My summer reading list
We’ve had a tough but productive 2021 so far. Society is slowly re-opening and like many of my colleagues, I am looking forward to a break in a few weeks. Beyond running, reading is my main outlet. Here is what you can find at the top of my reading pile for the summer holidays…
Amazon Unbound, Brad Stone
I don’t read many business stories. But, I have been following Amazon for many years. This book is the sequel to the “Everything Store”. I am impressed by Amazon’s drive to understand and please customers, their bold objectives, their focus on execution and their drive to try different things. Our big push in software engineering, AI and supply chain management in the last decade has been in part influenced by our study of Amazon. The Everything Store was mandatory reading for a few of my colleagues!
Caste, Isabel Wilkerson
This book analyzes the parallels of the painful treatment of minorities in North America, Germany and India. I particularly appreciate the insight it provides on the root causes of a caste system and how it translates to today’s society. While easy to read, the content itself can be very hard at times. Well worth a read … maybe not on the beach.
The Code Breaker, Walter Isaacson
I am a fan of Walter Isaacson and don’t know much about gene editing, so this was a natural choice. It seems only fitting to spend time on the future of healthcare after what we’ve been through in the past 18 months. While there are big moral and ethical questions, this pillar of science is promising.
The complete short stories of Ernest Hemingway
Since the start of the pandemic, I have read many classics and discovered fiction. After having devoured much of his iconic work, I now enjoy Hemingway’s short stories. Very eclectic and a perfect mix-in when you read more than one book simultaneously (which I often do).
A handful of dust, Evelyn Waugh
I have been over-indexing on English classics in the past few months. There are many layers to understand. Waugh is known as one the great prose stylists of the English language. Frankly speaking, I don’t think I can fully appreciate the prose given French is my first language, but it’s still an enjoyable read.
Reality is not what it seems, Carlo Rovelli
If fiction is not enough to take your mind away from reality, try quantum mechanics (or quantum gravity in this book). An absolute mind-bender. They say that if you understand quantum mechanics, then you don’t. Or if you understand, its simply because you haven’t read enough! So, in a weird and very relaxing way, it feels OK to not understand completely. Very therapeutic. Rovelli does an excellent job distilling concepts, providing chronology and translating them into a language that is consumable. He doesn’t shy away from tackling life’s biggest questions. I have read most of his popular work in the past couple of months and can safely say I don’t understand. But most enjoyable!??????????
As you can tell, I have quite a mixed stack of reading material to go through during my time off. I’m looking forward to diving in. Are you reading up this summer? Let me know what’s on your list.
Charles
Remember when you see an iceberg that you are only seeing the tip above the water. There is always way more below the surface. Think of people that way. What’s below the surface is what makes them who they are.
3 年Now reading There Are Too Many People in Chaos. ?You should read it. ?The older version.?
Remember when you see an iceberg that you are only seeing the tip above the water. There is always way more below the surface. Think of people that way. What’s below the surface is what makes them who they are.
3 年I’m reading stolen assurance account. ?
CEO at MSA Research, Northwind Institute & Post House
3 年Great list Charles. I’m currently reading Icebound. The harrowing tale of Willem Barentsz’s voyages in the far North Atlantic in the 1590’s.
TOP 50 Women Leaders of Montreal for 2024 -Director of Sales @ Arctiq | Mini MBA
3 年Caste is a very important read. Glad to see it on your list!
Project Coordinator at Intact Insurance Driving Change With Insights
3 年Another interesting mix of reads this year, I’ve ordered another one of your recommendations and look forward to starting it. Like you I tend to have more than one book on the go. One of the books I’m reading right now is called “Next” by Darrell Bricker. It’s a look at Canada’s lifestyle, cultural and economic trends through advertising; giving a glimpse of where the country is heading from a marketing and political perspective.