July has been a non-fiction month. Of the eight books I read, only one was fiction. I had a week off also, so I read more than usual, as well as worked on my tan 
So, here are the books I read in July:
- Blind Faith, by Ben Elton
Ben Elton is a great writer. He’s got several very funny novels, and has written a couple of West End musicals. Blind Faith is about London in the future. A place where there is no privacy at all. Where everything and everyone is constantly watched. Where reading fiction is considered a crime, and where a weird form of religion runs society. Scary? Oh yes. But also funny.
- The Portuguese: A Modern History, by Barry Hatton
This is a great book, written by a journalist living in Portugal for over 25 years. He basically gets us. The good, and the not so good. He takes a look at Portugal’s history and tells it like he sees it. I learned from reading this book. And had quite a few laughs too.
- Delivering Happiness, by Tony Hsieh
Zappos is a case study in success online. They went from nothing to huge, ultimately being sold to Amazon for over 1 billion dollars. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, lets us in on his journey, from childhood to success as an entrepreneur. Many useful lessons learned.
- Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers
I’ve been reading Derek Sivers’ essays for a few years now. He seems to see things through a much clearer lens than most people, and shares great insights. This book tells of his experience running the very successful CD Baby. It’s a small book, worth every page.
- Focus On Photographing People, by Haje Jan Kamps
I’m very into photographing people. So I got this book during my holidays down south. Read it in a day. It teaches you the different aspects of portrait photography in a clear tone. I personally didn’t learn that much, but if you’re getting started in photography, this is a useful read.
- The Art of Travel, by Alain de Botton
Mr de Botton is one of my favorite non fiction writers. This time, he takes us on several trips, guided by artists and other great thinkers. He brilliantly shares his own experiences with those of others in the past, in a way enlightening us. All with a very fine sense of humor.
- Annie Leibovitz at Work, by Annie Leibovitz
This is a wonderful book, written by one of today’s most famous photographers. She shares many stories and lessons from her now long career, all accompanied by her great pictures. I also got to know other photographers, whose work she refers to in the text.
- Your Creative Mix, by Corwin Hiebert
On this ebook, the author tries to get our creative juices flowing. He tells of of traps to avoid, shares some collaborations tips, and talks to some artists who share their experiences. This book is aimed at photographers, but can be read by anyone in a creative profession.