Staff Picks for Summer Reading

It's officially summer - the days are long and warm with plenty of time to relax at the park or poolside with you favorite book or podcast. If you're looking to add to your library, the staff at Sol has shared their favorite books and podcasts to inspire you! Whether you want to learn about leadership, affordable housing, community, or equity, each of these resources has helped our various team members not just perform their roles with excellence, but develop a deeper understanding about themselves and the critical work we can all play to build a brighter, more joyful world for all.

Kelle's Recommendation:  The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

As a Fair Housing educator for over two decades, the continued presence of housing discrimination is no secret to me. What The Color of Law provided, however, was an invaluable lens into the historical architecture of this injustice. It meticulously detailed how our nation's past policies intentionally created and perpetuated housing segregation, offering an indispensable understanding of the deep-rooted origins of some of our most intractable contemporary challenges. (Miriam recommends this book as well!)

Miriam's Recommendation: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

Evicted puts name and heart to the eight families struggling with the insufferable smothering affect of poverty and the unfair system that traps them and keeps knocking them down in life. I don’t believe this is acceptable and I want to see changes that acknowledge the full impact of poverty on our economy and workforce. If we want to improve our city, we need to understand that removing poverty also removes the impacts and outcomes of poverty, allowing everyone in our society to benefit.

Felipe's Recommendation: Acquired (podcast) and Interesting Times (podcast)

Given that I read too many housing policy and funding cuts stories these are two podcasts that help in my role building and sustaining a great company in a period of growth at Sol Housing among complex challenges in our economy and political climate: 

Acquired - The podcast "about great companies and the stories and playbooks behind them" hosted by David Rosenthal and Ben Gilbert. As a kid I was most drawn to biographies in the spirit of Horatio Alger raise yourself up by the bootstrap stories. This podcast in long form (often 3-10 hours) does a great job of telling the story of the founders and key moments in the growth of companies you have heard of and many you have not.

Interesting Times - "Mapping the new world order through interviews and conversations" by Ross Douthat. Since its inception earlier this year it has illuminated relevant topics like AI, immigration, culture and power. At an hour much more in depth with key insiders in Washington (on both sides of the aisle), Silicon Valley and other leaders globally. 

Kenzie's Recommendation: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Demonstrates the importance of trust – in oneself and our relationships – to build stronger communities. The book offers simple, clear ways to build trust and examples of the ramifications – including increased expediency and decreased costs – when trust is established.

Bob's Recommendation: Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman

I cannot more strongly recommend Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman.  This book succinctly puts a voice to the reasons I am so pleased to be helping Sol Housing meet its ambitious mission in the public interest.

Meadow's Recommendation: How to do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy By Jenny Odell

This book changed how I feel about my own productivity and how to regain my own attention span to become more intentional about where my attention goes and how I view/ accomplish my goals in different areas of my life.

Kaleena's Recommendation: Homelessness is a Housing Problem by Greg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern

As someone who has worked in nonprofit for nearly six years but is newer to the affordable housing landscape, this book helped me deeply understand the connection to the housing market and homelessness across cities throughout the United States. I had the fortune of hearing Greg Colburn present on this topic at the 2025 Livability Speakers Series, and I believe this research is crucial to not only helping others connect to the root issue of pervasive homelessness (housing market conditions), but ultimately change the narrative about housing, and the harmful stereotypes that perpetuate those beliefs.

If any of our shared books spark your interest, be sure pick them up at any of these independent New Mexico bookstores!