isaacson's Elon Musk commentary: The Diary of a CEO podcastUnlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
Jun 13, 2024
25 min
Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act": A Creativity Playbook?
On this episode, Britt Brewer is joined by BookClub CEO Jonathan Munk. She walks him through the “Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin – a meditation of sorts on the intersection of creativity and commerce.And, much like the notoriously zen Rubin – Britt and Munk don’t shy away from philosophical debates over the very nature of creativity, and what it means to be an artist.If you dig a thoughtful discussion, especially one that covers ego death, guitar solos, Run DMC, and the importance of “vibe-setting” – then this Book Wise ep is for you.Books mentioned:• The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
Jun 6, 2024
18 min
Introducing Book Wise: Leadership Through Books
Welcome to Book Wise, where we explore leadership through books.Books are “uniquely portable magic” (Stephen King) and “mirrors of the soul” (Virginia Woolf).From BookClub.com, host Britt Brewer (with guest host appearances from CEO Jonathan Munk) helps you find the next book that stops you in your tracks… and just might shape your life and career.
May 30, 2024
2 min
Meet Book Wise Host (and Fellow Bookworm) Britt Brewer
Britt Brewer, Sr. Director of Creative Experience at BookClub.com, takes a moment to welcome you to Book Wise.
May 30, 2024
1 min
Diana Nyad’s “Find a Way”: A 110-Mile Swim at Age 64
On this premiere ep of BookWise, BookClub.com CEO Jonathan Munk and Sr. Director of Creative Experience Britt Brewer dive deep (pun intended) into Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman’s Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream, by famed swimmer, Diana Nyad.Nyad notably swam from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida ( 110 miles - roughly 1936 football fields - you can picture that right?) at the young age of 64.But don’t worry. This isn’t a homework-listen, we promise. Munk and Britt roll up their sleeves to discuss the true meaning of achievement, AND reveal the hidden forces motivating endurance athletes to suffer on, despite facing an uphill battle of near-constant pain and uncertainty. So get cozy my type-A kings and queens - this one’s for you!Books mentioned:• “Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream” by Diana Nyad• “Open: An Autobiography” by Andre Agassi• “Ultra Marathon Man” by Dean KarnazesUnlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
May 30, 2024
20 min
5 Must-Read Books for Women in the Workplace ft. Samantha Dockser
On this episode, Britt Brewer welcomes to the pod popular BookTok influencer Samantha Dockser to discuss trending titles grappling with the big, hot-button issues facing a thoroughly modern economy.How do you avoid burnout? Can certain brands of feminism be downright toxic to your fellow fem-aligned colleagues? What do halos have to do with Taylor Swift? And is the U.S. government covering up undeniable proof of alien life? Okay…So…. Britt and Samantha do NOT turn into UFO truthers on this episode.BUT, they do break down what it means to be a Samantha, a multi-hyphenate Gen Z’er navigating an ever-shifting professional landscape, or a Britt, an extremely, EXTREMELY elder millennial just trying to stay relevant, and not accidentally offend the new hire. Tune in for a lively, cross-generational gabfest around women holding space in today’s modern workforce.Books mentioned:• “The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality” by Amanda Montell• “Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, • Wisdom, and Wonder” by Ariana Huffington• “White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind” by Koa Beck• “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters” by Priya Parker• “Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There” by Tara SchusterUnlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.
May 30, 2024
21 min