Is there anything more satisfying than snuggling down with a new book and getting lost in the pages? And by lost, I mean nosediving headfirst like Alice into a new world that could change your perspective, challenge your assumptions or simply provide much-needed escapism.
I’m assuming you’ve said yes to yourself and nodded enthusiastically, in which case, you’re in for a literary treat.
Over a cuppa last week, it occurred to me that I had been seeking out recommendations on the socials and scrolling feverishly through the pages of Refinery29, The Cut and The Spinoff looking for meaty new pages to munch on.
At the same time, a handful of friends in various messenger groups had been doing the same and it got me wondering if Spring / Autumn is the perfect time of year to leap into new books? (Spring, needing those summer vibes / Autumn, needing to be inspired before winter hits).
To test this theory and learn my ass off, I have asked the clever folks here at Dev Academy to consider their top picks — in particular, books or podcasts that have inspired them to think differently or had a profound impact on their life.
We’ll be sharing recommendations from our teachers, support staff, students, alumni and the wider community. If you’d like to tell us your top picks, get in touch.
We’re kicking off with Admissions Lead, Jack Tolley, who has selected six very unique books.
Enjoy.
Tangata Whenua: A History
Reading the history of Aotearoa New Zealand written by Tangata Whenua authors really opened my eyes. Tangata Whenua takes you from the first arrivals of Māori to New Zealand over 1000 years ago, through the Land wars and the migration of Pakeha to Aotearoa in the 1800s and 1900s, to the recent history of contemporary urban and rural Māori landscapes, places and stories.
A deeply researched book about our history that some people have said is the most comprehensive indigenous history in the world.
The world will follow joy by Alice Walker
I love this book of poems and go back to it a lot. Alice Walker is a political poet who wrote Peonies for her friend Oprah Winfrey. Peonies has these wonderful final stanzas
“You are the peony, sister;
You are also the ant.
Thank you for biting through your
Own restrictions
And blooming
So fearlessly
All these years,
Affirming in brilliant colour and sound
Our own need to open
And helping us out.”
Tracks
The inspiring story of a woman who travels to Alice Springs with the idea that she will walk to the ocean on the coast of Western Australia. With camels and her dog. By herself.
“I experienced that sinking feeling you get when you know you have conned yourself into doing something difficult and there’s no going back.”
Landscape, people, ambition, and wisdom are all things that come to mind and it has been in my imagination since I first read it 5 years ago.
Tribe of Mentors
An awesome, digestible and excellent survey of some amazing people including futurist and founder of Wired Magazine, Kevin Kelly, founder of Brainpickings Maria Popova and also, Brene Brown who we love. Tim Ferriss asks simple questions of these people like ‘the best purchase you have made for under $100’ or ‘when you are stressed or performing under your ability, what do you do to tune back in?’
The Realization Process
In our house, at the moment we are spending a lot of time doing somatic meditations. Juliet Blackstone’s meditations that are derived from knowledge and understanding from psychology, science, Buddhism, Tai Chi to help you tune into the consciousness and connectedness of every day and every relationship.
The Story of the Human Body
Daniel Leiberman from Harvard takes you all the way through the last 6 million years in this book ‘The Story of the Human Body’. The book starts back at the point where we diverged from our last common ancestor with Chimpanzees 6 million years ago, through to becoming bipedal, developing culture, agriculture and the rapid pace of cultural evolution happening today.
Where homo from homo sapiens came into existence, and why our modern world is kinda not what we evolved to live in!
