Recent Reading - Summer 2022

Some notes on recent reading. Recommendations always welcome.

How Rights Went Wrong: My favorite book of 2022 so far. Jamal Greene provides understanding for how and why we are so twisted up around Constitutional issues such as abortion and gun rights relative to the rest of the world.  Reading this is much better than social media or daily press to understand the history, and potential solutions to such fractious issues.

Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives and Winners around the World.  I love reading Tyler Cowen in general, so hopefully pre-ordered this book when announced.  Some parts are useful, such as the advice on breaking through staid interviewing techniques, but much of the book comes down to simple advice: don't generalize, look at each person as an individual, and consider more carefully what you are looking for when hiring.

The Artist, the Philosopher, and the Warrior: Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Borgia and the World They Shaped.  Found this one from a Chris Blattman recommendation. I didn't get through it (yet, at least).  It was interesting to know these three lives intersected, and the impact each one had on the others, but I found the narrative slow.  I'd like to revisit another time.

Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom.  This book stands out among the many education books I have been reading lately. Lisa Delpit does a great job challenging conventional wisdom among many progressive educators. An insightful and rewarding read for anyone interested in school reform debates.

This I Believe. Fun read I discovered walking the shelves of our local library. I know the radio show, but didn't realize the format began with a series in the 1950s. This book intertwines short "This I Believe" essays from the 1950s and early 2000s.  The stories are short and fun to read.

Prepared.  I liked Diane Tavenner's book as a more tangible workbook for thinking about education reform. She has years of experience building schools, and it shows.  This is a practical and helpful read I will keep close by as my own kids progress.

Why Buddhism is True. I picked this up because I love Nonzero by the same author. I read most of the way, but ended up skimming most of the back half.  I found myself agreeing with much of what Robert Wright writes here, but lost without a roadmap for how these ideas could actually spread.  Yes, we are better off with more mindfulness, consideration for others, balance, etc.  How will that happen?  

Fiction

Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles is a favorite author so I pre-ordered this when it came out last year. But, then put it down about a quarter of the way through and didn't revisit until this spring. I'm glad I did. The second half was better for me, bringing new characters in and less focus on Duchess.  In the end, I liked it so much I listened to Amor talk about the work at City Arts & Lectures (recommended)

Matrix. Great fiction builds a compelling narrative around complex characters which entertains you while making you think about a broader truth. I never would have imagined a story about a 12th century convent would appeal to me but it did.  Lauren Groff is a brilliant writer and the story kept me entertained through the transformation of the central character into a strong leader.  Really liked this.

Peril at End House.  I'm generally re-reading one Agatha Christie at any time, and this is one of my favorite Poirot's, with great twists in a fun location, with Hastings and Poirot central to the book throughout.   Fun summer read if you looking for distraction. Fun podcast on Agatha Christie from the Rest is History team here.