The first quarter of the year is about to close so it’s time to share my updated reading list. There are 31 books on the list, which stuns me because it’s even faster than the 2011 pace. Honestly, I would have said I was reading less this year! Maybe the books are shorter.
Well, whatever the explanation, here are the books with a very short comment about each one.
Good Strategy Bad Strategy, by Richard Rumelt. One of the better strategy books I’ve read in a long time.
The Barbarian Conversion, by Richard Fletcher. Thick and highly detailed account of the spread of Christianity throughout Europe.
The Price of Civilization, by Jeffrey Sachs. A call for character in our economic system from a progressive viewpoint.
Cannonball!, by Brock Yates. History of the legendary cross-country races of of the 70’s from the automotive journalist and organizer of the event.
Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney. Despite it’s academic credentials, this is an approachable book about the psychology of the long forgotten skill of willpower.
The Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Ian J. Bickerton. Historical look at the conflict with recommendations for solutions.
Snow, by Orhan Pamuk. Romance, mystery, and drama wrapped into a brilliant story.
Eisenhower in War and Peace, by Jean Edward Smith. My favorite history book of the year (thus far), an excellent book about an incredible leader.
Longitude, by Dava Sobel and William Andrewes. Interesting book about the technology and politics that went into the clockmaking (yes, clockmaking) that allowed sailors to determine longitude.
You Are Not So Smart, by David McRaney. Fun book about how our brain deceives us.
Coming Apart, by Charles Murray. Broad, sweeping look at how American demographics have changed in the last 50 years.
Istanbul: Memories and the City, by Orhan Pamuk. Sometimes slow and overly detailed account of growing up in Istanbul during the Cold War.
Code Talker, by Judith Avila and Chester Nez. Personal memoir of one of the World War II Navajo code talkers.
What Matters Now, by Gary Hamel. Always entertaining Gary Hamel shares his thoughts about the most important issues in management today.
Don’t Get Me Wrong!, by Judith Reker and Julia Grosse. Fun picture book of different cultural hand gestures.
Quiet, by Susan Cain. My favorite book of the year (thus far); an insightful book about the power of introversion.
Jerusalem: The Biography, by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Historical look at Jerusalem over several thousand years.
Falling For God, by Gary Moon. Enjoyable insights about our spiritual formation from the director of the Dallas Willard Center.
Strategic Vision, by Zbigniew Brezezinski. How America can be best positioned to succeed in the geo-politics of the 21st Century.
The Shaping of an Effective Leader, by Gayle Beebe. The first chapter of this book — on character — is worth the price of the book. Every business leader on the planet needs to read it.
Taken, by Robert Crais. A private-eye mystery story that is fast paced and fun.
Poustinia, by Catherine Doherty. Thoughtful insights about our spiritual formation from the legendary author.
The Sentry, by Robert Crais. Another private-eye mystery story from Robert Crais; this one is a bit darker and more mysterious.
Explorers of the Nile, by Tim Jeal. Amazing stories of the experiences those early explorers endured.
Keynes Hayek, by Nicholas Wapshott. A great way to understand economic debates; goes to the source of the two main theories and explains the two men who imagined them.
The Next Decade, by George Friedman. Ideas (guesses?) about what will happen to America over the next ten years.
Lost Kingdom, by Julia Flynn Siler. Sweeping history of the Hawaiian people and how their Kingdom was taken from them.
Earth, by Jon Stewart. Silly, silly, low brow humor. And at times very funny.
Loving Our Religious Neighbors, by Josh Daneshforooz. Ideas on how to create and sustain dialogue with different faiths.
Charlemagne, by Richard Winston. Well researched historical book about the amazing Charlemagne.
Death at La Fenice, by Donna Leon. Fun detective novel set in Venice.