With Verse & Vino approaching, we asked PNC Regional President Weston Andress – whose literary interests span such diverse genres as business, history, literary fiction, sports and cooking – to share a few titles that are particularly meaningful to him.

The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, by David Brooks
I was recently introduced to this book, and the premise – that a life of meaning and purpose is built on so much more than our personal successes and fulfillment – resonated with me deeply.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Historical leaders – and biographies chronicling their complex lives and decisions – are of great interest to me. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s account of Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet captures the unique dynamics and personalities – and unity – of an administration that led the country through a consequential era in history.

A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour, by John Feinstein
As an avid sports fan, I enjoy reading about the skill, strategy and discipline of professional athletes. There isn’t a John Feinstein book I haven’t read, and his account of the 1994 PGA Tour season really brings the drama of the game to life.

The Lords of Discipline, by Pat Conroy
Like any true Southerner, I have read all of Pat Conroy’s books, which evoke a rich sense of place and purpose. Reading The Lords of Discipline caused me to reflect on the people and events integral to my own personal and professional development.

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
My wife recently gifted me this book, and I found the story incredibly compelling; for me, it captures the resilience and raw strength of the human spirit.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, by William Joyce
Early childhood development and education is an important aspect of PNC’s work in the community, and I cherish opportunities to read to children in preschool classrooms throughout Charlotte; for that reason, I have a special place in my heart for children’s books. William Joyce is an author and illustrator who is imaginative and whimsical in his story-telling, and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a tale that celebrates the power of books and reading.