Books that stick with me: Historical Fiction, Politics, & Autobiographies

Looks like it’s #bookloversday based on my newsfeed so I wanted to contribute and share some books I’ve enjoyed over the past year (and a couple forever-favorites). What books have you enjoyed or what did you think of any of these??

Historical-Fiction

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut?

I read this in a college class about “hero’s as outsiders,” most simply it can be summed up by “perception is reality.” Over time, I’d evolve that to also include “impact is often larger than intention” based on how you affect others.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9592.Mother_Night

Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

This novel is a hilarious satirical depiction of “Biff, Joshua aka Jesus’ childhood best friend” telling the story of the early days before he came to be known as Jesus. As a Jewish person and lover of comedy, it was a fun and fascinating way to learn more about the topic.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28881.Lamb

Fiction?

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory

by Raphael Bob-Waksberg?

By the creator of BoJack Horseman, this book of essays is beautifully written in a visceral and relatable way pulling you through the highs and lows of relationships. Ultimately, letting you in on one of the best (worst?) kept secrets, you don’t have to be perfect or flawless to find happiness and partnership in this world.?

?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41949311-someone-who-will-love-you-in-all-your-damaged-glory

Non-Fiction (Political or political adjacent)

The World As It Is: Inside the Obama White House by Ben Rhodes

This book is written by the former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting under President Barack Obama. It’s an first hand account of his journey into politics, wanting to make an impact in the world, and his active participation in the Obama White House. In particular, what stuck out to me is the humanization of President Obama through Rhodes’ words and the feeling that it takes so many people to create change in this world, but the each action and decision is like a snowflake in an avalanche - building up over time. It also showed how giving Obama was (is) and on some level, he was a manager trying to fulfill his employees ambitions too just with much higher stakes. For example, Rhodes pushed for the Obama-Anthony Bourdain episode knowing what it would mean to the world as well as led on the Cuba-US relations progress. Naturally, it also invited curiosity and some frustration of how any administration falters or may have overly relied on “the big speech” to make change.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38458392-the-world-as-it-is

Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis

I picked up this book in early 2017 soon after Trump was elected president but more specifically when he said Congressman Lewis is “all talk… no action or results.” (Link: https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/14/politics/john-lewis-donald-trump/index.html)?

I’d always heard Lewis was a hero and a leader of the Civil Rights movement but I hardly knew the details. This read was deeply emotional, inspiring, and honestly painful at times. It educated me on many of the more detailed aspects of the Civil Rights era, including that he was the Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which he helped form. SNCC was largely responsible for the sit-ins and other activities of students in the struggle for civil rights. He was one of if not the youngest members of the movements leadership and until the day he passed away never stopped fighting for Civil Rights. I was also fortunate enough to meet Bernard Lafayette, also a leader in the movement and a humanitarian,? a few months later and had a better sense of the context and history in order to learn more from him and have a sense of respect for what he’d done.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27550.Walking_with_the_Wind

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America

by Sarah Kendzior

Kendzior is one of the pre eminent thinkers of our era, tying together countless facts and patterns across the history (and present) of the USA and much of the world. In particular, she illuminates information that is as she says “hiding in plain sight.” Whether this book or her Twitter feed, I highly recommend following along for a strong understanding of what’s happening around us, the danger and warnings, and in a sense what to expect next for many aspects of life. As taken from the book press “Hiding in Plain Sight is about confronting injustice – an often agonizing process, but an honest and necessary one – as the only way that offers the possibility of ending it.”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52274929-hiding-in-plain-sight

An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination

by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang

It’s an electric read focused on Facebook’s “growth at the expense of all else” mindset, filtered through the past 2 POTUS election cycles. For a company that inspired so many with it’s launch of the modern social network era (including me) it is a fall from grace investigative journalism tour de force. I highly recommend it.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56470423-an-ugly-truth

Last but not least: Auto-Biographies from business leaders?

For “business books” I enjoy finding books that can be informative but read like stories, which is why I often enjoy a well written autobiography. While not everything these people do personally or professionally are things I fully support I think they are compelling reads with a couple of good take aways.?

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

by Phil Knight

In particular, Knight espoused a mindset of hiring good people, identifying goals, taking their feedback and trusting them to accomplish incredible things. This hits on the idea of psychological trust that I believe is critical to a good team and organizational success. Time and again Knight emphasized that his employees were able to strategize and execute in creative?

Ways that he personally could not have done. Part of leadership isn’t about telling someone how to do something your way, it’s trusting them to figure it out and realizing there are many ways to accomplish goals. It builds into my personal belief that there are countless ways to be “successful” and that diversity is a strength not a weakness.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27220736-shoe-dog

Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

by Richard Branson

I saw Branson speak as a keynote guest at a conference in 2019 and decided to pick up his book to learn more. Growing up dyslexic and not necessarily thought of as smart at a young age, he seemed to get by on charisma and a good attitude.? The lessons I took away that I think are broadly applicable were essentially: treat your employees well, put the customer’s needs above profit and the bottom line will hopefully follow. Additionally, you can have fun at work. Work doesn’t have to be your life, I don’t fully believe in “love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life” but it’s exciting to see there are ways to think creatively and enjoy your self professionally.?

There’s certainly a lot of privilege built into his success and path, no doubt about that, and his recent mission to space doesn’t leave me feeling warm and fuzzy inside as we have plenty of needs here on earth, including fighting climate change where resources and the wealthy paying taxes could be better served.?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211099.Losing_My_Virginity

Thanks for taking the time to read through some of the books that have stuck with me over the years. Have you read any of these and have thoughts to share? Any favorite books you’d recommend? Would love to hear all about them!?

-Scott?