Adpearance Book Club

I’ve been at Adpearance for about four months now. I already love our company’s approachable and learning-oriented culture, but I was especially excited to hear that we were starting a book club. Reading, chatting, wine, and snacks? I was definitely in. It’s been a great way to connect on a personal level with my colleagues and bond after hours, which Adpearance takes very seriously.

First on our reading list was Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who you may know thanks to Beyoncé. It’s a love story about two young Nigerians and the twists and turns that break them apart and bring them back together. At the same time, it takes a frank, realistic, and pointed look at race and racism in America, and the world today. What I loved most about the book was how Adichie took every opportunity to provide thoughtful, tangible examples of how racism permeates everyday interactions, from employment discrimination based on hair texture to the glamorization of exotic names.

Getting together with 12 lady coworkers (mostly – shoutout to Damon!) for an hour was a great way to end a busy Wednesday filled with client requests, unexpected projects, and meetings. It didn’t matter that a fair number of us in the group hadn’t made it to the end of book—we still had plenty to discuss and related experiences to share.

Not only is book club a great way to make new connections with a coworkers, it also strengthens existing relationships, which is necessary to work together every day. When we share conversation, mutual interests, and a cheese plate, we’re more efficient in our communication, have better relationships with our clients, and most importantly, we want to be at work.

The Nerdherd just got a little nerdier. What should we read next?