Book Recommendations to Try in the Library Room at Blackstone Country Club

There’s only one thing better than a good book, and that is an amazingly quiet and beautiful place read it! Blackstone Country Club at Vistancia, situated at the foothills of the Sonoran Desert mountains and immersed around the private club’s Jim Engh-designed champion golf course is a perfect location to sit back and enjoy your favorite book.

Book recommendations to read at Blackstone Country Club

If you’re looking for more than just a brief respite between tee times or the abundance of offerings in the clubhouse, you’ll find the library at Blackstone Country Club a great place to relax and get some quality time to yourself. If you’re not sure what book to sit down with, here’s some we recommend that can appeal members with a variety of different interests (click on the photos below to purchase the books on Amazon):

Sam Walton: Made in America

What did it take to make one of America’s most successful companies? After reading this book, you’ll be convinced that it couldn’t have been done without the drive and wit of its founder. Sam Walton started Wal-Mart with a vision, but even he couldn’t have predicted how he would change the retail world. A great read for those who want to know a little more about the man behind the corporate giant.

Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft

What does it take for one man to build a boat that can cross the Pacific? If you’ve ever wanted to know the answer to that, Kon-Tiki is the book for you. As much a book about adventure as it is about management, you’ll be astonished at what one man can do when he puts his mind to it.

Murder on the Orient Express

This classic who-done-it is one of those reads that have enchanted bibliophiles for decades. Adapted and riffed on hundreds of times since its production, this Poirot novel has a little bit of everything. If you’re the kind of person who likes to pull up a comfortable chair in the clubhouse and get down to the business of reading a very entertaining book, this one is probably for you.

Lincoln: Team of Rivals

While a number of biographies have been written about America’s sixteenth president over the years, none have gone into as much depth about his political acumen as this book. Detailing Lincoln’s attempts to work with his own political allies and rivals during the Civil War and the push for abolition, it’s as much a read about Lincoln’s management style as it is about the Civil War. This is a perfect book for history buffs and a great read for those who have recently seen the film Lincoln.

The Girl With the Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier’s book about Vermeer has been the stuff of book clubs for years, matching intriguing prose with some fairly heady ideas. Though the book has been made into a movie, it’s the original novel that really stands out as worth the time of the reader. A very unique piece of work, it’s somewhere between the kind of book you read for an intellectual challenge, and what you read for a breezy summer getaway. This book is absolutely something that you won’t be able to put down, so give it a try next time you’re looking for something rooted in the world of art.

Watership Down

While many might be familiar with the cartoon movie made about the book, Watership Down remains a piece of classic literature in its own right. The book is one of the absolute best representations of a hero’s journey in literature, following the voyage of a rabbit through a number of harrowing escapades. Don’t be fooled by the fuzzy protagonist in this one – there’s a lot to digest, and some of the commentary is still very relevant many years after the book was originally published.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

This book is more about self-improvement than self-help, giving readers an insight into what some of the most famous and dominant figures of the early 20th century did to get ahead. Though the read isn’t particularly challenging, it’s still the kind of book that will stick in your head for years after you’ve finished it. It not only gives you a great deal of material to think over, but it does so in a way that will leave you actually wanting to put the book’s advice into action.

Ulysses

If you’re drawn to the classics and challenging literature, this book will not disappoint. Widely considered to be one of the most difficult and rewarding pieces of prose ever published, Joyce’s novel will give you a great deal to think about. It’s perfect for those who are looking for an intellectual challenge as well as for those who just want to observe a bit of beautiful language. Ulysses is definitely a very tough read, but those who make their way through the book will do so with a real sense of accomplishment.

Alexander Hamilton

If you’re a fan of the musical Hamilton, you’ll want to take some time to read the book from which most of the historical moments were pulled. This biography of Alexander Hamilton doesn’t shy away from the uglier parts of the man’s life, but it also gives a well-rounded picture of a man who had such driving ambition that he helped create a nation. While you’ll certainly find a number of differences in this book from the popular conceptions of the first Secretary of Treasury, you’ll also get a much more personal look at a man who played a very important role in the birth of the United States.

The Kid Stays in the Picture

The Hollywood biography may not give you a model for living your own life, but it’s an entertaining read nonetheless. Producer Robert Evans’ journey is probably heavily embellished in the book, but there’s no doubt that it makes for an interesting read. If you’ve got an interest in the workings of Hollywood or if you just want to read a great story about how far hustle and hard work can take one person, you’ll love this book. It’s a light read, but also a perfect way to pass the time during a hot summer day.

Whether you are an avid bookworm or just like to have a book available for the occasionally good read, this list is a great place to start. If you’re interested in discovering more great books and discussing them with a welcoming group of people, Blackstone members can join the Club’s book club that meets monthly. If you’re ready to embrace the Club’s library, book club, and all of the other amenities Blackstone Country Club has to offer, don’t delay – contact us to learn more about Club membership and to schedule your tour today.