Summer’s almost here! Whether you’re hustling between inspections, enjoying a rare moment of downtime, or just looking for a smarter way to spend your poolside hours, we’ve got this year’s book recommendations stacked, just for you. Our 2025 Summer Reading List is filled with smart, thought-provoking picks to keep your mind sharp and your motivation high. So pour yourself something fruity, and let’s level up your appraisal game—one page at a time. Read on for this year’s picks!
Author: Greg Farrell
Amazon Rating: 4.6 stars
Released: November 2, 2010
Appraisers felt the ripple effects of the 2008 financial crash—but Crash of the Titans takes you behind the scenes, showing you just how wild and reckless things got at the top. This gripping account tells the inside story of Merrill Lynch’s spectacular fall from grace, from its Main Street roots and bullish optimism to its chaotic merger with Bank of America. You’ll meet the power players who made massive bets with billions in play, ignored red flags, and prioritized bonuses over stability—ultimately helping to unravel the economy. It’s a jaw-dropping reminder of what happens when ego, greed, and poor leadership run unchecked in a world that affects everyone, even those just trying to get comps in on time.
Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
Author: Charles Duhigg
Amazon Rating: 4.5 stars
Released: February 20, 2024
Our jobs involve a lot of communication. In this book, Charles Duhigg (author of The Power of Habit) digs into what makes conversations actually work—and how to show up in a way that builds trust, clarity, and connection. Through fascinating stories and research, he breaks down how every conversation has layers—practical, emotional, and social—and why recognizing those layers is the key to truly being heard (and hearing others well). Whether you’re explaining a complex report to a client or navigating tricky conversations with lenders, agents, or homeowners, this book delivers tools to help you connect like a pro.
Author: Tiago Forte
Amazon Rating: 4.5 stars
Released: June 14, 2022
Appraisers deal with a constant stream of data, market trends, property details, and ever-evolving guidelines—so it’s no surprise if your brain feels overloaded. Author Tiago Forte offers a game-changing way to manage that mental clutter. Instead of trying to remember everything, this book walks you through creating a digital system to capture, organize, and retrieve the information that matters most—whether it’s comp notes, business strategies, or that podcast nugget you wanted to revisit. It’s like having a backup brain that works 24/7, helping you stay focused, creative, and on top of your game without drowning in the noise.
Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect
Author: Will Guidara
Amazon Rating: 4.8 stars
Released: October 25, 2022
Will Guidara shares the game-changing philosophy that transformed Eleven Madison Park from a modest New York brasserie into the best restaurant in the world. Drawing from his journey of radical reinvention and unforgettable guest experiences—like creating a surprise sledding adventure for diners or turning a private room into a beach for a couple with a cancelled vacation—Guidara reveals how any business can embrace the power of going above and beyond. Through lively stories and practical lessons, he makes a compelling case that true hospitality isn’t just for restaurants—it’s a mindset that can elevate every interaction, inspire teams, and turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Why Cities Look the Way They Do
Author: Richard J. Williams
Amazon Rating: 4.2 stars
Released: June 10, 2019
As real estate appraisers, we’re trained to analyze what’s there—but Why Cities Look the Way They Do invites us to dig deeper into why it’s there in the first place. Richard J. Williams explores how cities are shaped not just by planners and architects, but by messy, overlapping forces like politics, culture, economics, and the everyday actions of people who live there. From empty high-rises to vibrant communities emerging in once-overlooked neighborhoods, this book offers a fresh lens for understanding urban landscapes—not just as built environments, but as dynamic, ever-evolving systems. It’s a fascinating read for anyone who’s ever looked at a neighborhood and thought, “How did this happen?”
Thinking of adding any of these to your TBR (to-be-read) shelf? Let us know in the comments, and as always, stay tuned for more news and updates in the appraisal industry. Happy reading!
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Written by : Aaliyah Terrell
Aaliyah is a young professional and self-published author with a love for that space where art and business meet. As Storyboard’s marketing manager, she gets to have her hands in a wide range of creative endeavors. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, writing, and reading books on anything and everything.