Ivanka Trump's summer reading list

In this latest installment of CNBC's summer reading series, Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development & acquisitions for The Trump Organization offers up compelling books she plans to enjoy while chilling at the pool, jetting to a sporting event and molding the next generation of Trump family business leaders.

I have some fun travel plans coming up on my calendar over the next several weeks. I'll be visiting friends this weekend in the Hamptons and will fly to Trump Turnberry Resort in Scotland at the end of the month for the Women's British Open. In between, I'll be spending the weekends at my family's home in New Jersey, where I enjoy nothing more than relaxing poolside with my children and a good book (and I mean "book" literally; I may be the only person left in the world not using an e-reader!).

I'm always reading something, and I've got a good-size stack beginning to pile up on my desk.

Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant. Grant is the youngest tenured professor and was the highest-rated teacher at Wharton. In his book, he challenges a commonly held belief that in order to get ahead, you have to focus on advancing yourself at the expense of others. Here, he presents a brilliant case otherwise, asserting that, on the contrary, generosity begets lasting and meaningful success. I find his worldview incredibly refreshing. He elegantly puts to words something I've long felt is true, and I'm so happy to see this movement in professional generosity gaining traction.

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Edge of Eternity, the final book in The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett. I loved the first two books and am halfway through the third. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and Follett is a master of the art. I've actually found myself looking forward to my international flight to Scotland because I know I'll have hours of uninterrupted time in which to finish the novel.

My team recently swapped summer reading suggestions in the office. At their recommendation, I've added The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr to my list. Both are Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction. I'm told The Goldfinch is long, but worth it, and Doerr is a beautiful writer; I've been meaning to pick up his book for some time. I suspect both will be making their way into my pool bag for weekend reading in New Jersey.

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I have two young children and they both adore books. Reading together at bedtime is one of our favorite nightly rituals. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman are always on our list. I love that both my son and daughter get excited about saying goodnight to the working trucks on the construction site—you can't say I'm not doing my best to introduce them to the family business early! The Giving Tree was one of my favorite books as a child. It's such a sweet story! And it's hard not to be enchanted by the imagery and the message that's delivered in On the Night You Were Born. It's a love story from a parent to their child and I like thinking that my children go to sleep knowing how much they are cherished and how special they are to our family.

Commentary by Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions of The Trump Organization. The "Celebrity Apprentice" co-star also spearheads interior design decisions for the Trump Hotel Collection portfolio and provides the creative vision for the brand. In 2009, she founded Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, which is sold in stand-alone shops and other retailers around the globe. She's since expanded the line to include clothing, footwear, accessories and fragrance. Follow her on Twitter @IvankaTrump.