50 reading recommendations from the Glasswing team
Published on August 16, 2024 by Glasswing
What is a book you think everyone should read?
That’s one of our favorite questions to ask. It opens up worlds, inviting us into people’s imaginations, histories, values, and beliefs. It reminds us of the power of reading to build empathy and deepen understanding.
We recently asked our fellow Glasswingers that question and were amazed at the responses! They didn’t just help us plan our next read. They made us think about everything from personal journeys to community to what it means to seek and discover meaning.
Without further ado, below are approximately 50 books that the Glasswing team thinks everyone should read, and why. You’ll find recommendations from team members in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, and the United States.
Enjoy!
50 books we recommend
Eyrin López
Training Coordinator, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: The Murmur of Bees, by Sofía Segovia
Why this book: It allows us to connect with our infinite capacity to be curious about everything that surrounds us and who we are.
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Jesús Pineda
School Coordinator, La Libertad, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Four Agreements, by Miguel Ruiz
Why this book: I believe that everyone should read this book because it teaches personal growth and self-control from the perspective of the Toltecs and their spirituality. Everyone should read it because if we are intentional with our words, do not assume, do not take everything personally, and always do the best we can, we will see the world differently. You see the world in a new light before and after reading this book.
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Isabel Reyes
Lead Trainer, Mexico City, Mexico 🇲🇽
Book recommendation: Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
Why this book: It teaches the origins of Logotherapy and the story of the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, during his time living through the Holocaust. It is a clear example of the resilience that human beings can develop in the face of such adverse situations. I believe this book gave me many tools during my therapy process, with which I was able to give meaning to my life again and restructure my life plan.
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Wesmer Adonay Montalvo Villanueva
Fellow, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
Why this book: It presents us with a group of people trying to survive in a world they did not ask to be born into, and in which they’re test subjects in a maze. They try to rebel and free themselves, but they encounter changes along the way that make our protagonist question who he is and what he must do to escape the maze.
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Kirian Esther Tejada
SanaMente Trainer, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: It Didn’t Start with You, by Mark Wolynn
Why this book: It allows us to understand which traumas are not our own. It is a book that all people should read, because many times, we are burdened with traumas that do not really belong to us.
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Andrés Meléndez
Acquisitions, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Why this book: [This book says that] no matter how small your action is, it can have a domino effect, and there is no easy or difficult task following the four essential laws it describes. It is phenomenal.
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Aida Escobar
Trauma-Informed Technical Mentor, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Why this book: It reconnects us with our inner child and allows us to explore our imagination. We can all learn something good from this story.
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Ana Silvia Medina
School Coordinator, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Book recommendation: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Why this book: We all have dreams, and we are in search of that personal legend or treasure, as the author narrates. And yet, after walking and having infinite experiences along the way, we realize that our greatest treasure was always close to us.
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Iris Morales
Project Coordinator, Education, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Vital Minimum, by Alberto Masferrer
Why this book: It is a short read and can give us time to reflect on national history. Although the book was written a long time ago, it is still relevant today and can provide context for our current national situations.
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Andrea Moreno Posada
Health Projects Coordinator, Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴
Book recommendation: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin S. Sharma
Why this book: It is the emotional story of a lawyer who lives a stressful life, unbalanced and obsessed with money, which causes him to have a heart attack. This event leads him on a deep physical and spiritual crisis. He sells all his possessions, including his Ferrari, and embarks on a spiritual journey to India to know and learn more about the true meaning of happiness, peace, and balance. Through his journey, he shares his teachings on personal transformation, the balance between personal and professional life, the importance of purpose and discipline, and the power of positive thinking, which is crucial for a fulfilling life and better mental health.
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Yonatan Eluid Gómez Rodas
Technical Field Officer, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari
Why this book: Knowing our common history can give us an element that binds us to each other. That essential trait that unites a group of people is often their history, a common history. The book Sapiens tells a brief history of humanity, of all of us, a history that we tend to forget, leave aside, undervalue, but it is a history that unites all of humanity. The theory of the evolution of human beings, from their prehistoric ancestors to us, the Homo sapiens (the human being as we know it), is a story that is not very well told in countries like Guatemala. When I read it, it gave me a broader vision of my history, of our history, and it made me feel a sense of bonding with my neighbors. It’s interesting how scientific facts about the development of humanity and our societies can create a sense of tolerance, a sense of unity.
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Kristalyn Rivera
AIT Trainer, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes
Why this book: Me Before You is a romantic story that invokes a variety of emotions, such as happiness, love, and sadness. It makes us reflect on the great value of health and the impact we can have on the people around us.
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Mafe Guzmán
New Business Development Specialist, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Wind Knows My Name, by Isabel Allende
Why this book: It is a book that narrates the harsh reality that many people in Latin America face, which leads them to migrate. It explains in detail the challenges that migrants face during the journey and upon arrival at their destination. The most beautiful thing about the book is that, in the end, many human beings show their kindness, and love always wins.
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Ilcy Rodriguez
Integral Well-Being, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: Things You Think About When You Bite Your Nails, by Amalia Andrade
Why this book: The book is written in an accessible and empathetic way, with illustrations made by the author herself that accompany and complement the text. It uses an intimate and personal tone, which allows readers to feel accompanied in their own journey of understanding and managing anxiety and the things that cause us problems, which we often fear and overlook.
Andrade addresses topics such as self-acceptance, the importance of asking for help, and techniques that she herself has found helpful in dealing with anxiety, including writing, meditation, and other self-care practices. Things You Think About When You Bite Your Nails is both a personal confession and a practical guide for those looking for ways to cope with anxiety in their daily lives.
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Mario Francisco Ayala
Fellows Program Coordinator, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: The Leader Who Had No Title, by Robin Sharma
Why this book: I think we should all read it and learn that, no matter where we are in the organizational chart, the fundamental thing is that we all have the ability to demonstrate leadership, wherever we are in our professions or in our lives. If we think this way, we will have better results in our work and personal life.
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Pao Cárcamo
Communications Coordinator, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle
Why this book: It talks about the importance of connecting with the present, with today. Personally, it changed the way I see life and face problems.
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Celeste Sierra
Communications Specialist, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
Why this book: It is a book of self-discovery that depicts the spiritual quest of Siddhartha, a young Hindu boy, during which we explore truths of both the outer and inner world. It shows us how we are all connected and form a unity. It’s a very beautiful work that understands that wisdom cannot be taught, only lived.
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Melvin Giovanni Moreno
Coordinator of the Raíces Centroamericanas Project, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson
Why this book: I suggest reading what is, for me, one of the most fantastic books, a book that allows you to enter into the experience of working with / channeling the emotions or feelings that occur when you are uncomfortable with another person. I have done this reading with children and teens in schools, and it has let me discuss the restoration of relationships between peers. This book is elementary level, but we can use it as a resource with adults too, using questions that generate dialogue and encourage community building.
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Francis Soto
Education, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Book recommendation: The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton
Why this book: Gripping fiction from beginning to end
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Susana Araujo
Regional Health Associate, La Libertad, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco
Why this book: For me, reading is the best way to disconnect from the world and take a break. The Name of the Rose is a book I have read several times, and it always succeeds in capturing me. I can imagine myself in the library where mysterious and interesting things unfold. If you like suspense and unexpected endings, I highly recommend this book.
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Christian Aquiles
Psychosocial Accompaniment Technician, San Salvador Centro, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Applied Behavior Analysis, by John O. Cooper
Why this book: It teaches us how to improve our lives and change our behaviors to improve our quality of life. This psychology is applied to many fields, such as clinical, educational, etc.
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Josué Menjivar
Núcleo FabLab Coordinator, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Why this book: This is an incredibly useful book for building and sustaining good habits, no matter the type of habit you’re interested in. The author approaches this topic from a psychological point of view and provides diverse examples for every principle he establishes. I highly recommend this book because it helped me to cope in a couple of personal situations.
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Silvia Campos
Donations Manager, Central American Service Corps, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Why this book: It inspires us to know our inner selves and pursue and achieve dreams. [It teaches us] that although we have obstacles in life, we can face and overcome them.
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Caren Monteagudo
Manager of Institutional Partnerships and Program Coordination, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
Why this book: If you like mysticism, spirituality, culture, politics, romance, and history in a Latin context, this is a book you should read.
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Eva Nuñez
Health Programs Coordinator, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: Jacinta Peralta, by Ramón Amaya Amador
Why this book: It deals with issues like the lack of respect for the rights of domestic workers and the almost slavery-like situation of women who work as sex workers or are the victims of violence and poverty and who, in spite of everything, try to forge a better future for themselves and their families.
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Carlos Nolasco
Extracurricular Clubs Coach, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
Why this book: It helps us to understand and accept suffering as part of what gives meaning to our existence. Even in our worst circumstances, we have the power to choose our own path. The freedom of choice is ours, and you can find meaning in any circumstances.
Viktor F. quoted Nietzsche, saying, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” The testimony of Man’s Search for Meaning motivates us to find and cultivate meaning in our life and in our existence. It teaches us the importance of inner freedom, resilience, and hope. Each and every one of us must find that meaning.
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Jafet Morales
Youth Manager, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne
Why this book: If you like adventure and science fiction, this book should be on your “to read” list. It’s an excellent book to let your imagination fly and awaken your sense of adventure. I’ve read it more than three times because it allows me to imagine myself in an epic journey, full of surprises, and I become an adventurer in every page I read. I will leave you one of the quotes that I really like:
“As long as the heart beats, as long as body and soul keep together, I cannot admit that any creature endowed with a will has need to despair of life.”
Enjoy it, and, whenever you want, we can talk about this marvelous work of art.
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Christian Javier Vera Estrada
Promoter, Guayaquil, Ecuador 🇪🇨
Book recommendation: Las Cruces Sobre el Agua, by Joaquín Gallegos Lara
Why this book: It’s a novel about the cultural reality of Guayaquil, going back to a cultural reality of the twentieth century, during which a great massacre of the community members of Old Guayaquil took place. Those who demanded their labor rights had their demands silenced with death. As the nascent city was very small, they did not have a cemetery for the amount of the deceased, and the authorities decided to throw them into the Guayas River. People leave crosses with candles to commemorate this date that marked the society of that time.
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Hillary Herrera
Community Promoter, San Carlos, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Book recommendation: Black Skin, White Masks, by Frantz Fanon
Why this book: It is a very interesting and necessary book about racism to read and discuss with others.
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Andrea Mariona
Human Resources Manager, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Personality Plus at Work, by Florence Littauer
Why this book: It shows us how to work successfully with anyone and pay attention to basic personality differences.
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Ada Lastenia Flores
Network of Complementary Services and Support Technician, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Why this book: It helps us find our inner selves, understand why we were created, and connect us with our goals.
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Daniel Lemus
Fellow, La Libertad, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Run Baby Run, by Nicky Cruz
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María Fernanda Reyes Lechuga
Graphic Designer, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: I Don’t Know How to Show You Where It Hurts, by Amalia Andrade
Why this book: It explores emotions in a different way, through the author’s different experiences. It talks about mental health care and the important role that emotions play. It’s totally enriching and very entertaining, with a touch of humor and references to Hispanic American culture that make it feel “at home.”
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Catherine Menéndez
Communications Specialist, Guatemala City, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Why this book: I think it’s a great book that will make you reflect on what you really want, who you are, and what your true purpose is. If you’re unsure about it, the book will guide you to what you really want. This is beside the point, but the book is way better than the movie.
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Yenis Xiomara Franco Ortiz
Leadership and Community Service Technician, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu
Why this book: It talks about defense strategies, and although it references war, they can be applied to everyday life.
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Eduardo Ramos
Entrepreneurship Technician, Santa Ana, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki
Why this book: Financial education is necessary because it doesn’t exist in regular education in schools.
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Ever Dario Escalante
Apptrévete Honduras Moderator, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: How to Make Good Things Happen, by Marian Rojas Estapé
Why this book: I think everyone should read it because of the times we are living in, in which mental problems and mismanaged emotions influence health at the mental, physical, social, and cultural levels. There is a lot of ignorance and awareness of this. I think the psychiatrist in this book manages to bring us closer to a healthy interpretation, understanding, and management of our emotions, as well as providing the perspective of seeing life itself and what happens around us. It eliminates taboos and mental barriers to tell us that happiness is within our reach; it’s a construction based on our decisions and resilience. This book offers hope to redeem and redirect our lives.
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Yesenia Jiménez
Fellow, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Why this book: For someone who didn’t like reading and found it a completely boring activity, I was able to discover not only a great, immersive story, but also a new hobby.
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Héctor “Archi” Archila
National Communications Coordinator, Guatemala City, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: Blindness, by José Saramago
Why this book: A book I think everyone should read is Blindness, by José Saramago. It’s a powerful allegory about the fragility of civilization and the capacity for human resilience in the face of adversity. Through his story, Saramago explores themes such as solidarity, dehumanization, and ethics, making us reflect on our own humanity and the society in which we live.
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Ana Rosas “Pachi” Lorenzo
Reports Editor, San Salvador, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins
Why this book: It strikes you in your emotions. It puts into context the lives of millions of migrants and the situations they must go through. Especially in an organization like Glasswing, I think it helps you better understand the experiences of the people we serve. It broke my heart and made it right.
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Yeyson Fabricio Puerto Bonilla
Motorist, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: Personal Development
Why this book: Help
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Lesli Pérez
Leader Trainer, SanaMente, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: The Secret Life of the Mind, by Mariano Sigman
Why this book: It invites us to take a tour through our brain, and it allows us to imagine and connect brain functions with our actions in real life. This book allows us to connect our decisions with our feelings and thoughts.
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Eduardo Lima
Employment Skills Technician, Santa Ana, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: Memories of My Melancholy Whores, by Gabriel García Márquez
Why this book: It is the last novel written by the great Gabo Márquez. It makes us reflect on loneliness and love for the simple things in life.
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Marta Terán
Gender and Inclusion Specialist, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: The Skin of the Sky, by Elena Poniatowska
Why this book: If you like or are attracted to astronomy, you have to read it. However, it’s a novel not only about that subject, but also about science and culture in general, as well as love—a vital ingredient in life—internal emotional conflicts, the cultural burdens that men and women carry, and even the social and political situations of Mexico’s history during the twentieth century. There are characters and situations that we can all identify with or that capture our attention. If you’re up for it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Johanna Kattan
Communications Specialist, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 🇭🇳
Book recommendation: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin S. Sharma
Why this book: It motivates you to know yourself. It teaches you to enjoy the simple details of life and to recover and heal your mind.
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Jimena Porres
Communications Assistant, Guatemala 🇬🇹
Book recommendation: In the Dream House, by Carmen María Machado
Why this book: In the Dream House immerses us in an autobiographical story that touches on issues of identity, abusive relationships, and the role that gender plays in the perception of violence. It’s a story told in an interesting way that mixes narrative with essay and always keeps you wanting to know more.
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Beatriz Villalobos
Technical Trainer, SanaMente, Santa Ana, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Why this book: Despite being a children’s book, it gives us many lessons and allows us to reflect on life situations via passage through the different planets.
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Grace Parazzoli
Senior Communications Specialist, United States 🇺🇸
Book recommendation: One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez
Why this book: Is there any other book like it? I recently revisited One Hundred Years of Solitude after reading it half my life ago. I was flooded by memories, just like Colonel Aureliano Buendía in the famous opening line: “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.” I remembered the thrill of entering a world with floating priests, clouds of yellow butterflies, plagues of insomnia, and visions of glass cities. The sense of wonder left me feeling awed and untethered—fitting for a book in which a character ascends to the clouds one day, surrounded by flapping sheets.
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Vanessa Varela
USA Accountant, Santa Tecla, El Salvador 🇸🇻
Book recommendation: The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Why this book: It’s an exceptional story, one that’s able to transport you with a single paragraph to the old Barcelona of the Industrial Revolution, with all the colors of the time. The characters will make you connect deeply with them and feel the story through their skin. Highly recommended!
