Books to Get You Thinking - 2010 Special Holiday Edition I
The crisp cool air of November heralds the start of the Holiday season with all its excitement and anticipation. It may also be a good time to get started on your gifts list. Whether you’re thinking about a favorite niece or an uncle you may not have met in years, books always make a great present. Long after the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season is over, books, whether they be mystery, drama, or fantasy hold countless hours of enjoyment in those long cold evenings of winter. This month’s picks include works of nonfiction covering biography, the sciences, business and current affairs, while next month I’ll be looking at fiction titles and Cooking Books.Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
A sequel to the author’s previous bestseller, “Three Cups of Tea”, this book provides the reader with a captivating account of the author’s challenging mission of building schools in the remote isolated northern provinces of Afghanistan . Mortenson builds an elegant case for using schools instead of war to promote peace. Especially appealing are the success stories of some of the very first girls who went through these schools.
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow
Hawking, one of the greatest thinkers and scientists of our times, along with Mlodinow, a physicist and author, present a brilliant scientific analysis of life and the origins of the universe in this beautifully illustrated book. Using the principles of quantum theory the authors explain how our world was created as a result of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe and the concept of “multiverse” - spontaneous universes created simultaneously governed by completely different laws of nature.
Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela
A poignant memoir about South Africa’s enigmatic leader, Nelson Mandela. The book abounds in important moments from his life, skillfully weaving snippets from his personal writings, letters and recorded conversations all of which combine to give us a rare glimpse of the man behind the legend.
On the Brink by Henry Paulson
Former Chairman of Goldman Sachs and US Treasury Secretary provides readers with a firsthand account of the fast paced political and financial maneuvering that took place in the race against time in 2008 to try and stop the impending collapse of the US financial system.
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
A haunting story of an African American migrant worker who moved to Baltimore with her five children and died of cancer in 1951. Unknown to her and her family a line of cells taken from her cancerous tumor were used for biological research and led to several ground breaking studies and breakthroughs in medicine including a cure for polio.
The Mind’s Eye by Oliver Sachs
The author of Musicophilia presents another superbly crafted book that weaves together his knowledge of psychology and neuroscience to provide insights into the working of the human brain through the stories of six separate individuals struck by unique vision disorders.
White House Diary by Jimmy Carter
Using excerpts from the diary that President Carter kept during his tenure at the White House, this books takes a fascinating look into the Presidency under Jimmy Carter and sheds light on many issues that continue to dominate the American political landscape today including the Middle East peace talks, energy and health policy , and nuclear disarmament.
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth GilbertFollowing on the heels of the widely acclaimed book “Eat Pray Love”, Gilbert delves into the institution of marriage, its history and its meaning through research, interviews, and much soul searching. Interspersed with her reflections is a charming account of her travel adventures in South Asia.
Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched a Global Movement to End Breast Cancer by Nancy Brinker
In this enthralling and inspiring memoir Nancy Brinker shares with readers her long journey from a young woman who adored and tragically lost her sister to cancer in 1977, to her founding the “Susan Komen for the Cure” Charity raising over 1.5 billion dollars for research on the causes, treatment and cure of breast cancer.
Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush
In this deeply moving memoir, Former First Lady Laura Bush writes about her childhood spent in a small oil town in Texas , her special relationship with her father, her car accident that haunted her for years as well as her family life and the years spent at the White House. Readers get a rare look into the complexities of the special role played by a First Lady.
Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky
Belsky makes an insightful analysis of management skills that can help transform ideas and vision into successfully completed projects. The author and CEO of Behance identifies the organizational, leadership and collaborative aspects of implementing ideas.
Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
A memoir that is a touching testament to the tight bonds of friendship between two women, both writers living in Cambridge who met one day while walking their dogs. Caldwell tells a poignantly beautiful story of life, love, and ultimately the pain of losing her best friend to cancer.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
A book that clearly demystifies how Wall Street operates and highlights the role that it played in the 2007- 2008 financial crisis. Lewis includes a rich cast of characters in this riveting narrative of the crisis as seen through the eyes of three hedge fund managers and a salesman dealing with bank bonds who foresaw the subprime crisis and betted against it. Lewis concludes with an analysis of the repercussions of the financial bailout and a look ahead into what the future might hold.
Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
New York Times bestselling author, Tom Rath and a leadership consultant, Barry Conchie team together to present a compelling blueprint on how to be an effective leader. Based on statistics gathered by scientists from Gallup, the authors stress the importance of identifying an individual’s unique strengths and including people with diverse strengths in a team to ensure a dynamic work environment.
- Nita Mathur
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