Summer is a time to vacation and take a breather from your typical schedule. Whether you’re living a trains, planes and automobiles lifestyle or having a relaxing weekend close to home, books are always a great way to escape to a new place. So, for Today’s Read we’ve brought you another installation of What Are You Reading? Scroll through to get a look at what summer reads us here at Jobson are enjoying. Got any of your own ideas? Please share them with us at VMailWeekend@visionmonday.com.






Jillian Urcelay, Associate Editor of 20/20 Magazine is reading “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena

As an avid reader of suspense novels, I’m always searching for the next “Gone Girl-esque” story. While some pique my interest, many fall flat and are too obvious right from the start. I was excited to start “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena as it’s been sitting in my Goodreads.com bookshelf and I’ve passed it in quite a few airport displays. The premise is simple: a couple leaves their baby sleeping at home alone while they attend a dinner party right next door at their neighbors. When the parents return and their daughter is missing—chaos and confusion ensues. This fast-paced story kept my attention and answered questions that arose quickly while keeping the story going. I definitely recommend it as a page-turner for those looking for an easy to read psychological thriller.


Andrew Karp, Group Editor, Lenses & Technology of Vision Monday and 20/20 is reading “The Jazz Standards, A Guide to the Repertoire” by Ted Gioia

Being a jazz lover, I enjoy biographies of jazz musicians and books that chronicle the history and cultural impact of this original American art form. Right now, I’m reading “The Jazz Standards, A Guide to the Repertoire” by Ted Gioia, which provides the fascinating backstory of many of the most famous songs in the jazz canon. This entertaining book is not just for jazz fans, it’s for anyone interested in learning about the origins of these songs, their writers and the recordings that helped make them famous. Ted Gioia, an award winning writer, is one of the most perceptive and engaging music critics and historians on the scene today. Optical industry readers might recognize Ted’s name, since he is a former optical executive who worked for SOLA and, later, Essilor. At the 2016 Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit, he spoke about how companies can foster a culture of creativity, and he interviewed acclaimed jazz pianist Bill Charlap.


Nancy Ness, VP Marketing, Retail Optical Group is reading “Born To Run” by Bruce Springsteen

I’ve been a “Bruce” fan for as long as I can remember—guess that makes me a true Jersey Girl. I couldn’t wait for his recent autobiography “Born To Run” to be released. And, although I am only half way through, it is a must read for any fan. It was described by Rolling Stone as “An utterly unique, endlessly exhilarating, last-chance-power-drive of a memoir.” I’ve always thought of Springsteen as a poet, not just a singer songwriter. The lyrics he writes are as incredible as his live performances. When reading his book, you feel like you are onstage with him, at his first audition with John Hammond of Columbia Records, and can picture the scene when he describes first meeting Clarence Clemons, his sax playing bandmate and great friend. I think Bruce says it best: “Writing about yourself is a funny business…But in a project like this, the writer has made one promise, to show the reader his mind. In these pages, I’ve tried to do this.”


Joe Bowen, Web Content Editor, Vision Monday is reading “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate” by Al Franken

I am a self-confessed political junkie, and I’m also a fan of “Saturday Night Live,” so for me it was pretty much a no-brainer to get Al Franken’s newest book “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate”. Actually, when I learned that he narrated it himself, I decided to get the audio book, and I’m really glad I did. His stories of his years at SNL and the tale of his first U.S. Senate campaign are fascinating. Franken’s particular brand of wit also lends great perspective on today’s political climate.


Jamie Wilson, Associate Editor of Vision Monday is reading “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi

History has always been one of my favorite subjects. So, when I picked up Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel, “Homegoing” I could not put it down. This novel—a historical fiction— illustrates the effects of slavery with immense emotional power though the experiences of one family. “Homegoing” begins in 18th century Ghana with two half-sisters. One sister is sold into the Gold Coast’s slave trade and shipped to the American South while the other sister remains in Ghana. The multi-generational storyline follows the descendants of these two women over 300 years alternating between Ghana and America as they experience warfare, the slave trade, British colonialism and independence in Ghana coupled with slavery in the South, the Civil War, the Great Migration, life in 20th century Harlem right up to the present day. The vivid storylines depicting how slavery plays out across history—shaping nations and families— makes “Homegoing” an illuminating, heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful story. Nothing short of powerful.