What’s one book everyone should read and why? It’s one of the questions we asked this year’s class of 20 in Their 20s honorees.
Their responses are below.
Mariana Abarca, multicultural liaison, City of Little Rock
“‘Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life’ by Henry Cloud and John Townsend is a book that truly transformed my perspective on life and helped me advance significantly.
“I feel that we, as humans, struggle to establish boundaries in our lives. We easily allow others to become our priority or to take control of our lives. However, this book has saved me and helped me create a balance by setting the right boundaries for personal and professional growth, without the guilt of being a bad person. Boundaries are crucial in our lives. They are very important, yet we rarely discuss them.
Manuel Barrantes, director of merchandise operations, Walmart Inc.
“‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins. This insightful work explores why some companies thrive while others falter, identifying key principles that lead to sustained success. It offers valuable lessons on leadership, organizational culture and strategic thinking.”
George Friedmann, principal & vice president of development, Moses Tucker Partners
“‘Steve Jobs.’ By exploring Steve’s successes, failures and eccentric leadership style, you will gain inspiration and lessons applicable to entrepreneurship and value creation.”
Eden Garrett, owner and chief flower officer, Eden’s Flower Truck + Eden’s Botanicals
“The Bible — perhaps an unpopular opinion in this day and age! It may be a challenging book for some, but there are so many modern translations for young adults that make approaching the text without prior knowledge less intimidating. Regardless of a person’s beliefs, the Bible contains foundational principles that are generally applicable and offers the reader life-changing words to live by.”
Jorge Gonzalez, director of business inclusion, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
“‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. This book was very instrumental in building my understanding of emotional intelligence, organizational management, and professional as well as personal development. Seeking first to understand, then to be understood, is one valuable takeaway. Everyone should read it because in it they can find different perspectives that can help increase quality of life!”
Tanner Green, co-founder & chief growth officer, Ox
“The one book that everyone should read is the ‘Tao Te Ching.’ It is a Chinese classic text about the foundation of Taoism. I personally recommend the Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English translation. It is rooted in timeless wisdom on living a simple, balanced and harmonious life by understanding and aligning with the natural world. After thousands of years and numerous translations, it’s still one of the most practical texts I’ve ever read.”
Trent Hanna, president & CEO, SSI Inc. of NW Arkansas
“‘Lead Like It Matters to God.’ While this book considers my personal beliefs and convictions, it also demonstrates how to lead people in the workplace by showing the kindness and compassion that they deserve. Being a boss isn’t always about telling people what to do, but rather it’s about working with them to reach some sort of mutual goal.”
Clara Henderson, continuous improvement facilitator, Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc.
“I would recommend ‘Seeing What Others Don’t’ by Gary Klein. It’s a fun read about recognizing what triggers those moments when good ideas hit you.”
Hayden Lewellen, forensic, valuation & litigation services manager, HoganTaylor LLP
“One book that I believe everyone should read is ‘Never Split the Difference’ by Chris Voss. This book emphasizes the importance of strong communication skills and understanding what drives and influences people, which are invaluable in both personal and professional interactions.
“Voss, a former FBI negotiator, shares practical strategies and insights on negotiation and communication that can be applied to various aspects of life. Whether you’re navigating complex business deals or simply trying to improve your everyday interactions, the techniques in this book can empower you to achieve better outcomes and build stronger relationships. It’s a transformative read that encourages continuous growth and understanding of human dynamics.”
Justin McCarty, community regional executive, Simmons Bank
“‘The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success.’ I read this book early in my career following a recommendation from a coworker, Ryder Bonham, and it really opened my eyes to the fact that while companies may be in different industries, regions or stages of the business life cycle, there are a few key common components that can make you and your company successful.”
Kylie McClanahan, chief technology officer, Bastazo
“‘You Look Like a Thing and I Love You’ by Janelle Shane. It is the best introduction to machine learning and artificial intelligence that I have ever read, and it requires no background in computer science, mathematics or technology. She does a phenomenal job of explaining why AI is weird, where it shows potential, and why we should be responsible about its use.”
Sheridan Owens, senior closing agent, Waco Title Co.
“‘Year of Yes’ by Shonda Rhimes is one book that I think everyone could benefit from reading. I’m an introvert and don’t love getting out of my comfort zone, but after reading this book, I challenged myself to say yes to some new experiences, which had a really positive effect on my life.”
Venesha Sasser, chief development officer, Walnut Hill Communications
“‘The Best Yes’ by Lysa TerKeurst. Saying yes to a new project or task is easy without considering your true capacities. I never want it to be easier to say yes without considering God’s will for my life. I revisit this book often because I want to make sure my choices directly correlate with God’s plan for my life. ‘The Best Yes’ is a great source of accountability, and I utilize it as a Bible study with others in my life who also have a heart for people. I truly recommend everyone read it at least once, although I revisit this book regularly.”
Tori Scott, communities manager, Excel by 8
“‘12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos’ by Jordan Peterson. He provides practical advice for navigating life’s challenges with wisdom and resilience.”
Ashlee Smith, chief retail officer, Farmers & Merchants Bank
“I enjoy reading fiction to relax and take my mind to a new creative place. My current favorite authors are Colleen Hoover and Kristin Hannah. The one I continue to read over and over is Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us.’ The story — of ending a cycle that you know is not benefiting you and adventuring down a new path in life — inspires me.”
Itzel Velazquez, capital access manager, Kiva Little Rock
“‘First Gen: A Memoir’ by Alejandra Campoverdi explores the real journey of pursuing the American dream.”
Evan Wheatley, Camden site communications lead, Lockheed Martin
“‘Blink’ by Malcolm Gladwell. This book breaks down the concept of ‘thin-slicing’ — filtering the few factors that matter amid a plethora of variables when making a decision. Through examples from a variety of disciplines, Gladwell dissects positive and negative ways that this technique can be employed in decision making. ‘Blink’ transformed the way I approach my work and presented a new paradigm that I have adopted in each area of my life.”
Sage White, manager of merchandise finance, Sam’s Club
“‘Boys in the Boat’ by Daniel James Brown. It is a powerful story about a group of resilient young men from Washington who defeated Nazi Germany in the 1936 Olympic rowing event to win gold. It is a book that will motivate you to go tackle any challenge, large or small. It also teaches the importance of every part of a team. Applying this to the workplace emphasizes the importance of having all teams coordinated to achieve goals.”
Andrew Wiechern, broker, Colliers Arkansas
“‘Greenlights’ by Matthew McConaughey. It is a textbook example of perseverance and the importance of living every day of your life to the fullest.”
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