Are you continually searching for books to add to your Kindle wish list? Maybe you’re in need of a good summer read for your next vacation or pool day? We asked several TSCPA members which books they would recommend for students or young CPAs who are just beginning their accounting career journey.  Check out the reading material they recommend for inspiration and motivation in both your career and personal life:

Kathy Kapka, CPA, TSCPA Chairman and Senior Lecturer of Accounting at The University of Texas at Tyler

• American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Kathy says: “I am currently reading [this book] for the second time, and am enjoying it all over again! This novel is fiction, but also very thought-provoking. The story line is about a man who finds himself lost in life without a rudder and the people he encounters who are not what they seem. It’s a satire about the human condition that is masterfully written. Anyone who is approaching change in their life, whether it’s starting college, a new job or moving to an unfamiliar place, will benefit from reading this novel!”

Kim Turner, CPA, Chief Audit Executive for the Texas Tech University System

• Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Kim says: “Change is inevitable, but it can be scary to imagine and difficult to accomplish. The authors give us a new way to look at change through numerous real-life examples in which one small thing (the switch) has been the catalyst for huge changes. The book is a fast and engaging read about how one person – no matter their position in an organization – can spur audacious changes at work, at home and in their community.”

 Ryan Bartholomee, CPA, CFO at Shenandoah Petroleum Corporation

• Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by David Ramsey

Ryan says: “I read this book early on in my career and it helped my wife and I get on the same page financially and to become goal-oriented in multiple areas of our lives. We were not intentional in our finances, even though I knew the right concepts from the finance courses that I took on the way to my accounting degree. Writing down goals and working hard to achieve them helped in my career. I’ve had doors open for me that I never would have dreamed would come this early on in my career. Stay humble.Work hard. Set goals and track your progress. Be consistent and always be improving your communication skills.”

Allyson Baumeister, CPA, Principal in Charge at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and TSCPA Immediate Past Chairman

• Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Allyson says: “Please don’t let the fact that this is a book for tweens stop you! Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy travel across Manhattan, from flea markets to fancy office buildings, searching for keys that will unlock an odd box left to Jeremy by his father. They find adventure and maturity along the way. One of my all-time favorites!”

• Good to Great by Jim Collins

Allyson says: “One of the best business books ever written! Jim Collins and a team of researchers studied 6000 articles, generated more than 2,000 pages of interview transcripts and created 384 megabytes of computer data over a five-year period. Their goal was to determine why some companies achieve the level of great, while most only make it to good, or fail in the effort altogether. Their findings can be applied by anyone.”

Tim Pike, CPA, Partner at Howard LLP

• The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Tim says: “This book discusses various psychological and spiritual ideas as the main character undertakes a journey to find and understand a series of nine ancient manuscripts in Peru. This book has several philosophical considerations that can be applied to life. When I first read this book, it opened my eyes to considering various points-of-view before forming conclusions.”

• The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

Tim Says: “Ultimately, this book provides techniques to increase productivity, job satisfaction and personal prosperity. As the title suggests, it promotes the ‘less is more’ approach. I chose this book because, despite references in the title, there are several cross-lessons that are crucial to becoming an effective leader in an organization, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a student in an undergraduate program.”

What are you currently reading this summer? Share your book recommendations in the comments below!