Jul 6, 2010
What Are You Reading This Summer?
What are you reading this summer? Here are some things I learned from my recent reads, which included Malcolm Gladwell’s latest What the Dog Saw, (same author as The Tipping Point and Blink) Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air (same author as Into the Wild), Pulitzer winner John Hersey’s Hiroshima and Alfred Lubrano’s Limbo: Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams. CAUTION: I prefer non-fiction writing.
QB Trent Edwards of the Buffalo Bills apparently passed an IQ test.
- All quarterbacks drafted into the NFL must take an IQ test to determine the level of intelligence as the pro game requires so much more cognitive ability.
- The success of the Veg-O-Matic was due to several things: the product was the star, the product was completely transparent, and it could be explained in less than two minutes.
- From the 1950s to 1970s, the percentage of women who colored their hair went from 7 to 40 percent. Thanks, Clairol.
- The commercialization of Mt. Everest has resulted in climbing fees of $70,000 per person.
- To succeed in mountain climbing, you must be exceedingly driven; but if you’re too driven, you’re likely to die. Thus, the slopes of Mt. Everest are littered with corpses.
- Unlike most all other animals, dogs are students of human behavior.
- An obvious, but often forgotten, point is that what’s clear in hindsight is rarely clear before the fact.
- Following the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, the Japanese government did not readily use the word “survivor” for those who lived through the event. Instead, they were called “he bo cushu”, which means “explosion affected persons”.
- Indicative of the Japanese culture of politeness, a pack of cigarettes in the 1940s had “Let’s be careful not to smoke too much as to affect our health” printed on it.
- Only the middle class and middle-class wannabes seem to fret about which fork to use; working class folks just don’t know; and seriously loaded people just don’t care.
- Being class mobile means you’re rejecting at least some part of your past; otherwise, you would have stayed.
- Being best at something isn’t necessarily how you’re judged in the business world; it’s more important to fit in, get along and play the game.
- The days you thought you were done with are never done with you.
What are you reading this summer?
I too have enjoyed Gladwell’s “What the Dog Saw” and read parts of it weekly. On a lighter note I had fun reading “Lamb: The Gospel according to Biff” by Christopher Moore. For my Western Cowboy fix, I just finished McMurtry’s “Comanche Moon”; the saga is complete.
There’s an apostle named Biff? Who knew?! I just finished “Nuts” re: CEO of Southwest AIrlines – pretty interesting business stuff. Book is slightly outdated though. Thanks for the book suggestions!
Am reading The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene.
"Fordlandia" by Greg Grandin about Ford Corp's ill fated rubber plantation in the Amazon;
"An Incomplete Revenge" by Jacqueline Winspear, the latest in a series featuring investigator Maisie Dobbs set in London b/w the wars;
"Netherland "the Pen/Faukner award winning novel by Joseph O'Neil set in post 9/11 NYC;
Chip & Dan Heath's newest, "Switch" which explores why it is so hard to make lasting changes in our companies and our lives. (Key- understanding the elephant & the rider)
Are you reading all of these at the same time? You definitely are my reading mentor, or as better known, the Realtor Who Reads – A Lot.
Well, throughout the summer, I’m working on reading my One Year Bible. I just finished reading “The Chain Gang, One Newspaper versus the Gannett Empire” by Richard McCord. I read earlier this summer “Character in Action, the US Coast Guard on Leadership” by Donald T. Phillips and Adm. James M. Loy.
In terms of fiction, earlier in the summer I reread all Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories and novels. And I dug into a novel this weekend by Andrew Taylor titled The Four Last Things, a mystery and the first book in the “Roth Trilogy.”
Wow! I'm impressed, especially with the Ambrose book. I tried to read it, but it was way above my pay grade! I gave it to my Dad! Thanks!
Money: Make, Manage, & Multiply It! – essentials of personal money management. Also, Surburban Survivalist Guide, Teach Like a Champion, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, Alex deToqueville – A Life, Don't Just Do Something – Stand There, The Gates of the Alamo. Some are done, some are almost done, and some are waiting on the shelf.
I just finished reading “The Big Short” by Michael Lewis – about the subprime mortgage meltdown. Am now reading Phillip Yancey’s book on prayer.
I love anything by Phillip Yancey – favorite is "what's so amazing about grace?" Also wanted to mention a good, easy and true story – "Same Kind of Different as Me" – the only book that I recall that caused me to cry buckets, but I felt good about it.
Working through John Maxwell’s “Leadership Gold” and the companion “Go for Gold”. Read Karen Kingsbury’s book 1, in her “Above the Line Series” over the weekend, and I’ve been enjoying Stephen Ambrose’s “Undaunted Courage” – the opening of the American West, a little heavier read.
I found Ambrose's book to be too daunting, so I gave it to my Dad! I'm impressed with your persistence to read it. Thanks for commenting!
I am in the midst of FOUR books at the same time. what does that say about me?
1. The Girl that Played with Fire
2. Energy Leadership by Bruce Schneider
3. The E-Myth Revisited – michael Gerber
4. Tamar Weinberg's – the New Community Rules
Four books at the same time – I admire that! Also loved the E-myth – that's definitely a re-read – any relation to Michael Gerber by any chance? Thanks for sharing.
Looks like everybody is reading "What the Dog Saw" by Malcolm Gladwell, and I'll probably get hold of a copy. I am reading "Free" by Chris Anderson but finding that there are tonnes of stuff that distract me! Nice summaries of the various books you've read.