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Gettin' my read on

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I travel a good deal. So, what that means -- other than that I've hardened to the point that I will readily drown baby kittens for an exit row seat -- is that a read a lot. I like to mix up the reading; I'll alternate between classics and contemporary stuff, fiction and non-fiction. I even like to read 2 or 3 books in parallel, picking up whichever one I'm in the mood for on any given occasion. Friends have picked up on these things over the years and sometimes ask what I'm reading. Even if they don't ask, I'm never shy about making a book recommendation (or two). So, in that spirit, here's a view into what I've been reading lately and what you might want to consider picking up (or not).

 

War and Peace (Tolstoy)... Yes *that* War and Peace, the unabridged version at that. You know, all of those jokes about this book being REALLY long are pretty much right on target. This book is ridiculously long. Comedically long. I'm a little ashamed to say that I've been trying to get through this book for about a year; I read a few chapters now and then and mix in other books every so often. It's scope is amazing and the setting is fascinating, but I took it on as more of an intellectual pursuit than for pure pleasure. I wouldn't call it recommended reading unless you're maybe incarcerated.

 

Freakonomics (Levitt, Dubner)... This is a cool book. It's a very quick read and talks about how economic tools can be used to gain interesting insights in a variety of decidedly non-economic situations. Most scandalous theory: the authors posit that Roe v. Wade deserves most of the credit for the reduction in crime in recent years. I have no desire take sides on that one, but there is something very interesting about an economist basically saying, "I'll leave the values debate for others, but this is what the numbers say..."

 

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Lencioni)... A parable told in a modern day silicon valley setting about how absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results are the cardinal sins of a management team. Totally worth the small time investment to read. For extra fun, try to match these dysfunctions to companies where you may have worked.

 

To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian (Ambrose)... World War II history is a hobby of mine, so I have always enjoyed the late Stephen Ambrose from that standpoint (Band of Brothers was great!). However, this book made me realize what a national treasure this guy really was.

 

How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Robinson)... This isn't a book about Reagan's politics; it's about how Reagan's personality and values shaped the life of one young speechwriter on his staff. A really interesting read no matter your personal politics.

 

I've also read a couple of books on Microsoft recently, including The 12 Simple Secrets of Microsoft Management (Thielen, et al) and How Would You Move Mount Fuji? (Poundstone)... I think think the content of these books is a little dated, but they're both interesting. Mount Fuji, in particular, is interesting as a resource for puzzle questions and the history thereof (although, personally, I don't base my hiring decisions on puzzle questions).

 

Oh, and if you're curious, my all time favorite book is 1984. My favorite contemporary author is W.E.B. Griffin.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    December 07, 2005
    You should check out Ray kurzweil's latest book: "The Singularity Is Near"

  • Anonymous
    December 07, 2005
    Sorry, link to my blog updated.

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2005
    Michael Blake also make good books. Check out Dances with Wolves and - especially - The Holy Road.

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2005
    That was terrible as we had to write an essay about it.
    Anyway, it was a good training as now I can read something even more boring like this
    http://www.apress.com/book/bookDisplay.html?bID=450

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2005
    Thanks for the book recommendations, guys. I've added them to my wish list. :)

    I can't imagine forcing a kid to read W&P! I think most young folks would lack the historical context that makes it interesting. What an essay that must have been!

  • Anonymous
    December 15, 2005
    Try "Good to Great" and "Death by Meeting"(same author as Team Dysfunctions).
    MIssya

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