She's the First Summer Reading Bookshelf

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Katie Riley

In my last post I told you about one of my new favorite books, How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World. The reading fun continues as I am proud to present to you…the She’s the First bookshelf!

She's the First Book ShelfYou can join our book club on Shelfari to keep up with what we’ve read, what we want to read, and what books you think we should check out! Here’s a sneak preview of a few of the books on our shelf…

Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn: Half the Sky is the ultimate call to action for girls in the developing world. Kristof and WuDunn deliver compelling case studies about girls from all over the globe, with more facts than you’ll know what to do with. It’s a great introduction to why every girl needs an education, and I promise, once you’ve read it you’ll want to make sure every single student gets a chance to be the first.

Give a Little, by Wendy Smith: As we’ve mentioned many times on Facebook, we love Wendy Smith’s Give a Little. I am finally getting the chance to read it and it’s becoming a fast favorite. Wendy proves that giving just a little is not throwing a drop in the bucket – it’s the smallest donations that can make the biggest impact!

The Sandwich Swap, by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio: Here’s a nice break from heavy research — a children’s book! Queen Rania is a huge inspiration to everyone at She’s the First, and she did not disappoint us with this adorable story. The Sandwich Swap teaches tolerance and acceptance through the story of two best friends from different worlds – the worlds of peanut butter & jelly versus hummus! As an added bonus, all proceeds from this book will go to Madrasati Jordan, Queen Rania’s education initiative to improve the learning environment in 500 public schools.

Zilch, by Nancy Lublin: CEO of DoSomething.org Nancy Lublin shares her secrets on how businesses can take a hint from non-profit organizations and do much more with a whole lot less. Lublin’s energy and enthusiasm bring this book to life, and the lessons she teaches can be applied to your life, not just your company.

Our shelf also includes some education-themed favorites: Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson and The Price of Stones by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri; and team-building book Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsiesh.

What books would you add to the She’s the First shelf? Head on over and put your favorites on the shelf or let us know in the comments. Happy reading!

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  • Katie Riley

    I just added Mountains Beyond Mountains to the group shelf. While it’s not specifically about education, it’s a must-read for anyone sponsoring a student from the Haiti Outreach Program.

    The book is about Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health. The title is from a Haitian proverb – “Beyond mountains, there are mountains.” This book tells the story of how Partners in Health began and the impact that Haiti had on Dr. Farmer’s life.

    Partners in Health is the organization that made education possible in Boucan Carre, Haiti. The Haiti Outreach Program began working with PIH over a decade ago and built a hospital in Boucan Carre. As people became healthier, class attendance increased and the school started to expand!

    If you have sponsored a Haiti Outreach Program student and would like to know a little more about what life might be like for them, then this is definitely a book to check out!

  • http://plumpynutpress.wordpress.com/ Elizabeth Stoltz

    I agree with Mountains Beyond Mountains. It’s such a tremendously inspiring book! Dr. Farmer wrote Pathologies of Power, which is also a fantastic analysis of structural violence – the political and social forces that keep the developing world in poverty. While it’s more of a textbook read, it’s still extremely enlightening and well-written. I definitely recommend it!

    I’d also add “There is no me without You” by Melissa Fay Greene. It’s the true story of a woman in Ethiopia who opened her home to hundreds of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. She was the first woman in her village to welcome children who had lost their parents or suffered from AIDS. I was swept up in this tumultuous story and felt as if I was living right there with Haregewoin Teferra and all of her “adopted” children. Greene is an incredible author and also adopted children from Ethiopia! If you sponsor an Ethiopian child or are interested in books like the ones listed above, this is an absolute must read!