At CAS Trips, we believe that growth happens when we open ourselves to new perspectives, in classrooms, on the road, and within the pages of a good book.
This year, we wanted to go beyond simple reading recommendations. We asked our team to share the books that changed them in some way. The stories that shifted how they see the world, helped them understand themselves better, or taught them something essential about life, love, purpose, or courage.
Books can be quiet teachers. They meet us in moments of joy, heartbreak, and hope. Somehow giving us the words we didn’t know we needed. The ones that stay with us long after we’ve turned the last page.
So today, we’re sharing a collection of stories that became catalysts for change in our own lives. And perhaps, just like they did for us, they might find their way into your lives too.
Here are our 2025 book recommendations, from the hearts and minds of the CAS Trips team.
Tereza Pavlíčková, Senior Assistant
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet tells the story of William Shakespeare’s family in a way that feels incredibly real and human. It’s not about success or genius, but about the small, everyday moments of connection, love, and loss that shape people’s lives. It spoke to me because it shows how creativity and meaning can grow out of the most personal experiences. It’s a reminder that behind every great story, there are emotions and relationships that matter just as much.
Callum Van Reilly, CAS Trips Director
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi – This is an equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring story of a young man and his family as they face a terminal illness. It is very easy to get lost in our own small stresses and daily worries, and this book pulled me out of that mindset completely. It gave me a powerful sense of perspective and left me feeling deeply grateful for the simple act of being alive. It encouraged me to make the most of every moment and to remember that life is fragile, precious, and never guaranteed. It is not an easy read, but it is one of the most impactful books I have ever read.
Hugh Harris, Destination Manager
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – My university professor gave me this book when I told her I was thinking about giving up my studies. The book’s message about following your “Personal Legend” reminded me that setbacks are part of the journey, not a reason to quit. By the end, I felt encouraged to trust the process and keep moving toward what I want, even when the path feels uncertain.
Eléanore Medard, Operations Manager
A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne – The writing style is what stands out most here. The story follows one main character over thousands of years and across many countries, shifting with each chapter but flowing effortlessly. It’s not about one life, but about what it means to be human, what we pursue, and how that shapes how we treat one another.
Sarah Paschke, Global Student Exchange Director
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – Through the story of two girls living through the Iranian Revolution, this book offered me new perspectives on empathy, resilience, and friendship. It reminded me how little we often know about what others carry behind the curtain of their own lives.
Kristýna Tichá, Professional Development Director
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – This book has stayed with me since childhood. Every time I read it, it teaches me something new. It’s a reminder to focus on what really matters and to hold on to that childlike sense of wonder. The line “What is essential is invisible to the eye” says it all. It also challenges our adult obsession with numbers and control, inviting us back to curiosity and simplicity.
Becca Podorský, Experience Coordinator
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury – A collection of science fiction short stories that captures what it means to be human. Bradbury’s writing blends imagination with emotion, showing both the joy and struggle of our shared experience. Even though it was written in the 1950s, it still feels relevant today.
Klára Čejková-Kolací, Operations Assistant
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom – This book reminded me that the goal isn’t to count the time we have, but to use it wisely. It made me realize how often we focus on what we haven’t done instead of what we can do with the time we have. I read it before a big life decision, and it gave me the courage to take a leap that changed everything for the better.
Neil Brinckerhoff, Marketing and Sustainability Director
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides – An intergenerational story that transports you from Greece to Detroit, exploring the effects of both chance and the interconnected web of choices made before us. The story of Calliope dives into gender, genetics, immigration, and self-love and left me reflecting on the lives of the generations who came before me and the impacts on my life today.
Danielle Nowatkoski, Global Student Exchange Assistant Director
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer – A powerful story about a man who leaves everything behind to explore the Alaskan wilderness in search of purpose. It made me think deeply about what it means to live authentically. The line “Happiness is only real when shared” has stayed with me ever since.
Michael Sekerak, Operations Manager
The Third Plate by Dan Barber – A fascinating look into the future of food and sustainability. Barber argues that chefs and restaurants have the power to teach us how to eat more sustainably by expanding what we consider “normal” on our plates. The idea of the “third plate,” with smaller portions of meat and a greater variety of vegetables and proteins, taught me how cooking with diversity can nourish both people and the planet.
The books we read open windows into new perspectives, helping us better understand ourselves and the world. We believe that this kind of learning is what makes travel, education, and life itself so meaningful.
So wherever this season takes you, may you find a story that moves you, challenges you, and reminds you to keep exploring both the world around you and the one within.
