In the hustle and bustle of our work days, it’s easy to forget that your co-workers have lives outside of the office walls. What, you watch TV too!? I mean, it shouldn’t seem so unusual that we aren’t all strategizing and thinking about PR tactics 24 hours a day. But oddly enough, it’s easy to forget.
And so to find out more about the Cookerly crew – and in light of the gift-buying season – I polled the office to find out who’s reading what and which are the favorite books of Suite 510.
So here it is. A few of our favorites. Old and new. Solemn and silly. Fiction and non.
The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion
Her personal account of coping with grief following the death of her husband. Don’t be fooled, it’s actually uplifting and paints a beautiful image of her marriage. (Carol M.)
Complete Poems, 1904-1962
E.E. Cummings
You’ll let go of the most basic of rules – even grammar. Plus, who else can get away with words like “puddle-wonderful” and “mud-luscious?” (Leslie)
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins
An insider’s look at how the private sector – especially government contractors – has worked with the U.S. government to invest in and (sometimes) exploit developing countries. (Matt)
East of Eden
John Steinbeck
Steinbeck’s efficient prose always makes for enjoyable reading, and this story of human morality is both compelling and shocking, asking as many questions as it answers. (Mike)
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer
James L. Swanson
“It’s one of the best narratives I’ve ever read. I couldn’t put it down.” (Carol C.)
One Month to Live
Chris & Kerry Shook
An inspirational book that makes you think and will change your approach to life. (Debbie)
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Eric Weiner
A combination of travel and the study of happiness. An interesting insight into how culture, political landscape and location influence our happiness. (Candace)
The Majic Bus: An American Odyssey
Douglas Brinkley
Not to be confused with The Magic School Bus (the children’s series about zany Ms. Frizzle and her field trips into the human body), The Majic Bus chronicles a real-life college professor’s quest to teach an American history class firsthand by taking his students on the road to some of our nation’s historical hotspots. (Sarah)
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Eckhart Tolle
Powerful. A great book of knowledge. (Linda)
The Thirteenth Tale
Diane Setterfield
A mystery involving siblings, a ghost, a fire and an unexpected twist at the end. (Suzy)
To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee
The storytelling is wonderful, the story is captivating and the characters are memorable. (Ada)
Valley of the Dolls
Jacqueline Susann
Glitz, glamour, drugs and drama circa 1945. The novel begins just after WWII and profiles three young rebellious and feisty women on their journey to fame and eventual self-destruction. (Amy)
Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
It’s hard not to fall in love with Jacob Jankowski (at age 20 and age 90) or get caught up in the world of the 1930s traveling circus. (Lindsay)
World Almanac
Geeky? Maybe. Interesting? Always. Flip through the almanac for everything from the population of your home town, to the distance from Earth to Mars, to past NFL playoff results. (Chip)
Full disclosure: I really just wanted some suggestions for my own wish list, but in the spirit of the holidays, I’m sharing.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.