Darby Summer Reading List {6 Book Suggestions from Outdoor Industry PR Agency Pros}

Summertime is almost here and the Darby crew has filled the office vacation calendar with many adventures and getaways, while also squeezing in plenty of work, too — did we mention summer is the busiest time of the year for an outdoor industry PR agency? There’s just something about summer though — it has us taking more time to enjoy our days off and also relaxing with a good book in our hands. So, we’ve decided to compile a list of our favorite outdoor and adventure reads for you to enjoy. These books allow us to dive into the world of adventure that drove us all to work in the outdoor industry in the first place.

1. Our founder, Coral Darby, has been a paddler for as long as she can remember. In fact, she and her husband used to own a paddling store in Bozeman, MT. So, it comes as no surprise that her outdoor adventure book recommendation is “Amazon Woman” by Darcy Gaechter. Coral says “I love this book and have shared it with others in the office. Gaechter is so courageous and one phenomenal kayaker. This novel is action-packed with thrilling whitewater and crazy encounters with the Cartel.” We give it a 10 out of 10 for reading lakeside this summer.

2. AT thru-hiker and our Social Media Specialist, Ashleigh Sherman, is a bit of a fangirl of Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson, even nominating her for our Women’s History Month highlight in 2020. For those looking to dive into what it takes to go for the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail, Ashleigh suggests Anderson’s second book, “Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail.” Ashleigh shares “Just as Anish was able to replicate her success on the trail, she was also able to replicate her success on the page. Her second memoir is even more moving than her first, with Heather giving her readers an inside look as she wrestles with failure, struggles with self-doubt, and grapples with her newfound fame and identity…all while tackling nearly 2,200 miles.”

3. Our Media Relations Director and outdoor-loving mama of two, Suzanne Hermann, has enjoyed escaping reality this past year through the fictional book, “The Great Alone,” by Kristin Hannah. Suzanne says that “Although it isn’t a book about the outdoors per se, it definitely sheds light on the brutal conditions people living on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula endure and even grow to love. This story centers around the often intense dynamics of a fictional family, but its portrayal of the unforgiving Alaskan environment where they live is what really drew me in. Alaska remains on my bucket list!”

4. New Account Coordinator and 14er collector, Lysianne Peacock, recommends “the Nature Principle” by Richard Louv, author of “The Last Child in the Woods.” This book explores how to live in nature, not with it. Louv does a great job providing interesting and relevant anecdotes to explain his ideas. 

5. Account Executive and participant in the Joy Trip Reading Project, Hannah Kaminer, can’t stop talking about the amazing “Gloryland” by Shelton Johnson. It’s a novel about a man who is born on Emancipation Day in South Carolina and leaves the Jim Crow South. He ends up working as a Buffalo Soldier in the U.S. Calvary and finding freedom and peace in Yosemite. It’s a gripping narrative and also has such beautiful descriptions of the West. Shelton Johnson, who wrote this book, is a National Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park.

6. New Darby dad and Digital Marketing Director, Cory Van Auken, is a big fan of business and marketing strategy and development books. His recommendation for a good summer read is “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard. Cory says “Chouinard is legendary and his path to building Patagonia into the powerhouse brand it is today is full of adventure, failure, and insightful experience. As much a philosophical manual on business as it is a book on environmental and social responsibility, this book is one that every outdoor industry PR agency should add to their staff reading list.”

What’s on your summer reading list? Share it with us in the comments below! If you are looking for more recommendations for the summer, check out our list of 6 Outdoor Podcasts You Should Listen To Right Now {According to Outdoor Industry PR Agency Professionals}