4 books for the summer

I’ve lined up some interesting reads for my upcoming holiday on and around the topic of health and care.

Because of Covid-19 related travel restrictions, I’ll be reading these books on a picnic blanket in the garden rather than a sun lounger on a Spanish beach. Leaving aside the less-than-exotic location, I’m excited to get the chance to do less and to read and think more. Here’s what I’ve chosen:

1. The Age of Ageing Better: A Manifesto for Our Future by Dr Anna Dixon

How society prepares for, and cares, for an ageing population is a topic close to our heart at Future Care Capital. It’s the reason FCC has been very involved with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Longevity, for example. Indeed, it could be argued that enabling people to live healthy, independent older lives is one of the most pressing issues facing policy-makers and practitioners. So I am looking forward to reading this manifesto by the CEO of the Centre for Ageing Better, Dr Anna Dixon.

2. Rekindling Democracy: A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space by Cormac Russell

I first came across Cormac Russell’s work when I was involved with the hospice movement and learnt about Compassionate Communities.  I’m sure his insights and stories will be helpful for FCC’s Care Labs work. Building on the community spirit that has flourished during the pandemic is something I’ve written about here. You can also read about how our project partner for Care Labs, the Social Change Agency, approaches fostering grassroots leadership – ideas which I expect will echo with some of Cormac Russell’s thinking.

3. Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

This was a recommendation I picked up online via a former trustee, Zoe Amar. The back cover promises “tips for upping our downtime – from sleep to hobbies to holidays”. What’s not to like?

4. 21 Lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Working at a think tank that is dedicated to re-imagining the future of health and social care, I’m keen to get this author’s wide-angle perspective on the global political and ecological changes we’re all living through — and how we might respond.

 Have you read any of these? Do you have other book recommendations for FCC’s bookshelf? Let us know.