By Lekshmy Sankar | 31-Dec-2019
It’s that time of year – time to reflect on your choices and think about all the beautiful moments. This year, I learned something called ‘escalation of commitment.’ Usually, even when the book is terrible, I will try to force myself to keep giving it chances in the hope that it will get better – it hardly does. This year my philosophy changed due to time constraints. I will now only read books that capture me from the first couple of chapters and will abandon it if it starts getting worse. These are my favorites for the year, and I’m excited to share them with you:
Political:
Shortest way home by Pete Buttigieg – I didn’t know much about him other than he was a mayor in Indiana and running for president. I would categorize this book as a ‘coming to age’ novel. The chapter that made me fall in love with him was where he discussed the beauty of linguistic rhythm. You learn about his journey, but you also learn about the town of south bend and the people who influenced his viewpoint and passion for service. He talks about his failures and what he has learned from them. He is resilient but doesn’t take in the negativity that has plagued our political climate. It’s refreshing. Regardless of if he becomes our next president, this book gave me hope in the richness of everyday life.
Biography:
The ride of a lifetime by Robert Iger – it’s the journey of being the CEO of Disney for 15 years. My favorite part was the acquisition of Marvel and anything with Steve Jobs. He tells wonderful stories that make you want to grab a drink with him. The business strategy behind these stories helps you appreciate the presence of Disney in a competitive environment. I would even have my MBA students read this book to understand the challenges that fortune 500 companies go through and how to survive. After seeing the last Star Wars movie (I might be one of the few that enjoyed the rise of skywalker) come to a close and having read this book, I’m glad that Disney purchased Star Wars.
Mystery:
The silent patient by Alex Michaelides – It’s about a famous painter who shoots her husband in the face five times and never speaks another word about it. Then there is Theo, the psychotherapist and also very flawed, who is determined to get her to talk. He already has this fantastic job, but he transfers to this mental care facility because he is obsessed with her and solving this mystery of why she murdered her husband. The book had a bit of a ‘the woman in the window’ feel to it. It’s well written, gripping, and draws you into the ending. A word of caution, if you are interested in reading it, do not read the reviews because somewhere in there, you will learn about the ending, which takes away that spark.
Science Fiction:
Unstoppable Liv Beaufort by Sarah Noffke and Michael Anderle – There are many books in this series, so it’s a bit of a commitment. I would say you could even skip a couple and still pick up the next book without missing much. However, it’s an easy read, and it’s one of those books that you want to keep reading. The main character is kickass and charming. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and full of magic. I am a dog person (definitely not a cat person), and I still loved her funny, mysterious cat. The romance is a bit iffy, but the rest of the content makes up for it.
Romance:
Red, white, and royal blue by Casey McQuiston – I was recommended this book by at least three of my friends and for a good reason. It’s super sweet. The son of the president and prince across the pond who get into alteration and has to create a fake friendship that eventually grows deeper. The book makes you smile while you read it. It’s a story where romance builds without the two main characters and the reader knowing it. The next thing you know, you are caught up in the politics, ethics, charisma, and arched eyebrows.
Self-Help:
Why we sleep by Matthew Walker – I think I slept around two hours last night because I was up bingeing a Korean TV show, psychopath diary (it’s excellent), and today I’m not sure how I’m still going. When you read this book, it explains how it takes a toll and affects your learning, memory, and creativity. Imagine how much better this article would be if I had slept. The books provide some fascinating but frightening information on sleep. I don’t know how much of it is genuinely backed by data, but it explains human behavior.
Millennial:
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren – All of the authors on this list are fantastic writers, but Hope’s writing stands out. She explains paleobiology in words that people can understand. There are many similarities between her life and my life, and I think that’s a sign of a good author. Someone who can take you through their journey and help you connect through your values. I would skip the childbirth chapter because it’s a bit graphic. Indeed a beautiful story about love and learning.
Technology:
AI superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee – This book dives into the rise of the Chinese tech world, which is so different from the tech world in the US. We all talk about how AI is a gamechanger, but simple automation can also be a significant disrupter in our society. It tackles the Universal Basic Income (UBI) discussion that is happening in our political environment and his take on it. Overall, if you are curious about AI, this is a must-read. It gives an excellent overview of where we are at with AI and how we can utilize it further. I would skip over a couple of the last chapters about his near-death experience and the dystopian future, it was disconnected from the rest of the book, and I don’t think it adds value to the overall AI discussion.
Business:
Reboot by Jerry Colonna – If you want to be a good leader, it comes down to humanity. If you are a good human, you will be a good leader. Sounds like common sense, right? And once you realize that, how do you change? Jerry walks you through his adventures and failures, how he learned to heal and learned to be open again. It helped me think about my self-inquiry journey and the spiritual nourishment that we all need to be good leaders.
Strong Females:
Fascism by Madeleine Albright – I was a bit late to the party with this book. When I first heard about it, I was burned out on the news and didn’t feel like reading one more book or an article about our current world politics. However, it’s Madeleine Albright, and of course, I couldn’t help myself since I’m a huge fan already. She is a fantastic storyteller that pushes the boundaries of your ethics. It’s fascinating how all fascists share common traits and helps you realize that they are not the problem but the symptom. It’s a history lesson that hopefully, we learn from instead of constantly repeating it. Despite the bleak subject, it gives you hope in humankind, and it’s the spirit of generosity.
Short Stories:
Lot by Bryan Washington – Somehow, these stories captured a multitude of themes from masculinity, treatment of women, inner lives of gay men, black and Latinx working-class families, infidelity, drugs, and mental health. Some of the stories are hard to digest, I had to take a break after one, but they all stuck with me. The poignancy of this book speaks to you, and you can feel the heartbeat for months after.
There you have it, the books that stole my heart this year. If you are interested in reading about my 2018 picks, please click here. What about you? What is your favorite book of the year? Any recommendations for me to check out?
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