34 FASTCOMPANY.COM MAY 2019 PORTRAIT ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAMERON K. LEWIS
Outliers
MALCOLM GLADWELL
Learning the origin
stories of so many
successful white men
made me understand
that success for my-
self was attainable. If
they could do it, I
certainly could.
This Naked Mind
ANNIE GRACE
I’d struled with
an addiction to alco-
hol for 15 years
when I came across
this book and de-
cided to give it a
chance. I haven’t
had a drink since
finishing the book five
days later. It may have
saved my life.
What I Know
for Sure
OPRAH WINFREY
Oprah is such an
inspiration and a
living legend, and if
this book doesn’t get
you ready to face
the day, I don’t know
what will.
Losing My
Virginity
RICHARD BRANSON
I’ve been a Branson
fan since I was 15.
He always seems to
be enjoying the
hell out of life while
lifting others and
making a fortune.
Reading List
The Books
That
Inspire
Me
ARLAN HAMILTON,
FOUNDER,
BACKSTAGE
CAPITAL
1 2 3 4
East Fork Pottery
(PRICES START AT $20, EASTFORK.COM)
“Inspired by the Japanese folk-art movement, Asheville, North Carolina–based East Fork ce-
ramics specializes in creating simple everyday objects with earthy beauty. Each piece of the
company’s pottery is unique and speckled with little dots from the iron found in North Carolina
clay that become visible during firing.” —Elizabeth Segran, senior staff writer, Fast Company
“Secret Aardvark
Habanero Hot
Sauce has great
heat without
masking the flavor
of the food. I use it
on everything.”
It Never Gets Old
(3 for $20, secretaardvark.com)
—Sam Hall, chief product
officer, Grubhub
STAFF
PICK
What employees value vs.
what employers offer:
Data Dive
Their Eyes Were
Watching God
ZORA NEALE
HURSTON
In the eighth grade,
a teacher handed
me this book. She
thought it would
spark something in
me. It opened me
up to a new way of
seeing myself.
5
Flexible
schedule 86%
Telecommuting
Designated
office space
for wellness
Reimbursement
for well-being
expenses
50%
70%
27%
67%
27%
67%
26%
VALUED OFFERED
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