What Should I Read Next? — Ep 492: Reflective Nonfiction About Finding Your Path
Host: Anne Bogel
Guest: Lynn Bain
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Anne Bogel is joined by Lynn Bain, an "accidental entrepreneur" and avid reader from Dallas, Texas. Lynn wants to expand her nonfiction reading, specifically seeking business books that don’t feel like traditional business books. She dislikes prescriptive or overly padded texts and gravitates toward memoirs, inspiring real-life stories, and books that help her grow both as a person and business owner. Anne and Lynn dive into Lynn's reading life, favorite books, and unpack what Lynn actually wants out of nonfiction. Together, they discuss books that merge personal growth, storytelling, and professional inspiration, ending with tailor-made recommendations for Lynn and reflective readers everywhere.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Lynn’s Background and the Challenge with Business Books
- Lynn is the co-owner of Boxwood Hospitality, managing wedding venues, catering, and a café.
- Describes herself as an "accidental entrepreneur" and CEO ("There is no part of my background that would suggest that I like risk...but that's kind of where we landed." — Lynn, 08:32).
- Reading has always been central in her life, shared with her parents and close friends.
- Struggles to connect with most business books, which often feel either too dry or unnecessarily long ("So many of these reads come across like...they have no business being book length. They should have just been a blog post." — Anne, 04:38).
2. Lynn’s Reading Tastes (Likes and Dislikes)
- Favorite qualities: Thoughtful, reflective books; strong character-driven stories; narratives that build empathy; memoir-feel even in nonfiction; learning by example.
- Dislikes: Prescriptive/“should”-based business books; “how-to”s without story ("I don't like the word should...I do not like business books at all." — Lynn, 13:42).
- She wants books that invite self-growth and curiosity, but in a narrative, lived-experience way.
3. Books Lynn Loves
Lynn describes her “Top 3” all-time favorites and why they speak to her:
- The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
- Multi-layered family drama centered on an older female protagonist; celebrates women defining their own paths. ("She feels like an old friend to me." — Lynn, 17:58)
- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
- Atmospheric, reflective look back at a transformative year in 1930s New York; character-driven with elegant writing. ("I will read anything Amor Towles writes..." — Lynn, 20:29)
- What Is the What by Dave Eggers
- Semi-fictional biography of a Sudanese refugee; developed Lynn's empathy and prompted further learning ("This book has stayed with me...every bit as relevant, if not more so today." — Lynn, 23:18).
4. The Notable Exception — Business Books She Dislikes
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Exemplifies her frustration with padded business books ("So many business books should be a blog post...feels like beating a dead horse...the thesis could be achieved in a much more efficient manner." — Lynn, 25:12)
- Most traditional “business” books leave her cold unless they’re memoir-like or center reflective storytelling.
5. Non-“Business” Business Books That Work for Lynn
Books she likes that happen to be useful professionally, but feel more personal or narrative:
- Delancey by Molly Wizenberg (food memoir about opening a restaurant with her husband)
- Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
- Used in her own company’s book club. ("They read much more like a personal memoir than they do a business book." — Lynn, 28:07)
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- Appreciates vulnerability and rawness about the hard work behind success.
- A Fine Sight to See by Sophie Hudson
- Christian leadership, but also applicable to business life.
6. Anne’s Diagnostic & Reframe
Anne suggests that perhaps Lynn doesn’t want "business books" at all, but books about the lived experience of “living your questions” — seeing people navigate challenges, not prescriptive lists ("I wonder if you're not looking for books that are more about showing how people are living their questions in their life and work..." — Anne, 31:47).
Anne’s Reflective Nonfiction Recommendations
(Recommendations begin around [33:34])
1. The Power of Moments by Chip Heath & Dan Heath (34:13)
- Explores why certain moments are powerful and memorable, and how to create them, in business and daily life.
- "I really thought this was quite a page turner for a business book which doesn't happen much..." — Anne ([35:04])
- Practical, story-driven, and applicable both for personal growth and customer experience.
2. Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way by Ryan White (36:16)
- Biography focusing on building a lifestyle brand with intention and detail, not just going with the flow.
- Offers “behind-the-scenes” business insights from the music world which Anne believes will resonate with Lynn’s curiosity about “how things really work”.
3. Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam (39:12)
- Investigates time management by studying people with big jobs who feel abundant, not stressed.
- "What I remember loving about this book is how she goes deep with people...examining how they're making time for the most important things." — Anne ([40:19])
- Lynn initially skeptical, but becomes intrigued ("I will be honest, when you said...productivity and time management, I was getting major glaze over. But it sounds extremely compelling..." — Lynn, [41:29])
4. The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (45:05)
- Not about writing checklists, but about learning from complex, error-prone systems and the processes behind success.
- Combines showing (stories) with telling (analysis) — ideal for those curious about process and problem-solving.
5. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (43:06)
- Already a hit with Lynn, but Anne highlights its approach to rethinking gatherings both small and large — a blend of narrative and actionable ideas perfect for hospitality professionals.
6. Food Memoirs (briefly summarized, not new recs)
- Ina Garten’s Be Ready When the Luck Happens
- Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires and Save Me the Plums
- Anne and Lynn agree these have ideal “business-adjacent” appeal, being both narratives and subtly instructive about work in hospitality, food, or event-based industries.
- "So much of what we do...how do we make every single one of them feel like they're the only wedding we have that day...anything that speaks to that dynamic is super interesting to me." — Lynn ([50:25])
7. Historical Fiction Wild Card:
- The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
- Features a woman forging her own professional path a century ago: resonates with Lynn’s love of independent female protagonists.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “I do not like business books at all. I don’t like the word should, and I’ve learned that from you. … I hate business books.” — Lynn Bain, [13:42]
- “So many business books should be a blog post, or … a paragraph, but they obviously have to hit a certain page count to qualify as a book.” — Lynn Bain, [25:12]
- “I think the ideal book is going to get you thinking about what these stories mean for you or what it might be like to experience them yourself.” — Anne Bogel, [36:05]
- “I love to see them have success, but I don't mind seeing them struggle a little bit too, because I think that makes it feel more real to me.” — Lynn Bain, [42:29]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:10 — Introduction to Lynn and her nontraditional path to entrepreneurship.
- 06:09 — Lynn’s personal and professional background; how she landed in hospitality.
- 13:42 — Why Lynn struggles with business books and what she wants instead.
- 17:58 — Lynn’s all-time favorite books and what connects them.
- 25:12 — What she dislikes about Atomic Habits and typical business self-help.
- 27:13 — Business-adjacent memoirs and nonfiction that worked for her.
- 33:34 — Recommendation segment begins.
- 34:13 — The Power of Moments.
- 36:16 — Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way by Ryan White.
- 39:12 — Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam.
- 45:05 — The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande.
- 50:25 — Discussing why Ruth Reichl’s food memoirs resonate for hospitality.
- 52:22 — The Personal Librarian and final recaps.
- 53:00 — Lynn's picks for what she'll read next.
Final Takeaways and Next Reads
- Lynn is eager to try Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam and The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath as next steps.
- For listeners seeking nonfiction that inspires while avoiding traditional business-book tropes, Anne and Lynn’s conversation is a goldmine: focus on reflective memoir, storytelling, and books that explore how people really find their paths.
Recommended for:
- Readers who want business or professional inspiration, minus the “how-to” lists
- Fans of narrative nonfiction and memoir
- Entrepreneurs seeking meaning, not just tactics
- Anyone curious about stories of building a creative, reflective, and resilient life
Find the full list of books discussed at:
whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com
Notable Quote (Closing):
“I think the ideal book is going to get you thinking about what these stories mean for you or what it might be like to experience them yourself.” — Anne Bogel, [36:05]