Brady Picks: Best Summer Reads and Flicks

Creativity and innovation alone, without a constant flow of new information and influences, falls flat – and often fails to connect with its intended audience. At Brady Communications, our team of more than 40 creative, development, administrative, account services and production staff draws its inspiration from the culture around us to create fresh solutions that respond to the unique challenges of our clients. Read on to find out what books and movies are feeding our staff's creativity this summer.

WALL-E
"Pixar films represent the state of the art in not only animation, but also creativity as a whole. They never sit back and rely on the status quo. This movie pushes the limit in every way: it sparks thought, discussion and wonder. And the visuals cannot be matched in quality. I aspire to make stunning visuals in my daily work and I think it is critical to look at the best examples for inspiration."
– Dave, production

What is the What
by Dave Eggers
"This book tells the true story of Valentino, a Sudanese refugee, and his walk to Ethiopia to escape the rebels who burned his village and separated him from his parents. It is a book marked by honesty and survival, but even more importantly, it is a story about the power of the human spirit and the will to move on. What is the What has made me even more aware of the world around me. It certainly puts the stresses of life into perspective and makes you truly thankful for all that we have."
– Terri, account services

A Buffalo in the House: The True Story of a Man, an Animal
and the American West
by R.D. Rosen
"This book artfully weaves American history lessons with the contemporary story of Charlie, an orphaned buffalo rescued and raised by a New Mexico couple. At times both heartwarming and gut-wrenching, it reminded me of the majesty of our country and its creatures. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me think."
– Lia, copy

Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
"I recently reread this high school favorite and was captivated by the premise that reading could one day be outlawed and burning books was considered the just thing to do. It is eerie how Bradbury describes the lives of people in the future, for whom technology has become essential to their very survival and happiness. It is hard to miss the similarities in our own global Internet culture."
– Alice, production

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be
by Paul Arden
"This book uncovers the behind-the-scenes world of advertising, design and marketing. It reveals the ins and outs of problem solving and provides insight into how to deal with everyday situations from business and clients' businesses to the 'creative types.' What I took away from the book was that you can be in a business like marketing and not take yourself so seriously."
– Dawn, account services