Is it too late for a “Best of” list??
Scratch that – never mind – I hate “Best of” lists. This is merely an inventory for you (mostly for me) of the books I read in 2018.
These actually aren’t ALL of the books I read (nerd brag), just the books I read for personal enjoyment or enrichment. I share them because maybe you, too are looking for enjoyment or enrichment.
Last year when I did this, I told myself to read more fiction. Alas, I didn’t listen to myself. So once again, if you like entrepreneurial type books mixed with a little bit of human psychology – congratulations you’re my soulmate. Oh, and for those of you who simply NEED a “Best of” list, I put a ** next to my favorites.
**The Power of Myth – Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers
A transcript of conversations with renowned myth scholar Joseph Campbell. It underscores the presence and importance of myths in our lives, tracing their origins through to our government, our relationships, our personal lives and deaths.
Purple Cow – Seth Godin
A meditation on the importance of building a remarkable product for a niche market in order to compete for dwindling attentions.
Lilly and the Pirates – Phyllis Root, illustrations by Rob Shepperson
A young book worm and relentless worrier embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her parents from the Shipwreck Islands and treasure-hungry pirates.
Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion – Robert B. Cialdini
An exploration of the primary compliance reflexes taken advantage of by marketers and others hoping to affect our behavior. Although mildly interesting, the book is rather misogynistic in its tone, which can be off-putting.
The Wisdom of Psychopaths – Kevin Dutton
A fascinating look at the traits — both negative and positive — of psychopaths and an exploration of what they can teach the rest of us.
Every Soul a Star – Wendy Mass
A rather tedious and banal multi-narrator book about three young people coming together to witness a total solar eclipse in the midst of life changes.
**The Outsider – Stephen King
A wonderful mystery/monster story in which a seemingly clear cut murder case begins to unravel and lead to chaos. An eerily relevant look at the chaotic ripple effect of misinformation, anger, and grief that may or may not be reflective of our current cultural state of affairs led by our own outsider monster-in-chief.
The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
A breezy and easy to read examination of how word-of-mouth works and allows ideas to “tip” into full on epidemics.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics – Carlo Rovelli
I got this book as a gift after working on a new musical about Einstein. To call it “easy to read” might be a bit much, but given the scope of the topics it covers – special relativity, quantum mechanics, the true nature of time, and humanity’s place in the midst of all of that – it’s a rather breezy read. In only 81 pages, Rovelli covers a remarkable amount of modern physics with passion and poetry.
**On the Other Side of Freedom – Deray McKesson
A personal and behind-the-scenes look at the call-to-action and subsequent sense of responsibility of one of the most public faces of the Black Lives Matter protestors. His examination of the events in Ferguson that ultimately lead to the creation of the so-called Black Lives Matter movement is coupled with an intimate look at certain key moments of his childhood.