Today is Book Lovers Day. Count me in. Recently I emailed a number of clients to ask what they’re reading or planning to read. Obviously, the ones who didn’t respond aren’t even reading email. The ones who did confirmed what I’ve been thinking: in times where there’s literally no playbook and no one alive to emulate, we turn to history.

Rod Alberts, Executive Director of the North American International Auto Show, suggested One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson. (I love Bryson’s other books.) One review of this book stated, “One of our greatest and most beloved nonfiction writers transports readers on a journey back to one amazing season in American life.” As SMZ was founded just two years later, I look forward to reading it to understand how while Lindbergh was flying across the ocean, Babe Ruth was hitting soaring home runs and global leaders were making moves that would soon send markets crashing back to earth.

Dave Wolk, CEO of Goodway Group, led the charge along with a number of others in recommending Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger’s The Ride of a Lifetime. Yes! We have a living mentor. (Mr. Iger just went whew.)

In The Ride of a Lifetime, Mr. Iger tells his business story of balancing a chip on his shoulder and — despite massive success — coming off as a humble leader. As a leader, he embodies the SMZ mantra: quietly making noise for generations.

Decades ago, one of my college application essays was the classic question: Who would you like to have dinner with living or dead, real or historical, besides a family member? My answer was … good guess: Walt Disney. I look forward to reading to find out what Mr. Iger learned from company founder Walt Disney and his little animation studio founded in 1923.

From banging on my typewriter in high school to today, I have indeed been on The Ride of a Lifetime up and into this One (Crazy) Summer of 2020. Books like these have been my constant companions.

Here’s to my fellow book lovers. Let’s celebrate today with a great read.