Book List
Here are some favorite books of mine. Some are business books and some are just for fun.
Let me know what you think and what you're reading.
- Pam
The Monster of Florence
Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi
Real life search for serial killer in Florence – nice details of the history of Florence and Italy. Makes “Locked Up Abroad” very real and makes me very happy to live under our penal code system.
Lost City of the Monkey God
Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston, one of my favorite non-fiction authors, brings to life the reality of archeological expeditions using LIDAR technology while brilliantly exposing the dangers of the governments and criminals as well as the scary parts of dense jungles with insects, diseases.
The Soul of an Octopus
Sy Montgomery
A surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness.
Neurofitness: A Brain Surgeon’s Secrets to Boost Performance & Unleash Creativity
Rahul Jandial M.D., Ph.D.
An incredible look into the real science of peak performance from a college dropout turned brain surgeon.
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight
Shoe Dog is one of the best memoir’s I’ve read by a business person. Knight bares his soul throughout and tells a fantastic story filled with grit, passion and drama.
Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America
Weijian Shan
“Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America” is Weijian Shan’s deeply affecting memoir. It is also a story that mirrors China’s dizzying recent history: the Cultural Revolution, with all its madness; the opening to the United States, with all the promise it held; and Deng Xiaoping’s decision to unleash a market-based system, with all the changes it wrought. Mr. Shan has lived this history, suffered from its excesses and thrived thanks to the opening. Today he is one of the more respected and successful financiers in the “new China.”
Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination
Brian Jay Jones
While it is a standard biography in general terms, Jones goes above and beyond to contextualize Geisel in the larger picture at every moment of his life. This makes Becoming Dr. Seuss a fascinating read that discusses the origin of the humorous, simple rhymes, bizarre creatures, and magic that characterized Geisel's books while also showing the author's more radical side as an unemployed wanderer who abandoned his doctoral studies, a successful advertising man, and a political cartoonist.
The Husband’s Secret
Liane Moriarty
A beautifully written book outlining how secrets can hurt and be devastating and can change one’s life if not fully understood. Dickinsonian in the twists. Written by the woman who wrote Big Little Lies.
Moneyball
Michael Lewis
I will read any of this man’s books. Wonderful research and great reads.
Half the Sky
Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
“Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” is an eye-opening view of our world and how people deal with the horrors of various societies.
Same Kind of Different as Me
Ron Hall
“A modern-day slave, an international art dealer and the unlikely woman who bound them together.”
Just Mercy
Bryan Stevenson
James Clear summarizes this book with the following words: “The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Simply punishing the broken only ensures that they remain broken and we do, too.”
The Devil’s Casino: Friendship, Betrayal and the High Stakes Games played inside Lehman Brothers
Vicky Ward
The title says it all! Hubris and greed.
The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, the financial genius behind a century of Wall Street Scandals
Frank Partnoy
Genius in the title is the wrong word. Slimy thief is a more apt description. I read about these financial bad boys to continually remind myself of why the perception of the financial world is what it is.
Delivering Happiness
Tony Hsieh
Tony Hsieh is the CEO of Zappos. He made many many millions earlier and after investing in Zappos realized it needed more than just money. A great example of how important it is to create something that is not easily replicable.
The Art of Possibility
Zander and Zander
A wonderful outlook on bringing creativity and inspiration into one’s personal and business lives.
The Checklist Manifesto
Atul Gawande
Everyone needs to read this book. It was recommended to me on the very same day by two people whom I admire. They were right! Dr. Gawande gives us insight on how to deal with our world of rapid data and information.