My Holiday Must-Read Book List

If you're planning a family vacation this holiday season and want to relax with a good read (imagine that), then you've come to the right place.  Over the last few months, I've discovered some fabulous books you can curl up with on a sandy beach, read on a long plane ride, or zone out in the car while your significant other is driving and your kids are playing the license plate game.  

My Holiday Must Read Book List:

Steve Jobs - I have to admit, I am still reading this massive book which I downloaded on my iPad about two weeks ago.  It's over 925 iPad pages so trust me when I tell you, you won't be able to finish it in one sitting. But no matter the length, this biography of one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs of our time is riveting, eye opening and at times, astonishing.  Steve Jobs was one of the toughest bosses on the planet, threw tantrums on a dime, was forced to leave his post at Apple at age 30 when he alienated most of his staff, could have prevented his death from cancer and as the ultimate perfectionist, managed to build two of the most successful American businesses in history.  

An Invisible Thread - Get the tissues ready when you dive into the true story of Laura Schroff, a former advertising executive whose chance meeting with Maurice, an 11 year old panhandler, forever changes the boy's life.   Co-author Alex Tresniowski will instantly have you hooked as he shares painful stories from both Laura and Maurice's past as the two develop an incredible bond that has endured nearly three decades.  

Still Alice - An incredibly realistic and tragic portrayal of a 50 year old Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.  Beautifully written by Lisa Genova, the reader experiences through Alice's eyes, how a once brilliant professor slowly loses one of her greatest gifts.  

Gabby:  A Story of Courage and Hope - I've already watched the incredible love story of Gabby and Mark Giffords and after a good friend highly recommended their new memoir, I knew I had to read it.  One of my favorite writers of all time - Jeffrey Zaslow, who co-wrote "The Last Lecture", is a co-author of this book too - which means, grab a box of kleenex as you're inspired by the senator's miraculous recovery from the brink of death.

Back to Work:  Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy - Interested in finding out how we can fix our troubled economy?  Then check out this new book by former President Bill Clinton who shares what has caused record numbers of Americans to lose their jobs and how we can finally stop the bleeding. Clinton also offers insight into how the private sector and government can work together to restore prosperity and progress to our nation.  

Have any great books you'd like to share?   I'd love to find out your picks so I can add them to my holiday must read list!