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Mindset by Carol S. Dweck Ph.D.
A powerful exploration of how our beliefs about intelligence and talent shape success, this book reveals the difference between a fixed and growth mindset—and how shifting your perspective can unlock potential in school, work, and relationships. Backed by research, it's both practical and deeply transformative.
The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors by James Mills
This compelling narrative sheds light on the racial divide in outdoor recreation, blending personal stories, historical context, and social commentary. With insight and urgency, it challenges the industry to confront exclusion and celebrates the resilience of Black adventurers reclaiming space in nature.
Powder Days by Heather Hansman
Blending immersive journalism with personal reflection, this book dives into the modern ski industry's roots in counterculture and its collision with wealth, climate, and identity. It’s a thought-provoking read for outdoor professionals navigating where passion meets pressure—and what it means to build a life in the mountains today.
The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro
Through globe-spanning stories and candid reflection, Shapiro reveals how being a gay Jewish man shaped his work as an NPR foreign correspondent—reporting from war zones, refugee camps, and presidential campaigns—sometimes opening doors, other times putting him at risk. It’s a sharp, heartfelt exploration of identity, displacement, and the deep perspective that comes from moving through unfamiliar terrain—externally and within.
The Innovator’s DNA by Dyer, Gregersen and Christensen
Grounded in research on the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and leaders, this book breaks down five key behaviors—questioning, observing, networking, experimenting, and associating—that drive innovative thinking. It’s a practical, insight-rich guide for anyone looking to spark bold ideas and lead meaningful change from wherever they stand.
The Push: A Climber's Search for the Path by Tommy Caldwell
In this raw and riveting memoir, Caldwell unpacks the personal and physical climbs that shaped his identity—from surviving a hostage crisis in Kyrgyzstan to achieving the first free ascent of Yosemite’s Dawn Wall. Along the way, he confronts loss, self-doubt, and reinvention, offering a powerful reflection on how discipline, vulnerability, and vision can turn adversity into achievement.
American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee
Set against the raw beauty of Yellowstone, this gripping true story follows the rise and fall of a legendary alpha female wolf—and the scientists, hunters, and locals whose values collided around her. Through layered storytelling and hard-won perspective, it reveals how empathy, narrative, and shared landscape can open space for dialogue in even the most polarized debates. A must-read for anyone navigating culture change, conflict, and the tangled dynamics between people, policy, and place.
Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves Can Save the Earth by Nancy Marie Brown
Drawing from Icelandic folklore, Brown explores the country’s belief in elves as a cultural narrative that challenges how we define truth, value, and impact. By weaving story with landscape, she reveals how storytelling can be a serious tool—for interpreting place, honoring lived experience, and rethinking the assumptions baked into policy, planning, and progress. It’s an invitation to see the world—and our roles within it—with new eyes.
The Unlikely Thru-Hiker by Derick Lugo
Launching from Brooklyn with zero camping experience and a heavy pack, Derick Lugo ventures onto the 2,190‑mile Appalachian Trail as a Black thru‑hiker. Along the way, he tracks his evolution from urban novice to confident adventurer, sharing moments of deep connection, trail‑magic generosity, and but also micro‑aggressions, loneliness, and the stark whiteness of the hiking community. Lugo leans into empathy, resilience, humor, and openness, ultimately demonstrating how vulnerability and authenticity can bridge cultural divides.
The Expedition Series by Jason Lewis
Spanning thirteen years and four continents, The Expedition chronicles Jason Lewis’s record-setting, human-powered circumnavigation of the globe—traveling by foot, pedal, and paddle alone. What begins as a bold idea becomes a relentless pursuit of mission, tested by storms, injuries, bureaucracy, and the grind of progress made slowly, mile by mile. Along the way, Lewis confronts not only the physical extremes of the planet, but the internal demands of consistency, restraint, and conviction. It’s a story about integrity, grit, and what it really means to commit—fully and without shortcuts—to something bigger than yourself, even when no one’s keeping score.
Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes by Alastair Humphreys
Tired of waiting for the “right time” to chase adventure, Alastair Humphreys makes a compelling case for finding it right outside your door. In this witty, resourceful guide, he reframes the extraordinary as something achievable in the everyday—overnight hikes, riverside bivvies, and spontaneous detours squeezed between work and routine. It’s a reminder that you don’t need more time—just a shift in mindset to start living a little wilder, now.
Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery by Steph Jagger
Chasing a world record for most vertical feet skied in a year, Steph Jagger sets out on a global expedition fueled by ambition—but finds herself pulled into a deeper reckoning with identity, belonging, and the narratives that shaped her. As the miles stack up, so do the questions: about femininity, freedom, and what power sounds like in her own voice. Unbound is a fast-moving, fearless reflection on momentum, permission, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story mid-descent.
Build it Boldly by Dr. Kim McGlonn
Grounded in her experience founding Grant Blvd—a Black woman–owned sustainable B‑Corp built on upcycled materials, living-wage jobs, and second chances for the formerly incarcerated—Dr. Kim McGlonn roots her book in the real work of environmental justice. She shows how ethical sourcing, equitable hiring, and thoughtful design aren’t just business practices—they’re storytelling tools that shape culture and repair connection. Through memoir, sharp analysis, and actionable insight, she makes the case for building movements—not just brands—centered on care for both people & planet.
