I’ve got all these grand plans for this summer: clean the kids’ playroom, clear out their closets, organize my emails, go on a biking trip, lose weight, discover a new drink and read like a dozen new books – you know, the same stuff I was going to do last summer, and the summer before that and the summer before that!

Summer is all about making big plans: for our careers, our family, our love lives, our political parties and our dreams. And our plans always include reading something truly special.

I don’t know what it is, but it’s a fact: summer and reading go together like gin and tonic – two classics that just can’t be ignored when the weather heats up.

Ever since grade school we’ve known that summer is a time for reading – real reading, the kind of reading you do for your soul – the best kind of reading.

So I set out do to do a little soul searching to see what some of my colleagues here at CNBC are reading this summer and so far I’ve found out that:

Joe Kernen’s reading "WHEN MARKETS COLLIDE: Investment Strategies For The Age Of Global Economic Change" by Mohamed El-Erian. The PIMCO executive writes, “In this book, I hope to share with you analysis and insights on what I refer to as a “new destination” for the global economy.” Alan Greenspan (Former Fed Head and PIMCO colleague) offers up a big attaboy for Mr. El-Erian writing, “This book is an essential read for those who wish to understand the modern world of investing.”

A program note: Mr. El-Erian is going to be the guest host on "Squawk Box" (6-9 am/ET) tomorrow, July 9.

Bill Griffeth is letting his pen rest this summer. This time last year he was writing his own book, "BY FAITH ALONE: One Family’s Epic Journey Through 400 Years of American Protestantism." It’s a great book and inspired me to hit all the genealogy charts to try to find something – anything - of interest about my family roots (alas, nothing interesting to report). Right now he’s reading the Joseph Ellis biography "HIS EXCELLENCY: George Washington" and when he hits the beach later this summer, he’s going all nostalgic planning to re-read a college favorite series: "THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET" by Lawrence Durrell.

Steve Liesman is going all summer on us hitting the field of dreams and the salt air by "SANDY KOUFAX: A Lefty’s Legacy" by Jane Leavy and "THE LAST FISH TALE: The Fate of the Atlantic and Survival in Gloucester, America’s Oldest Fishing Port and the Most Original Town" by Mark Kurlansky.

David Faber who’s CNBC’s prime time special, “UNTOLD WEALTH: The Rise of the Super Rich” just aired is now deep into the other “untold” world, reading "LUSH LIFE" by Richard Price.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera fresh from her recent trip to that magical place, Ireland is tackling James Joyce’s “A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN”.

And from our LA Bureau, Jane Wells is enjoying how Janis Cooke Newman has rewritten history in her bestseller "MARY". The novel is about Mary Todd Lincoln – and it’s unlike any history class I ever sat in. Jane says the book is full of sexual tension and that she’ll never ever be able to think of the Ol’ Honest One in the same way.

If you’re still looking for some great reads this summer, here are three new titles of books I’ll soon be writing more about:

If you loved "BRAND WARFARE" and "CAREER WARFARE" – you’re going to love "EXECUTIVE WARFARE: 10 Rules of Engagement For Winning Your War for Success" by David R. D’Alessandro with Michele Owens. Mr. D’Alessandro is a frequent guest on CNBC and his past books were bestsellers.

"THE LITTLE BOOK THAT SAVES YOUR ASSETS: What the Rich Do to Stay Wealthy in Up and Down Markets" by David M. Darst (NOTE: Foreword by Jim Cramer).

"NICE GUYS CAN GET THE CORNER OFFICE: Eight Strategies for Winning in Business Without Being a JERK" by Russ Edelman, Tim Hiltabiddle and Charles C. Manz.