Nonprofit wisdom, activism, horror, and witchy reads.
I’m reading all the time. From nonprofit wisdom to horror fiction, here’s what’s been on my shelf lately… books that challenge, inspire, and help make sense of the world we’re navigating.
Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-Based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity
by Susan Kenny Stevens, Ph.D.
Nonprofit Lifecycles offers a clear framework for understanding the predictable characteristics and challenges nonprofits face as they grow and evolve. It helps leaders and funders make smart, targeted capacity investments by diagnosing organizational performance in relation to common patterns of development and maturation. By introducing a shared language and set of definitions, the book fosters more effective communication and alignment across teams, boards, and stakeholders.
It’s an essential read for anyone looking to build a stronger, more sustainable nonprofit.
Artists on Creative Administration: A Workbook from the National Center for Choreography
Edited by Tonya Lockyer
Edited by my brilliant friend and client Tonya Lockyer, Artists on Creative Administration is a powerful collection of real talk and expansive thinking at the intersection of art and admin.
Featuring the voices of thirty artists and arts workers, it offers first-hand accounts of creative administration in action, blending big-picture themes like equity, activism, leadership, and care with practical, actionable tactics. These stories reveal what it really means to live a creative life while navigating the complex realities of running an arts organization.
Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection
by Deepa Iyer
Deepa Iyer offers a practical and visionary guide for activists, organizers, and movement builders.
The book introduces the “Social Change Ecosystem” framework, helping individuals clarify their roles and work more effectively within larger systems of change. It’s an essential read for anyone looking to channel their energy into meaningful, sustainable action.
Profit Pillars: A Proven System to Maximize the Bottom Line in Your Online Business
by Parker Charles Stevenson
A refreshingly direct guide to small business finance, Profit Pillars breaks down what actually drives profit and sustainability in an online business. Stevenson lays out a proven system for understanding your numbers and making smart decisions without getting bogged down in jargon. It’s especially useful for creatives and entrepreneurs who want clarity and control over their financial future.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
by Gabrielle Zevin
At its core, this is a novel about friendship, creative practice, and the emotional terrain of long-term collaboration. Following two game designers over decades, Zevin captures the heartbreak and beauty of making things together. It’s thoughtful, moving, and unexpectedly profound, especially for anyone who’s ever poured their heart into a creative partnership.
We Used to Live Here
by Marcus Kliewer
I’ve been escaping reality by leaning into horror. In We Used to Live Here, a young couple discovers their dream home may have a disturbing past, and possibly a presence that hasn’t left. The story actually started as a Reddit thread that got so much attention, he turned it into a novel. A good reminder that sharing something small can lead to something bigger.
Enchantments: A Beginner Witch’s Guide to Altars, Candles, Tarot, Spell-Building, and Creating Your Own Practice
by Mya Spalter
A go-to witchy guide that’s smart, funny, and grounded. Spalter draws from her experience working at a real-life occult shop in NYC, offering magical insight with a healthy dose of practicality and humor. Whether you’re deeply into spellwork or just spiritually curious, this book invites you to find the magic in yourself.
Enough is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell
by Gabe Henry
Written by a dear friend, this book is a delightful deep dive into the odd history of English spelling reform. With wit and curiosity, Gabe explores why our spelling is so weird, and how various thinkers have tried (and failed) to fix it. A must-read for grammar nerds and language lovers alike.
