Here at Capacity, we love a good book.
Whether it’s reading for pleasure – for a bit of escapism and glimpse into another world – or reading for professional development – to learn more about the work we do and how we do it – we’re always on the lookout for some inspiration and recommendations on what to read next. We love reading so much, we even allocate each member of our team a £100 annual book allowance.
This World Book Day, we want to share our ‘Great Reads’, the books that have inspired, motivated and engaged us. With that in mind, we asked the team to share what’s on their bookshelves.
Sara Chattun, Senior Designer and Doer
The Lion Women of Tehran, Marjan Kamali
The Lion Women of Tehran is a vibrant, moving novel about resistance, friendship, and the power of storytelling in the face of oppression. Set against the backdrop of Iran’s turbulent history, it follows bold women who refuse to be silenced. But beyond the powerful themes, this book makes you want to dive into Persian cooking as it talks about a raft of culinary delights in between the turmoil the characters are facing.
Emma Lord, Director of Design and Doing
All My Mothers, Joanna Glen
All My Mothers is a beautifully written novel that follows Eva, a young girl searching for the true meaning of motherhood beyond biology, uncovering the many forms of love, care, and belonging that shape a life. My sister bought me this book, and I love it when people buy me books—it was thoughtful, poignant, and a reminder of the different kinds of mothering we experience and need throughout our lives.
The Design Thinking Toolbox, Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link and Larry Leifer
The Design Thinking Toolbox is a fantastic resource, offering a wide range of practical tools within the broader service design methodology. It’s easy to dip in and out of for inspiration, making it a go-to guide that I’ve shared widely with my team.
Heather Mackelden, Business Coordinator
Unwell Women, Elinor Cleghorn
I’ve been reading Unwell Women. It’s a history of medicine’s mystification and misdiagnosis of women’s illness and pain. It’s excellent at sharing the voices of women who weren’t listened to during their lives. I’ve found it upsetting and infuriating, but a brilliant read.
George Leroy, Senior Development Manager
Wilding, Isabella Tree
I’ve recently finished Wilding and absolutely loved it. It’s a fascinating and inspiring read that explores the power of nature to restore itself when given the chance, such an important topic for the world that we live in. The book chronicles the transformation of the Knepp Estate in England from intensively farmed land to a thriving rewilded landscape bursting with biodiversity and species regeneration. Tree’s storytelling is really vivid and provides challenging but ultimately positive ecological insights. The book makes a really powerful case for rewilding as a solution to environmental decline. This book is great if you’re passionate about conservation, if you simply love nature, or if you just want to read something beautiful and inspiring. Wilding is an eye-opening and hopeful book that will change the way you see the natural world.
Sophie Kervin, Insight, Learning and Comms Coordinator
The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
I read The Goldfinch a few years ago and absolutely loved it – it’s one of my all time favorites. A beautifully written coming-of-age epic, it had me gripped from the start and I couldn’t put it down. It’s pure escapism and I can’t recommend it enough, so much so that I’ve gifted it to many people.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, Daniel Pink
Drive is a brilliant, accessible account of the psychology of motivation. Focusing on the three dimensions of motivation: autonomy, mastery and purpose, it’s a great science-backed insight into the power of intrinsic motivation.
Peter Smith, Head of Insight and Comms
The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder
I picked up The Bridge of San Luis Rey in a charity shop recently. It was branded ‘Penguin Modern Classic’, so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s set in eighteenth century Peru. A rope bridge collapses, killing five strangers. Was it an accident or some divine intervention? It’s a short book, beautifully written and asks questions about life, death and destiny. It’s really profound and mystical. I loved it. I found out after reading that it won the Pulitzer Prize in the 1920s.
Becky Austin, Designer and Doer
Educated, Tara Westover
Educated is a memoir about the transformative power of education that has stayed with me a long time after reading it. Tara recounts her childhood being raised in an extremist survivalist household in rural Idaho, preparing for the end of days she is isolated from mainstream society. As a teenager she decides to educate herself against her family’s wishes, eventually opening up her mind and world further than she could have imagined. It’s an incredible story of resilience, determination and how being open to learning can set us free.
