Connected - James Fowler and Nicholas Christiakis
Amazing pop-social-psychology book about the power of social networks (no, just just online social networks) and the ways behaviors and health issues like obesity and smoking are essentially contagious, and full of fun facts like that if one person two degrees of separation away from your circle of friends quits smoking, you are more likely to, etc. Also cites those research studies about longevity and social life, happiness and social life. There are also great and fascinating pieces that are relevant to anyone in public health or thinking about marketing and even voting and activism.
Click - The Magic of Instant Connections
A little bit along the same lines as “Connected,” and a lot about the power of social forces in shaping us, and the influence that we can have in shaping social experiences. A lot about what makes people get along and ally with each other (proximity, exposure, environment, vulnerability etc- surprise, surprise), but some fun ideas about how to build effective teams and in-groups and practical thoughts for relationships in business, medicine, teaching, psychotherapy, and even dating.
Empire of Blue Water - Stephen Talty
I would have thought a book about pirates would be a little more exciting. Still, all told this was pretty good, though exhaustive and occasionally dry story of Captain Morgan. I particularly enjoyed the multiple references to places I’ve travelled in Latin America (ie, the Bolivian Silver mines of Potosi, the repeatedly sacked ports of Cartagena and Granada, and the ruins of Panama Viejo). Also fascinating for the sociology of Pirate values and ethics, and the book’s thesis that it was the British use of long-leash privateers that essentially brought down the Spanish Empire.
Authentic Happiness: Martin Seligman
Call me corny, but I love my scientific self-help books (cf: Tal Ben-Shahar and others). Seligman is the godfather of positive psychology, and this book is a great in-depth exploration of the big hits in positive psychology research, but better yet really breaks down research theory and ideas into practical actions. I wish I’d read the chapter on families before I’d written my book about kids, and I definitely plan to look to his chapter on happiness at work for the next book I write. Highly recommend this one.
Imperial Bedrooms: Brett Easton Ellis
Oh Brett Easton Ellis. I really loved the idea for this book- a semi-sequel to “Less Than Zero” as told by the “real” Clay, not the novelized Clay of Less Than Zero. Sounds great right? Well, it is a great idea, but then so not-well executed it couldnt help but disappoint. I felt similarly about the manic self-awareness of Lunar Park, which at least had better sex scenes. Also, really Ellis? 26.95 for what amounts to a long short story, not even qualifying as a novella. Oh well. At least the Ellis completist can read it in an afternoon.
A High Wind in Jamaica - Richard Hughes
Wow- this book was really good, unexpected and different from almost anything I've ever read. Plotwise, a bunch of 19th century children are kidnapped by pirates, and the book recounts the bizarre and often terrifying events with a detached, almost cheery tone. And what it does incredibly well is capture the psychology of childhood, childhood perspectives and relationships in a way that is similar to but different from Lord of the Flies. Definitely worth checking out for it's uniqueness especially for anyone with an interest in studying childhood.
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
If you were ever a Narnia fanboy as I was, then grew into a jaded and cynical McInerney/Ellis reader, only to become earnest and sentimental again in your thirties well... this is the book for you. Yeah, I couldn’t put down this charmingly written, impossible to dislike book that is so much better than the matchbook description of “Harry Potter goes to college and finds sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.” This made those Chinese traffic jams seem too short as I blazed through it on my travels this summer. Can’t wait to read the sequel next summer on the beach.
Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
Been meaning to read this for a long time, and finally got it started while travelling and finished a few days ago. Wow, completely fascinating and made me wish I had a deeper understanding of Japanese culture to somehow contextualize and digest all that was happening in this dream-like novel. Fundamentally, it was beautifully written, with fascinating characters, scenes that were hilarious and utterly disturbing and the whole thing deeply thought provoking about human nature, fate, war, and so many things. I don’t think any description I try to do would ever do justice, but I highly highly recommend it. Like Blood Meridian, I really wish I had a book group to discuss it with.
Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy
Oh my god- Have you actually read this? I’ve literally NEVER read as violent and disturbing a book, (partly because its all based on historical fact). The first few hundred pages seemed like an atrocity on every page in this rambling, beautiful story of the early settlement and conquest of the American Southwest. All in all, haunting and powerful, chliched descripters I know, but this book, even if I didn’t always enjoy reading every page, I’m very glad that I read it and experienced it, and it certainly forever changed my understanding of our country’s founding mythologies.
Fortune Cookie Chronicles - Jennifer 8 Lee
Amusing, if occasionally overly detailed account and history of Chinese food in America, and investigation of “authentic” Chinese-American food. Some really great anecdotes and history, combined with a few too many chapters on the history of the fortune cookie. Foodie fans and those with cultural interest will likely enjoy, but even I found it a bit slow at times, in spite of the great subject matter.
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City - Nick Flynn
Another one that’s been collecting dust on my shelf and I’ve been meaning to pick up and read after reading excerpts in the New Yorker years ago. Finally got the chance to tear through this on the plane to China. It was solid- not amazing, but very very good. This memoir follows the main character and his father at different stages in their lives as both descent into alcoholism, addiction and homelessness, and the son’s gradual recovery and work at a homeless shelter where his father occasionally stays. Amazing stories, decently written. By far one of the best in the pack of mediocrity that is the recovery memoir genre.
Lost on Planet China - J. Maarten Troost
Super amusing travelogue in the “this-foreign-country-is-so-crazy” genre of travel writing, making it a wee bit patronizing, but overall amusing writing and some stellar factoids and stats for the reader about modern China. And, having just visited, I can say that what the book describes is -mostly- true, though clearly the author exaggerated a bit here and there and didn't always fully hold up though in terms of how accurate/realistic it was. Still, a fun one before travelling to China.
The Big Short - Michael Lewis
Maddening account of the behaviors of various quant financial guys who invented the credit default swap and other instruments of financial mass destruction. Not a whole lot of new territory for those who have followed “planet money” and the story with some depth, but as usual Lewis writes a colorfully engaging and informative account how things went so wrong. Worth checking out, even if you have just a passing interest in the financial crisis.
Predictably Irrational - Dan Arielly
Yes, my favorite genre- the quirky, semi-scientific popular nonfiction book that explains how the world works in unexpected ways (cf: Dan Goleman, Malcolm Gladwell, et al.). The best tidbits are facts about how we are hardwired with bugs in our cognition like overvalueing things that are “free” (ie, shipping on amazon with a 25$ purchase), facts about procrastination, and how emotion and sexual arousal change our attitudes and behaviors, and the power of expectations and “priming” on decision making and perception. Fascinating stuff. To me anyway.
Amazing pop-social-psychology book about the power of social networks (no, just just online social networks) and the ways behaviors and health issues like obesity and smoking are essentially contagious, and full of fun facts like that if one person two degrees of separation away from your circle of friends quits smoking, you are more likely to, etc. Also cites those research studies about longevity and social life, happiness and social life. There are also great and fascinating pieces that are relevant to anyone in public health or thinking about marketing and even voting and activism.
Click - The Magic of Instant Connections
A little bit along the same lines as “Connected,” and a lot about the power of social forces in shaping us, and the influence that we can have in shaping social experiences. A lot about what makes people get along and ally with each other (proximity, exposure, environment, vulnerability etc- surprise, surprise), but some fun ideas about how to build effective teams and in-groups and practical thoughts for relationships in business, medicine, teaching, psychotherapy, and even dating.
Empire of Blue Water - Stephen Talty
I would have thought a book about pirates would be a little more exciting. Still, all told this was pretty good, though exhaustive and occasionally dry story of Captain Morgan. I particularly enjoyed the multiple references to places I’ve travelled in Latin America (ie, the Bolivian Silver mines of Potosi, the repeatedly sacked ports of Cartagena and Granada, and the ruins of Panama Viejo). Also fascinating for the sociology of Pirate values and ethics, and the book’s thesis that it was the British use of long-leash privateers that essentially brought down the Spanish Empire.
Authentic Happiness: Martin Seligman
Call me corny, but I love my scientific self-help books (cf: Tal Ben-Shahar and others). Seligman is the godfather of positive psychology, and this book is a great in-depth exploration of the big hits in positive psychology research, but better yet really breaks down research theory and ideas into practical actions. I wish I’d read the chapter on families before I’d written my book about kids, and I definitely plan to look to his chapter on happiness at work for the next book I write. Highly recommend this one.
Imperial Bedrooms: Brett Easton Ellis
Oh Brett Easton Ellis. I really loved the idea for this book- a semi-sequel to “Less Than Zero” as told by the “real” Clay, not the novelized Clay of Less Than Zero. Sounds great right? Well, it is a great idea, but then so not-well executed it couldnt help but disappoint. I felt similarly about the manic self-awareness of Lunar Park, which at least had better sex scenes. Also, really Ellis? 26.95 for what amounts to a long short story, not even qualifying as a novella. Oh well. At least the Ellis completist can read it in an afternoon.
A High Wind in Jamaica - Richard Hughes
Wow- this book was really good, unexpected and different from almost anything I've ever read. Plotwise, a bunch of 19th century children are kidnapped by pirates, and the book recounts the bizarre and often terrifying events with a detached, almost cheery tone. And what it does incredibly well is capture the psychology of childhood, childhood perspectives and relationships in a way that is similar to but different from Lord of the Flies. Definitely worth checking out for it's uniqueness especially for anyone with an interest in studying childhood.
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
If you were ever a Narnia fanboy as I was, then grew into a jaded and cynical McInerney/Ellis reader, only to become earnest and sentimental again in your thirties well... this is the book for you. Yeah, I couldn’t put down this charmingly written, impossible to dislike book that is so much better than the matchbook description of “Harry Potter goes to college and finds sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.” This made those Chinese traffic jams seem too short as I blazed through it on my travels this summer. Can’t wait to read the sequel next summer on the beach.
Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
Been meaning to read this for a long time, and finally got it started while travelling and finished a few days ago. Wow, completely fascinating and made me wish I had a deeper understanding of Japanese culture to somehow contextualize and digest all that was happening in this dream-like novel. Fundamentally, it was beautifully written, with fascinating characters, scenes that were hilarious and utterly disturbing and the whole thing deeply thought provoking about human nature, fate, war, and so many things. I don’t think any description I try to do would ever do justice, but I highly highly recommend it. Like Blood Meridian, I really wish I had a book group to discuss it with.
Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy
Oh my god- Have you actually read this? I’ve literally NEVER read as violent and disturbing a book, (partly because its all based on historical fact). The first few hundred pages seemed like an atrocity on every page in this rambling, beautiful story of the early settlement and conquest of the American Southwest. All in all, haunting and powerful, chliched descripters I know, but this book, even if I didn’t always enjoy reading every page, I’m very glad that I read it and experienced it, and it certainly forever changed my understanding of our country’s founding mythologies.
Fortune Cookie Chronicles - Jennifer 8 Lee
Amusing, if occasionally overly detailed account and history of Chinese food in America, and investigation of “authentic” Chinese-American food. Some really great anecdotes and history, combined with a few too many chapters on the history of the fortune cookie. Foodie fans and those with cultural interest will likely enjoy, but even I found it a bit slow at times, in spite of the great subject matter.
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City - Nick Flynn
Another one that’s been collecting dust on my shelf and I’ve been meaning to pick up and read after reading excerpts in the New Yorker years ago. Finally got the chance to tear through this on the plane to China. It was solid- not amazing, but very very good. This memoir follows the main character and his father at different stages in their lives as both descent into alcoholism, addiction and homelessness, and the son’s gradual recovery and work at a homeless shelter where his father occasionally stays. Amazing stories, decently written. By far one of the best in the pack of mediocrity that is the recovery memoir genre.
Lost on Planet China - J. Maarten Troost
Super amusing travelogue in the “this-foreign-country-is-so-crazy” genre of travel writing, making it a wee bit patronizing, but overall amusing writing and some stellar factoids and stats for the reader about modern China. And, having just visited, I can say that what the book describes is -mostly- true, though clearly the author exaggerated a bit here and there and didn't always fully hold up though in terms of how accurate/realistic it was. Still, a fun one before travelling to China.
The Big Short - Michael Lewis
Maddening account of the behaviors of various quant financial guys who invented the credit default swap and other instruments of financial mass destruction. Not a whole lot of new territory for those who have followed “planet money” and the story with some depth, but as usual Lewis writes a colorfully engaging and informative account how things went so wrong. Worth checking out, even if you have just a passing interest in the financial crisis.
Predictably Irrational - Dan Arielly
Yes, my favorite genre- the quirky, semi-scientific popular nonfiction book that explains how the world works in unexpected ways (cf: Dan Goleman, Malcolm Gladwell, et al.). The best tidbits are facts about how we are hardwired with bugs in our cognition like overvalueing things that are “free” (ie, shipping on amazon with a 25$ purchase), facts about procrastination, and how emotion and sexual arousal change our attitudes and behaviors, and the power of expectations and “priming” on decision making and perception. Fascinating stuff. To me anyway.
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