With a background in global health and an unquenchable curiosity about the world, Sara Panton loves to read. The vitruvi CEO and cofounder is part of a book club, she devours magazines, and she loves to collect books that are meaningful to her. Here are some highlights.
“Dixonary” by Tom Dixon
“I got this from a talk he did at Inform Interiors in Vancouver. He signed it for me. It says, ‘Good luck with vitruvi.’”
“The Romance of Modern Invention” by Archibald Williams
“This is a really cool vintage book. It’s got histories of the telephone, the phonograph, submarine boats. It’s pretty crazy.”
“50 Years at Gombe” by Jane Goodall
“Jane Goodall has been my idol since I was nine. I had a Jane Goodall party for my 10th birthday. Everyone came to the park that was by our house, and the party favour was a tree. We all hiked up the mountain when it was misty—my mom figured out when it was going to be misty because I always wanted to hike a mountain with Jane Goodall in the mist, like Gorillas in the Mist. There are photos. Then I got to meet her when I was 21 working in charity, and I have a scarf that she signed for me. I’ve seen every talk that she’s given in Vancouver; I once left an awards ceremony early because she was speaking at UBC. I also collect National Geographic issues that she’s been on the cover of. When I met her super briefly, I told her about the birthday party I had. She said, ‘What does one do at a Jane Goodall birthday party?’”
“Daily Rituals: How Artists Work” by Mason Currey
“When I started vitruvi, about eight people gave me this book.”
“Light is the New Black” by Rebecca Campbell
“This book is awesome. Every woman should have it.”
“Estée: A Success Story” by Estée Lauder
“This is a vintage copy that I got off Amazon. She wrote it like a narrative, it’s just a flow of her consciousness and how she created Estée Lauder. There are photos of her mixing in her house, because it all started in a kitchen. I’ve read this book a couple times. It’s really cool. It reminds me about the fundamentals of building a brand and taking care of people.”
“Essential Well Being” by Sara Panton herself
“I hope that people who get the book don’t overthink ways that they can live naturally. It’s not meant to be this big shift, it’s these tiny things like a little foot soak or a nice bath—something that feels like you’re nurturing yourself. It doesn't need to take an hour out of your day, it can be 10 minutes. I hope the book gets people inspired by and curious about other people in the world and the concept of ritual and self-care. I think just a genuine curiosity about the ways that plants have been used is what I hope readers take away from it.”
