Education

Post Corona

Background

Published in November of 2020, Post Corona is the predictions of celebrated advertising theorist and Professor at the New York University Stern School of Business. He details how the COVID-19 virus has impacted our lives and what it means going forward into the future.

Post Corona From Crisis to Opportunity
Post Corona From Crisis to Opportunity

My Thoughts

This was one of the few books that made enough of an impact on me that I mentioned it to my wife! A high bar indeed.

I had no idea that Amazon had already jumped ahead into healthcare. I knew it was only a matter of time but I didn’t know that had happened. I didn’t know so many business had fallen and what was happening to those who were still around… There was much I thought I had a handle on but so much swept by without my notice.

I’m in Mr. Galloway’s camp. I am free market kind of guy and I really think there shouldn’t be anyone who is “too big to fail”. After all, where was my bail out when my business tanked in 2007? I adapted! I had to fire my employees and pick myself up again. It hurt and it sucked but I’m better off in the long term. Anyway, he gave me a lot more to think about.

Recommendation

Great book.

The Year 1000

Background

Published in April of 2020, “The Year 1000” is a non-fiction book written by historian Robert Lacey and archaeologist Danny Danziger that explores what life was like in England at the dawn of the second millennium. The book takes a fascinating look at the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the people living in England in the year 1000, based on a wide range of sources including archaeological evidence, historical records, and contemporary writings. The authors examine everything from diet and fashion to religion and politics, painting a vivid picture of a world that was simultaneously vastly different and surprisingly familiar to our own.

The Year 1000
The Year 1000

My Thoughts

This book almost seems to be written as a counter to “The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium, An Englishman’s World” as it deals with the entire world and not just the Western European perspective.

Great book! I really enjoyed learning about how the connections were being made all over the world. It was really enlightening to be shown how people connected and traded at a time I tend to think of as a dark spot in history.

Recommendation

Great book and worth the read.

Relationship Goals

Background

Published in April of 2020, “Relationship Goals” is advice on marriage, dating, and all the things that go with it from Michael Todd (and a little from his wife.)

Relationship Goals
Relationship Goals

My Thoughts

I really liked this book. Michael is unashamedly Christian and actually quotes the Bible! For real! The actual Bible… It wasn’t the King James version but it was close enough for me. I get fairly impatient with people who reference the Bible when they obviously have no idea what it says or what they are talking about.

Anyway, I found his advice both spot on and needed for today. This was the best put argument for the law of chastity that I have seen in a long time.

Recommendation

Love it! Great book.

The Religion of Small Societies

Background

Published in Sep of 2006, “The Religion of Small Societies” is an attempt to understand the spirituality and mysticism of cultures who predate or are outside of the mainstream religions.

The Religion of Small Societies
The Religion of Small Societies

My Thoughts

This book had some interesting insights into cultures I didn’t know about or really thought about. We, as humans, are very good about building patterns and beliefs. It was interesting to hear about what others really do believe and why they do the things they do.

Recommendation

Unless you are interested in anthropology, I’d skip this one.

The Leadership Challenge

Background

Published in 2017, this book helps the aspiring leader along in their journey. Can leadership be taught or are you born with it? For this book, the answer is it is something you can learn.

The Leadership Challenge
The Leadership Challenge

My Thoughts

This was a good book that put some science into what I thought of as common sense. It was a good reminder on several fronts and a wake up call on several others. I believe I am a better leader due to reading this book.

Recommendation

It was a good book on the subject of leadership.

Countdown to 1945

Background

Published October of 2020, Chris Wallace writes about the development and the use of the atom bomb. He takes us through the process of the arms race and tells the story from multiple people and their points of view.

Countdown to 1945
Countdown to 1945

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the book. Chris Wallace didn’t spend a lot of time giving his opinion, rather he told the story from what others had written about their personal thoughts and insights. I also thought the addition of the survivors from Hiroshima gave good depth to the story.

Recommendation

I think this story is an important one to get our collective minds around. It was worth the read.

China’s Great Wall of Debt

Background

Published in 2018, this book talks about how China has backed themselves into a corner and how the author really didn’t see a good way forward for them.

China's Great Wall of Debt
China’s Great Wall of Debt

My Thoughts

If true, this was a very disturbing book. The notion that China was on the edge as much as it seemed could have huge ramifications in the near future. This is particularly true with the COVID-19 pandemic going on now.

Recommendation

I’m on the fence with this one

The 5 Love Languages

Background

First published in 1992, this book became a best-seller both in English and in several other languages. You’ve likely heard of this book because everyone has heard of this book. The author explains how we all give and accept love differently and it is worth the time and effort to learn your partner’s “love language” if you want them to feel loved.

The 5 Love Languages
The 5 Love Languages

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed the book and put it to instant use. My sweet wife knew something was up as soon as I started but she seemed happy regardless.

Recommendation

Everyone who is in a long term relationship should read this book!

Sapiens

Background

Published in 2014, “Sapiens” is written by historian Yuval Noah Harari that offers a sweeping overview of the history of humankind. Harari traces the evolution of our species from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the present day, exploring how we became the dominant species on the planet, how our ability to create myths and shared beliefs allowed us to build complex societies and cooperate on a massive scale, and how our technological advancements have fundamentally altered the course of human history. The book challenges readers to think deeply about what it means to be human and offers insights into the ways in which our species has both succeeded and failed in the pursuit of happiness, meaning, and progress.

Sapiens
Sapiens

My Thoughts

What I enjoyed most about the book was that the author would present different sides of each point. For example, he started talking about the utopian concept of the prehistoric hunter gather life being better and fuller than life today. When he started down that path I remember thinking, “here we go”. However, he then balanced the comments with the perspectives of utilitarianism, stoicism, and the concepts of suffering as the Buddhists understand it.

I found some of it to be over generalized but I felt it was a good overview of the main topic.

Recommendation

This work would be a good primer for sociology or psychology classes.

Digital Minimalism

Background

Published in 2019, Digital Minimalism is a call to remember what life is about and is an attempt to help people live their lives with more intention.

Digital Minimalism
Digital Minimalism

My Thoughts

Really, I think a lot of his ideas were pretty good and a lot was overblown. I arranged around my apps on my phone so I wouldn’t be as tempted to grab it and look all the time. I also got rid of my games. Surprisingly, I found myself looking for them a couple of times already…

Still, the goal is a good one. How to live our lives with some idea of what we are trying to accomplish is a good thing. Folks not just wasting time is a good thing too. However, I enjoy the distractions as well.

Recommendation

A good book, particularly if you are trying to justify not giving your teen a smart phone.