My reading in Q2/Q3 came in waves with a few bigger breaks than usual, likely a result of too many ideas flowing from TED and the increase of “beach reads” for Summer. I found myself writing more and doing a few more podcast sessions (ironically, I don’t have a podcast listening habit, I tend to only listen to recommended episodes) and a lot more newsletter reading. It feels a bit early 2000’s nostalgic for me to be back in the mode of reading blogs from specific authors. I collect them in my inbox and read them in batches, having the opportunity to practice my “thinking” hobby.
I notice that my path went in and out from the practical guidance to the curious pondering to the lived outcomes and back again. I strongly recommend this type of reading as it opens up layers of curiosity that might not happen otherwise.
For past summaries here is Q4 and Q1. As always, YYMV and (again) no idea why the images are different sizes.
In a world of polarized opinions I found this an interesting journey. Why and how do people begin to “know” things that are not true. How do these ideas spread and how do you untangle them (in yourself and in others). I think recognizing this behavior as a human vulnerability vs. evidence of idiocy in others, is an important path out of our current cultural situation. While I don’t think it changed my views, it did remind me of the importance of humility, filter bubbles and perspective taking.
I loved this concept – the understanding of the power of our mind to realize our biggest goals. I often joke that while I don’t think I’m actually a witch, there is serious evidence that I am able to will big things to life. Therefore, I loved learning about the neuroscience behind my witchcraft and the importance of being specific and intentional. Useful timing and it made me very open to the advice from Dr. Martha Beck to manifest a perfect day.
As a TED fan, I have been exposed to Dalio many times. I found this a VERY interesting account that reminds me of the risk of cult of personality. A reminder that building culture is as much about your own willingness to be challenged, as it is about an organizational growth mindset. Also, I could not help but see interesting parallels with the Madoff documentary, not so much the business practices, but the business of reverse engineering an outcome (or optics of an outcome).
This book is a must read for kids who are entering the workforce. Scott does a great job breaking down the way to think about money and how to build habits that can support your life goals. His story about losing his jacket as a kid brought back a lot of memories for me, not that I was inclined to lose things, but how being very poor early in your life informs your thinking about risk and consumption. This is not a light read but it is an accessible one. A great Christmas or Graduation gift that will be appreciated less than cash, but likely more beneficial (maybe include an investment in a ROTH IRA as well).
I found this book from the Invisible Women newsletter (HIGHLY recommend) and while most of what was in this book I already knew, I think it presented the questions we need to be asking really well. When we think about invisible labor and the distribution of care work it is important to understand the things that create the economies we enjoy. From political and economic foundations to the people who do all the things we take for granted in our lives (micro and macro).
A non-sequitur that might not even belong in my business reading list v but I have to say I really enjoyed this reflection. Both for the nostalgia of the movies of my youth, to the clarity of insecurity and human condition so lovingly described, to the joy of hearing both father and son narrating this book. While it didn’t make me schedule a long trek anywhere, it did give me a glimpse into the kind of personal discovery that happens when you take yourself away from your day to day routines and allow yourself to ponder the big and small things in your life.
This was an important read. While it wasn’t really anything I didn’t already know, the insight into how pervasive and nuanced the barriers to full participation in systems of power was a useful education for me. It’s a bigger issue than we want to acknowledge.
This was a HUGE learning book for me. I loved the concrete advice. The insight into perspectives and the deep commitment the authors had to being both transparent and helpful. I strongly recommend this for not just founders and those in venture, but for anyone who wants to better understand business stakeholders and how definitions of success can vary widely based on role. There were a lot of learnings that you can extrapolate to day to day experiences, if you are prone to thinking abstractly.
I’m in the I will read anything Fredrik Backman writes camp, but also someone who doesn’t love short stories – this one is a definitional contradiction . The way Fredrik writes human complexity is the best of the best and this story of family, dementia and love was gripping and absolutely belongs in any pondering of life’s quarterly goals.
On occasion I read a book and then think “damn I wish I had written this”. This was one of these books. The title tells you exactly what you are going to get, but somehow doesn’t even get close to the deep and powerful thinking that will happen to you as you read this. While many of the books in this list were passive thinking books – this is a book of action and the one I will be recommending over and over again. Recognizing the power we each how to navigate uncertainty and new places is something we could all benefit from.
This book can be both enlightening and overwhelming to read. That said, chapter 17 is the one I am personally finding the most helpful . The concept of big and small “t” trauma is one I need to spend a lot more time with, as I navigate my own journey of healing.
Even if you only take on board a few of the big ideas in this book I think you will do yourself a great service on how you think about investing in your own future and the impact of healthspan on your long term goals. For those of us in midlife, this kind of thinking is critical and I’m happy for the discomfort that I personally felt reading this book.
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