The ITP guide to summer books and podcasts
Ever feel like you're drowning in a sea of content? We don't blame you. Last year alone, over 4 million books hit the shelves, and there are now more than 4 million podcasts out there with a whopping 70 million episodes.
Talking about information overload!
No stress, though—we've got you covered. Sharing knowledge is a fundamental part of who we are, and we love to spread the word about the gems that inspire us. That's why we've put together a list of our favourite books and podcasts to help you sift through the content tsunami. Whether you're lounging by the pool, road-tripping, or chilling in your backyard, these recommendations will get you buzzing with new ideas.
Let's get started!
ITP book picks:
- "Smart Brevity" by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
- Who suggested it: Frederik De Bosschere (Lead Strategist)
- Why you should read it: "Meetings, emails, content sharing, slides…They're all about communicating and telling a story. Unfortunately, most stories lack punch. Rather, they meander, putting quantity before quality. AI-generated text only makes this worse. Smart Brevity is a refreshing reminder that less is more."
- Who suggested it: Emma Braeye (VP People)
- Why you should read it: “This book helps you understand and navigate cultural differences in this insightful and practical guide."
- Who recommended it: Anastasiya Vaynraukh (Quality Engineer)
- Why you should read it: "Even though this book was published long ago (1936), the author provides practical guidance that I feel everyone could apply somehow in any kind of life situation (professional or personal). This book inspired me to be a better person, and I wish I had known some of these principles already."
- Who recommended it: Thijs Morlion (Team Lead)
- Why you should read it: "It has been eye-opening for me. Richard talks about many holistic philosophical concepts like happiness, but he does this a lot through the lenses of different authors, people from the past, philosophers, and so on. The book is his take on how to live a good life while exploring and exploiting many opportunities while living it."
- Who recommended it: Yannis Tenret (Client Partner Manager)
- Why you should read it: "Is there a dark side to digital for our youth? Even if you disagree, you should give this interesting read, which draws on anthropological, sociological and psychological research, a chance!"
- Who recommended it: Lore Ott (Marketing Manager)
- Why you should read it: "It’s a great fiction read that dives into the world of game development and creative collaboration. It's all about partnership and the rollercoaster ride of building something together, just like digital product creation."
ITP podcast picks:
- Who recommended it: Hannes Van de Velde (COO)
- Why you should listen to it: "This 40-minute interview between Dua Lipa and Tim Cook is your perfect holiday listen and mash-up between technology and pop culture. Covering the intersection between creativity, leadership and innovation, this interview is both an easy and inspiring listen."
- Who recommended it: Robert Stöhr (Tribe Lead)
- Why you should listen to it: "He interviews a wide range of thought leaders in tech (product, engineering, sales, HR, mental health, etc.) in a very open and sincere way. It's a great way to build up knowledge beyond your specialisation."
- Who recommended it: Pooria Nobahari (Business Developer)
- Why you should listen to it: "It’s a great exploration of a lot of interesting and relevant topics, from intelligence to AI, politics, philosophy, love, and even meditation."
- Who recommended it: Simon Raes (Senior Software Engineer)
- Why you should listen to it: "We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for the education of the grown-ups—and they are all true. They might not all apply to your own life, but they are still interesting and well-told stories."
We hope you've found some exciting new additions to your reading list and podcast queue. To keep the momentum going, why not start a conversation with your colleagues about what you're reading or listening to? You might spark an interesting discussion!
Happy reading and listening!
