Summary of my 2023 reading list

My reading dropped considerably in 2023 and I just read about 7 books the whole of the year. Here is a summary of the books. And yes, instead of a year-end post this is turning into a beginning-of-year post given I was a tad bit late last time as well!

1. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel - This book came my way as a part of a year-end gift hamper from my employer. This is an interesting read where the author uses different short stories exploring the ways people think about money and the role "bias" plays in financial decision-making. Have a look at the animated summary below to get more insights into the concepts elaborated in the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aiyFyjriG4
2. Think Again by Adam Grant - I picked this book since Adam Grant is a personal favorite. Adam Grant says "We are mental misers: we often prefer the ease of hanging on to old views over the difficulty of grappling with new ones". In this book he explores the art of rethinking, discovering how it shapes our ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a constantly changing world.
3. All The World's A Stage: A Personal Branding Story by Ambi Parameswaran - While personal branding predates the Social Media age, it is quintessentially in this Social Media age where one sees the significant play of personal branding. Ace brand advisor Ambi, uses a biographical trope of himself and his B-school friends who are back in college for their silver reunion, to bring alive the notion of people as brands. Their conversation offers keen insights into how each individual has a unique brand, which must be as thoughtfully cultivated as product brands are.
4. Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World by Aaron De Smet, Jacqueline Brassey & Michiel Kruyt - “Adaptability paradox” - ?at a time when we most need to learn and grow, we stick with what we know, often in ways that stifle change and innovation.?This book combines cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, and consciousness practices, along with the authors’ decades of experience with leaders around the globe. By practicing what the authors call "Dual Awareness", which integrates internal and external experiences, leaders can become resilient and respond to challenges with an intentional choice instead of being limited to old models of success.?
5. The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli - This was a book that was recommended by one of our XLRI professors when he was conducting lectures on "Behavioral Biases in Decision-Making". The author elaborates in short chapters 99 of the most common thinking errors?– ranging from cognitive biases to envy and social distortions. Essential reading for anyone who wants to "Think Again" :) and avoid making “cognitive errors” while making better choices in all aspects of their lives.
6. I Came Upon a Lighthouse: A Short Memoir of Life with Ratan Tata by Shantanu Naidu - This is an honest, light-hearted telling of an uncommon bond between a millennial (Shantanu) and an octogenarian (Ratan Tata) that gives glimpses of the man who is revered as a business icon in India. As any good memoir must do, this one invokes strong emotion and I consider it one of the finest memoirs that I have ever read.
7. ?Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - I was gifted this book by a dear friend. All of us have someone or the other who served as a mentor. Many times we lose touch with this mentor. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor. Mitch rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neuron disease - Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final 'class': lessons in how to live. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world. Just like the previous book listed above, this one touched my heart.

In summary, this past year the readings were around bias, self-awareness, and memoirs that touched my heart.