Insight
Upland’s Summer Reading List
This summer, our team is diving into books that spark fresh thinking, expand our perspectives, and inspire the work we do. From strategy and systems to culture and creativity, here’s what’s on our list.
Sun, Sand and Systems Thinking for Growth Strategy
This summer, our team is diving into books that spark fresh thinking, expand our perspectives, and inspire the work we do. From growth strategy and systems to culture and creativity, here’s what’s on our list.
Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su
A heartfelt invitation to see math as a tool for justice, joy, and connection. perfect for rethinking how we make meaning from patterns.
Influence by Robert Cialdini
The classic playbook on persuasion psychology. why we say ‘yes’ and how to use that power wisely in work, marketing, and life.
Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh
A love letter to real-world cooking. inclusive, unfussy, deeply human. A reminder that creativity starts with comfort and care, not perfection.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Part meditation, part manual, this book helps unlock creative intuition across disciplines, from business to art.
Imaginable by Jane McGonigal
A practical toolkit for stretching OUR foresight muscles and envisioning future scenarios with clarity, creativity, and calm—based on research at the Institute for the Future.
For the Culture by Marcus Collins
A fresh, actionable look at how culture drives behavior and how brands, movements, and leaders can tap into it authentically and powerfully.
Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! by Julio Vincent Gambuto
A joyful, no-nonsense guide to cutting the clutter, reclaiming your time, and living a more intentional, values-driven life—starting with your inbox.
When We’re in Charge by Amanda Litman
A bold, optimistic roadmap for what politics and leadership can look like when young people and new voices shape the future.
At UPLAND, our clients count on our curiosity. We pull insights from everywhere: across disciplines, genres, and unexpected perspectives to fuel growth strategy.
That’s why we like to stay sharp with our old-school summer reading list. Thanks for checking out this year’s stack that includes culture shapers, kitchen-table philosophers, and brainy beach reads that push our thinking forward.
