Once or twice a year, I like to look back through the list of books I have read and recommend a few to you. All of these are nonfiction, and several focus on personal development. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Reach out to me with your comments or suggestions for other books I should read!
Regular readers of my blog know that I consider reading to be my superpower. I’m grateful my parents encouraged me to read many subjects and introduced me to the public library. I’m passionate about lifelong learning, and one of my goals is to share that passion with you. Here is a select list of books from my reading list to spark your education for the new year.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less – Greg McKeown
I posted about this book on LinkedIn earlier this year (see my article from May for one instance). I’ll share it with you again because Mr. McKeown’s advice is sound and straightforward to understand and deceptively challenging to implement fully. It’s a bit like meditation – at the start, you wonder if you are doing it right, and it is only with persistent (and sometimes unrewarding) practice you will slowly realize the benefits. That approach won’t be popular with those in the quick-fix school of thought, but it is the only way to achieve lasting change. I’ve implemented several regular practices, like scheduling a personal quarterly off-site to explore what is essential and asking myself what the most important thing I can do today is. Re-reviewing the twenty-one Essentialist exercises in the book helps me start my off-sites right. The author also has a 21-Day Challenge online – one-minute videos illustrating each book’s points. I recommend you start here if you are looking for a self-improvement path for 2023.
Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love – Dava Sobel
This lovely biography is the story of Galileo and his children, most notably his eldest daughter Maria Celeste. One hundred and twenty letters from Maria to her father survive, and the author’s translation of this correspondence is a primary source for the book. Unfortunately, none of the return letters survive, which she sadly notes has created critical gaps in the narrative. Nevertheless, Ms. Sobel’s careful research and thoughtful prose illuminate her message – that Galileo relied heavily on the love and support of his daughter during his conflict with the Catholic church over his publication of Sidereus Nuncius (The Starry Messenger). Their story also includes rich detail about their society and how both secular and sacred communities operated. I try to read at least one biography every year, and I highly recommend this one for its exploration of science and society in the seventeenth century.
Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead – Tara Mohr
It’s likely obvious why I picked this book. I knew I would compete for the CEO role at Evergreen Bioscience Innovation this year, and I wanted some practical advice on how to lead. I found a series of ten thought-provoking lessons on why and how we should consider our well-worn behavior patterns and work to leave them behind. I’ve learned parts of these lessons through experience, but I haven’t seen them assembled as purposely and kindly before. The chapter on leaving Good-Student habits behind spoke volumes to me. In the final chapter, the author shares her intent to create a world where her young son can “work in an environment where collaboration, not competition, rules, where everyone’s good ideas are respected, and where people are kind.” What an amazing world we could create if everyone took these lessons to heart.
Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist – Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson
After reading Sebastian Mallaby’s “The Power Law” and knowing I was working in an ecosystem where raising capital is crucial, I thought I should learn more about how venture capital works. Matt Blumberg recommended this book in “Startup CEO,” so now you have three recommendations for the price of one paragraph’s reading! Venture Deals is an excellent overview of the practice of venture capital to advise startup founders and leadership teams. The authors provide additional resources on the book’s website. Many of these concepts also apply to angel investing, which made me better prepared to take the ACA Angel University Basics of Angel Investing course this year (thanks for that opportunity, @FIRE – Flexible Infrastructure for Resilient Entrepreneurship!). The field is full of jargon and acronyms, and anyone preparing to raise private capital should prepare themselves in advance. This book is a good choice for your first educational step in the space.
Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World’s Most Vital Resource – David Sedlak
You don’t have to live in the drought-stricken areas of the US to realize that fresh water is a critical resource. UC Berkley civil and environmental engineering professor David Sedlak’s book systematically explains community water engineering and sewage treatment approaches through the centuries. That’s right, he goes back to the Romans for Water 1.0 and explains the social circumstances that led to Water 2.0 and 3.0. His point is not to freak us out; instead, he shows us how centralized water systems have reached some practical limits, and communities must begin to recognize that significant changes are urgently needed. Fortunately, he offers several ideas that, while painful in the short term, will facilitate the evolution of urban water systems toward a sustainable future. You might say yuck a few times while reading this book, but if you own a home or are active in your community, you can’t ignore this problem.
Allow Me to Retort: The Black Guys Guide to the Constitution – Elie Mystal
This book caught my eye because it is about the Constitution, a document I’ve revered for years without careful thought. Lawyer and commentator Elie Mystal opened my eyes to the (mis-)practice of constitutional law from the first page. Sure, the language is a little blunt, but Mr. Mystal (a graduate of Harvard Law School and the Editor at AboveTheLaw.com) also adds a dose of humor with his critical analysis. I knew some facts about the Constitution, little about the amendments, and nothing about their legal interpretation over the years. I appreciated learning the distinction between procedural and substantive rights and how we might use the Reconstruction Amendments to correct our path. His epilogue shares the most straightforward explanation of how and why we should restructure and reform the Supreme Court to be more responsive to the “realities of our times.” I’m grateful for the education from this book, and I plan to apply its lessons in my work.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World –Dalai Lama XVI, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams
Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama were friends for many years before they met in India in 2015 for the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. The dialogs between these leaders were transcribed by Mr. Adams and supplemented with his observations, producing this gentle book. The Book of Joy explores the lives of these two best friends as they answer questions and share advice on how ordinary people can seek to hold joy within themselves and share it with others. That the two have a fascinating relationship with each other and their many helpers is evident throughout the conversations. The last chapter includes suggestions from both on practices to improve one’s ability to face life’s challenges and retain a positive perspective. I’ve started using a few to foster reflection during meditation, and I hope to be as joyful as them someday.
Each of these seven books has challenged my thinking. Some have helped me grow, and others left me with new insights on unfamiliar topics. I hope you will find one that triggers your interest enough to read it. All of them were available as electronic editions through my public library. I encourage you to get to know your public library as soon as possible!
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