Recommended by Greg Pennington

Wade Davis is a college classmate that I met during my 50^th Reunion last year. He is a cultural anthropologist who has spent his life learning about and from civilizations around the world. His book The Wayfinders reminded me of the importance of observing and absorbing what we see rather than judging or prematurely attempting to change others. One profound observation he shared in a presentation is that “religions focus on what comes after death. Spirituality focuses on what we do before death.” Another striking affirmation for me is how he underscores that ancient wisdom matters today, and how understanding what purpose is served by the behaviors we observe across cultures enables us to see commonalities and differences. This is my current bedside book that takes me to “far-away” places before I go to sleep and wake up to see things differently.