The 10 Books Inspiring Our Startup this Fall
A novel, a nice nook, and a little solitude — sign us up. Peruse a sampling of recommendations, curated by Compass’ most prolific authors and readers.
Words: Chelsea Mullen
Images+Styling: Irina Anisimova and Andrew Rutledge
The Interface: IBM and the Transformation of Corporate Design, 1945–1976 by John Harwood (University of Minnesota Press, 2011)
As the Senior Art Director for Compass’ LA office and collaborator on kid-friendly coffee table book Alphabetacool, Jeremiah Chiu is tuned into the intricacies of visual strategy. “Beyond good design and beautiful objects, the IBM team focused on innovation and theory. In my personal and professional life, it’s important for me to always ask ‘why?’ and to engage in design philosophy as much as design aesthetic.”
The Gardening Life of Beatrix Jones Farrand, 1872–1959 by Jane Brown (Viking, 1995)
Molly Peter, Vice President of Compass DC, connects this biography of landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand with her love of Capital scenery, a centerpiece of which Farrand designed. “Dumbarton Oaks, in the heart of Georgetown, is my favorite park. In a city of monumental architecture, it’s a quiet jewel, designed to evolve and last — much like what I hope for my team at Compass.”
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Alice Wallace (Random House, 2014)
kyle ranson-walsh our Senior Marketing and Creative Producer, lived Creativity Inc. for a decade, working in film production at Pixar. “Even after an unprecedented string of box-office and critical hits, Pixar never takes the success of its next film for granted,” he says, “The lesson of its co-founder’s memoir-meets-business guide is that creating an environment that fosters creativity takes intention. You don’t get it for free.”
Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal by Joseph Alexiou (NYU Press, 2015)
New York-based Associate Brokers and Brooklyn locals Jesse Shafer and Greg McHale of The Shafer-McHale Team devoured this tribute to the borough’s infamous waterway. “An incredibly rich perspective is unlocked when you understand a place. A true tale of innovation, industry, crime, and real estate, the story of this filthy and wondrous canal is in fact the story of Brooklyn itself.”
Zen Computer: Mindfulness and the Machine by Phil Toshio Sudo (Simon and Schuster, 1999)
At Compass, we’re people empowered by technology,” says Miami Real Estate Advisor David Carson. “Zen Computer is a reflection on that relationship — an inspiration to maintain mindfulness in all that we do and a reminder that, in an era of unprecedented technological progress, the way of the future is still through our attention to the present.”
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton (Vintage, 2008)
Longtime magazine editor and contributing writer of Kate Spade: All in Good Taste, Editorial Director Amy Perry knows selecting or selling a home is more than a financial transaction. “Both decisions are imbued with emotion: memory, harmony, self-expression.” It follows that de Botton’s brisk treatise makes her cut. “He illuminates an academic topic for casual architecture lovers, writing ‘What we search for in a work of architecture is not in the end so far from what we search for in a friend.’ It’s a convincing argument with insights matched to images across styles, geographies, and eras.”
Find a Way by Diana Nyad (Knopf, 2015)
The Managing Director of our Boston office, Jeannemarie Conley finds a compelling message in Nyad’s autobiography detailing her record-setting swim from Cuba to Florida. “As a real estate agent, you’re faced with challenges you must overcome to close a sale. There’s always more than one way to succeed, and sometimes the path you take first doesn’t work out as you thought. But you must find a way!”
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye by Naomi Beckwith (Prestel, 2014)
Compass’ Senior Vice President in Boston, Less Arnold is appreciative of the way creative touches bring a space to life. “Lovingly-chosen art allows a house to reflect the personality of its owners and become a true home. At the top of my wish list: a portrait by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. Her innate ability to snare the soul of her subjects in thoughtful reflection captures the peace that I want my new Fort Point loft to embody.”
Yes is More: An Archicomic on Architectural Evolution by Bjarke Ingels (Taschen, 2009)
As Chief Operating Officer of Compass and author of Money Makers, David Snider’s interest in architecture and innovation led him to this “archicomic” by Danish starchitect Bjarke Ingels. “It highlights the full spectrum of the architecture process from conceptualization to completion. It especially resonated with me given the many phases of our new development work at Compass.”
The Selby is in Your Place by Todd Selby (Abrams, 2010)
Sue Apfelbaum’s talents as a UX writer and author of Designing the Editorial Experience allow her to empathize with interiors photographer Todd Selby’s endeavor to show a “just right” balance. “Writing for interfaces is sort of like the tale of Goldilocks: say too much, and you might overwhelm users, but say too little, and they’ll feel out of place. Selby captures creative people living in various states of accumulation. The beauty is in how they make their homes distinct and personal, yet completely welcoming.”
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