Summer/Fall Reading List

Another season - or two -and another list of my favorite books I’ve read during these months. As a collection, these run an almost schizophrenic array of topics, from fiction to non-fiction, historical dramas to modern character studies. All are worth a read.

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
By: David Grann

There’s nothing better than a good survival story, especially one filled with adventure, deception, and ghosts that return from the dead to take revenge on those who wronged them. Grann does a fantastic job of bringing the reader into this time period, educating them on the workings of a ship, and showing how desperation and inexperience can lead to tragic results.

The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life
By: John le Carré

John le Carré, or, better said, David Cornwall, has always struck me as an erudite and slightly pompous man whose privilege granted him access to the upper echelon of British society. But, in truth, he was nothing of the sort, and used his chaotic upbringing, grit, and deep understanding of human desires to not only become a spy, but to write the best novels on spying ever conceived.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline
By: Andreas Malm

The thesis is interesting: are we at the point where violent acts are the only way to save the planet from climate change? I don’t know if I buy the core message, and I’ll always feel like true thoughtful discussions with both sides are a more honest way of provoking change. But, Malm does make a good case for escalating the movement beyond peaceful protests, and makes you wonder who are the bigger villains: those companies who enable climate change or those who stand idly by and watch it happen.

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece: A Novel
By: Tom Hanks

I was apprehensive about this one. Tom Hanks, the actor? But by about page 30, I was a hooked. Hanks brings you deep inside the pre-production and production of a fictional movie shoot, and creates some memorable characters along for the ride. It’s a fun, insightful, and easy read that illuminates all the moving pieces that come together to create what we see on the big screen.

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
By: Michael Finkel

I’d never heard of Stéphane Breitwieser nor the audaciousness of his crimes. But Finkel’s book brings him to life, along with his idiosyncrasies, his insanity, his motivations, and his passion. And who would have thought that billions of dollars worth of stolen art was hanging on the walls in an attic in France?

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More than They Expect
By: Will Guidara

This was, by and large, the best book I’ve read all year. Maybe in the past five years. The lessons contained within are not reserved just for the restaurant industry, but for business and life as well. Normally, I don’t carry a highlighter with me while I read, but for this one, I found myself highlighting passages in each chapter. It’s a brilliant, brilliant book that will make you hunger for a 4-star meal and a world where people are devoted to making others happy.

The Story Paradox: How Our Love of Storytelling Builds Societies and Tears Them Down
By: Jonathan Gottschall

The weaponization of storytelling has occurred for thousands of years and it doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. I read this before the events of October 7th and it was interesting to see the news and propaganda coming from both sides through the lens of the messages of this book.

Yellowface: A Novel
By: R. F. Kuang

What Kuang has done is created a central character with motivations beyond simply right and wrong. She’s made her complex and given her choices that are not always so straightforward. As a character study, this book is fantastic. As a look inside the world of publishing, it’s utterly fascinating. As a novel, it’s just ok.

Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon

By: Michael Lewis

I’ve been a fan of Michael Lewis’s since I read Moneyball a thousand years ago. And while I liked Going Infinite, I didn’t love it. It seemed a bit rushed and took some giant leaps in time and explanation. Additionally, as Sam Bankman-Fried is currently on trial, this book would have been better served coming out after his sentencing. Still, there’s nothing like a non-fiction book about hubris and how it almost always leads to an epic demise.