Dog Days of Summer

The “dog days of summer” occur during the hottest and muggiest part of the year, usually between early July and early September in the northern hemisphere.  In the southern hemisphere, the dog days occur around January.

But where does the term come from?

In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights, people in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. One of the more popular constellations drawn was that of Canis Major which looks like a dog.

The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather.  Thus, they named this period of time “dog days” after the dog star.

Now that you know why we call this period the dog days of summer, what have you been reading to get you through this stretch?  Here is a short list of the books I have been enjoying this summer.

The Art of Being Unreasonable by Eli Broad

The Journey to Competitive Advantage Through Servant Leadership by Bill Flint, Jr.

Drop Dead Healthy by A. J. Jacobs

What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite by David Salvo

Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer

This eclectic collection of books has helped me through this year’s “dog days of summer” and I hope it will soothe your yearning for both knowledge and inspiration while we get ready for the next season.

When you get a chance, drop me a line and let me know what you have been reading this summer!