Books You Should Read in 2023
“A room without books is like a body without a soul,” the 1st-century Roman politician and academic Marcus Tullius Cicero once wrote. And I agree.
Unlike any other medium, books bring perspective to our lives. They help us to find compassion for those we don't know, often finding within others a piece of ourselves. They document and define our collective history.
Given the power of books and their ability to shape how we view the world, I've made it a tradition each year to share some of books that stretched my mind and deepened by appreciation for the world around me.
So, here are my recommendations for 2023:
By Ronald J. Daniels
In What Universities Owe Democracy, president of Johns Hopkins University Ronald J. Daniels recounts the role universities have played in the advancement of democracy throughout history. It is in some ways an admission of guilt, outlining the ways in which modern universities have systematically abandoned their role in protecting our democracy and laying out a plan for how we can reverse course.
By Walter Isaacson
The Code Breaker is a fascinating story about the life of Jennifer Doudna, a Nobel Prize winner who along with her colleagues launched the mRNA revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies.
By Anne Applebaum
American journalist and historian Anne Applebaum explains why democracies around the world are beginning to embrace nationalism and authoritarianism, with a perspective informed by a meticulous understanding of the Soviet era.
By Michael Pollen
After many years of banning research into the impact of psychedelics, new research shows mind-altering substances like LSD, psilocybin, Ayahuasca, and 5-MeO-DMT may prove to be deeply valuable in their ability to relieve mental suffering. The evidence is compelling.
By Jonathan Haidt
The Righteous Mind is a deeply compassionate, well-informed tour de force in the origins of our increasingly disagreeable world. Morality, politics, and religion are among the most divisive topics in today's world, and this book provides a framework for seeking to understand why and how we might overcome those divisions.
By Marie Yovanovitch
It's hard to find a book as timely as Lessons From the Edge. Marie Yovanovitch's story about climbing the ranks from entry-level foreign service officer to U.S. ambassador is inspiring, and she brings rich insight to one of the most consequential moments in recent American history, the first impeachment of President Trump.
By Jill Lepore
Jill Lepore's If Then is a fascinating account of the origins of predictive analytics and how data science has evolved over the past 60 years. From targeting voters to virtual filter bubble of cable news, data rules our lives in ways the typical consumer does not understand – and this book is a look under the hood.
By Kieran Setiya
In Life Is Hard, Keirnan Setiya draws on ancient and modern philosophy to reflect on some of life's most bracing challenges and how we might find meaning within them. It is a subtle yet damning critique our online influencer world.
If you get the chance to read any of the books listed above, feel free to reach out and let me know your thoughts (good or bad). You can also add me on GoodReads via?goodreads.com/hancensale.
I am a huge reader but my list is much, much lighter than yours!
VP of Corporate Services @ Realty Executives East TN | CRP? Corporate Relocation | Real Estate Services
2 年Thx for sharing, Hancen