Sharing our team's reading list is a tradition here at Astella. For the last 9 years, annually in December, we show the books that captured our attention and accompanied us during the last 365 days on our desks.
More than just suggestions, this selection of books reflects the search for knowledge and inspiration of each member of our team. We are passionate about learning and believe that each new page allows us to accumulate information and unlock new insights.
In this year's edition, we brought 10 books that impacted the lives of part of our team. We hope you like it and leave here with tips for your next readings!
1. Man's Search for Meaning (Viktor Frankl)
Recommended by: Daniel Chalfon
Why read? Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and the father of logotherapy, offers a profound reflection on the human search for meaning, even in the most adverse conditions.
Featured excerpt:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
2. O Segredo do Bonzo (Machado de Assis)
Recommended by: Daniel Chalfon
Why read? In this short story, the genius Machado de Assis defined the world of social networks over 100 years ago. A timeless satire about the importance of the opinion of others versus reality.
Featured excerpt:
“A thing can exist in opinion, without existing in reality, and exist in reality, without existing in opinion; the conclusion is that of the two parallel existences the only necessary one is that of opinion, not that of reality, which is just convenient.”
3. Oração para Desaparecer (Socorro Acioli)
Recommended by: Ana Rezende
Why read? Unlike what the title of the book suggests, its subject matter is not related to religion. I recommend the book to people who are always looking to learn more about themselves. The book chronicles the process of searching for who one is, using an engaging and unusual narrative.
Featured excerpt:
“Life is made of words, they explain and make you born and die. If no one pronounces a name, that being is dead, even if it breathes and carries a beating heart in its chest. To be alive is to be a word in someone's mouth. Not remembering them condemned me to the abyss, not knowing the names of the people, of my place, the narrative of my life, everything we are is history, and history is told in words.”
4. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
Recommended by: Flora Trujillo
Why read? Jane Austen's great classic that crosses generations with vitality. It is an engaging reading filled with satire, fervent dialogues, strong protagonists, countless judgments and emotions, reflecting the author's detailed view of her society, habits and types.
Featured excerpt:
“Vanity and pride are different things, although the words are generally used synonymously. Pride is more tied to our own opinion of ourselves, and vanity to what we think others think of us.”
5. The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
Recommended by: Flora Trujillo
Why read? An easy and enjoyable read, which encourages reflection on the famous “what if” - what if I had done something different? Thought that emerges in the most diverse fields of our lives, from professional to intimate. To make one choice is also to renounce others; much of what we experience is the perspective we choose.
Featured excerpt:
“Between life and death, there is a library. And inside that library, the shelves are endless. Each book provides an opportunity to experience another life that you could have lived. To see what things would be like if you had made other choices... Would you have done something different, if there were the chance?”
6. Perfections (Vincenzo Latronico)
Recommended by: Bruno Peroni
Why read? It is a short fictional book that describes with richness and acidity the dilemmas and existential challenges of millennials, the standardization of the world (industrial architecture, specialty coffee, avocado toasts) and gentrification.
Featured excerpt:
“It's a happy life - or at least that's how it seems in the apartment advertisement photos... These are long days - in total, the working hours probably exceed those of an office worker - and yet, unlike the office, nobody counts the hours here, because in this life work plays an important role without being an obligation or a burden.”
7. Scary Smart (Mo Gawdat)
Recommended by: Bruno Peroni
Why read? A visionary book written by the former Google X business head that brings out our dilemmas and dangers in a world where artificial intelligence will be much smarter than us in every area. It is also worth following his most current work on happiness.
Featured excerpt:
“I want you to imagine yourself... sitting in the wild, beside a bonfire, in the year 2055. I'm telling you the story of what I've witnessed over the years about the rise of AI... whether we're here because we're living outside the system to escape machines, or if we're here because AI freed us from worldly responsibilities.”
8. Why Has Nobody Told me This Before? (Julie Smith)
Recommended by: Juliana Baranowski
Why read? I love books that cover topics such as psychology and emotional intelligence. The author is a psychologist who has consolidated tools and practical tips for the issues that appear most in the office, such as discouragement, motivation, grief, fear, and stress. A light and enriching reading for self-development.
Featured excerpt:
“All emotions, behaviors, and periods in our lives are temporary and don't necessarily reflect who we are on a permanent basis.”
9. The Creative Act: A Way of Being (Rick Rubin)
Recommended by: Matheus Riga
Why read? Rick Rubin, one of the greatest musical producers in history, shares his vision of creativity. It is an excellent book for those who want to develop their artistic side and want to know the tricks to develop their ideas.
Featured excerpt:
“Living as an artist is a way of being in the world. A way of interpreting. A practice of attention. From refining our sensitivity to the most subtle information. To observe what attracts us and what drives us away.”
10. The Mom's Test (Rob Fitzpatrick)
Recommended by: Matheus Riga
Why read? Considered one of the bibles of the startup universe, it provides an essential guide for founders to carry out true conversations with customers: without bias and without false positives. It's worth reading to understand how a discovery and validation process should be done.
Featured excerpt:
“Poorly done conversations with customers aren't just useless. Worse than that, they can convince you that you're on the right track when, in fact, you're not.”
Do you want to know what our team recommended in 2024? Check out the last list here.
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