The Books I read in 2020

While it's been a lousy year, it did result in allowing me to read a fair amount of books, upon which I like to share my thoughts (and invite yours):

It was the year of the US election, and the candidacy of Pete Buttigieg; Harvard and Oxford educated, Military veteran, mayor, articulate, soft-spoken - was of great interest to me. The autobiography expectedly covers "Mayor Pete's" early years, the importance of parental support in developing world-views, his military service and of course his views on the state of political affairs within the US. While he withdrew from the race thereafter, I would sincerely hope that this is not the last that we have heard of him. I would recommend this for anyone who still believes in the idea of an empathetic leader

People have compared Ms. Zuboff's "The Age of..." to the works of Marx and Adam Smith. While we have vaguely been aware of the perils of "big-tech" and "surveillance", the book chillingly depicts the exploitation of human experience as raw material for behavioral data by companies such as Google. Amidst drawing comparisons between Columbus and Big Tech, the author chillingly illustrates the "conquest pattern" where an "invasion" with a glossed over "justification" and thereafter attempted "legalization" is used to by the few to control over the many. I would recommend this to anyone interested in understanding just how much control "big-tech" actually exerts over our habits, and how we are now in a place where instead of searching Google, it is we who are being searched.

I have always been a big fan of Gladwell, and his thought provoking works. This book, deals with what Gladwell calls the "truth bias" and attempts to show how, we have largely made assumptions about people, based on our perception of them (that someone who "looks guilty" would therefore be guilty). What is fascinating is that Gladwell, in the audiobook version, has incorporated audio-clips, interviews and even a soundtrack. Admittedly, this book becomes tough to read (listen) in parts when it covers audio clips of murderers and child molesters, which are provided to illustrate Gladwell's hypothesis. I would recommend this to anyone ((including lawyers such as myself) who need to second guess the person in front of them (or on the telly).

As an honest admission, this book took a long time for me to finish, but I was richly rewarded for the same. The authors very strongly make the case for algorithms, (which we are aware, are all around us) to be free from biases whether from the creator or learned. The book suggests that such algorithms be created on the principles of accountability, fairness, interpretability to ensure the greater good of humanity. I would recommend this book very highly to those interested in development of AI (given that India is leading its absorption) and otherwise data privacy specialists.

As a parent of both, a son and a daughter, the power that Disney exerts over our offspring's viewing and therefore our purchasing habits, is all too obvious. Iger is the individual largely credited for creating the entertainment behemoth that Disney is today. In this book, he glosses over his life's successes while espousing the values of knowing your trade, ambitions, career trajectory and the like. What I found fascinating was how this one individual managed to successfully work with temperamental geniuses such as Steve Jobs and George Lucas bringing their repertoire under the Disney banner. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to understand just how challenging the role of a CEO for a global corporation is (hint: very!!)

What can I say about this book, that hasn't been already been. Frankl's seminal work covering his experiences as a survivor of the Holocaust, describing how "purpose" lies at the very core of human existence is a must read especially in these times. I would recommend this, well for anyone really!

In this chilling expose of the hugely touted Elizabeth Holmes' path breaking medical organization (Theranos), the author uncovers a facade many years in the making, relating to a medical miracle that never was. It details how Holmes and her partner managed to hoodwink many large investors into an organization that was all smoke and mirrors. I would recommend this to anyone interested in knowing just how audacious this scam was and how FOMO led to some of the world's biggest investors buying into it.

So I saved my favorite for the end; Sir Michael Caine has had an illustrious career that covers classics from "Educating Rita", "Get Carter", "Zulu" and of course 7 films with Chris Nolan! In this autobiography, he draws fantastic parallels between his cinematic experiences and management lessons, covering amongst these, professionalism, handling bullies at work, and preparing for a career reinvention in one's advanced years. I would recommend this for anyone who is seeking some no-nonsense advice on being your best version at work, or at the very least, given that this is available in audiobook, to hear several hours worth of Caine talking (surprisingly calming). Watch out for the bit, where he describes his favorite "love scene" in cinema ( it's not what you are thinking!!)

So, these were the books that enriched my life in this year. What were yours? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Vikram Koppikar

(all copyright in the images lies with the respective owners)