The Winter/Spring Reading List
A few of the best books I've read since the start of the new year.
Normandy '44, James Holland
This is Band of Brothers on steroids. An in-depth look at not just the allies, but the German side of the invasion as well. It's an insightful and well-told look at a few crucial months of the war, and provides a look at the genius behind the allied invasion and the gross ineptitude of the Nazi leadership.
Blood, Sweat, and Chrome, Kyle Buchanan
Mad Max: Fury Road should not exist. The audacity of the movie, the insanity of the plot, and the sheer scope of the production should have made it crumble under its own weight. And yet, it became one of the best films of the past decade. This book dives into the film's behind-the-scenes moments and proves that the craziness on the screen is only a small part of the insanity behind it.
Black Edge, Sheelah Kolhatkar
"Whatever you do, don't short stocks," my father said when I started to dabble in stock trading. He saw it as an evil way to make money - betting against success. And yet, Steven A. Cohen became a billionaire doing just that. How he made his money, and the many dubious practices he employed at his firm, prove that it's a dirty game where greed may not be good, but it is lucrative.
Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe
I was aware of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, but I didn't understand them. What Say Nothing does is not only tell you the history of the conflict but provides a look at the characters and on-the-ground experiences of those who went through it.
The Premonition, Michael Lewis
As is typical of Mr. Lewis, he breaks down a point in time to a granular level and explains heady concepts in an easy-to-understand (and entertaining) manner. In this case, we are treated to a core team of geniuses who saw the tidal wave of COVID-19 coming, prepared for it, and then watched as their plans were washed away by bureaucracy and the ineptitude of the Trump Whitehouse.
Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
A gorgeous and prescient book that shows the spider-like connections of humanity as they spread out along a post-apocalyptic world. Beautifully told with layered characters and a sense that, despite the world changing forever, humanity can still find hope.
The Cult of We, Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell
Another selection in my long line of corporate greed and malfeasance selections. This book centers on Adam Neumann, the co-founder and "visionary" behind WeWork. It describes the company's rise and Neumann's blatant avarice that caused its fall. On the surface, this book would seem to be just another tale of Icarus, but the characters of Neumann and those he surrounded himself with make it utterly fascinating.
