A few people know this, but this newsletter actually started with book reviews. I still believe there’s a demand for it. People want to read but, like picking out a restaurant in a new city, sometimes it’s hard to know where to go.
That’s why I’m bringing it back. Once a month, you will get 3 or 4 book recommendations from me. These are books that I have read or currently reading. Books I believe you will enjoy.
Also, you will notice that the comment section is open. Believe it or not, a lot of people subscribe to this newsletter. Feel free to write your own recommendations in the comment section. We want to hear from you!
Alright, let’s dig into it.
Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America
I don’t normally read political memoirs, but I picked up Grace: Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America because I love Obama. So much so that when Trump was elected, I didn’t sob out of fear for our country. I was mostly sad that Obama was leaving.
But this story isn’t totally about Obama. It’s about his Chief Speechwriter, Cody Keenan, and how he and the president wrote three legacy-defining speeches: The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize gay marriage, the ACA being upheld, and the eulogy of Reverend Pinckney after a white supremacist murdered nine members of the AME church in Charleston, South Carolina. Which, coincidentally, all occurred within a 10-day period.
The book reads like a West Wing episode. I loved it! Late nights fueled by apples and coffee. White House advisors huddled in dark corners talking about real change. What could be more exciting than that?
Cody does an excellent job of analyzing Obama’s leadership style. As opposed to a background in lose/lose business deals (like some presidents), Obama’s background was in community organizing. He preached that America was not a clash of opposing armies but a clash of wills. Change does not come with one president but with years of people marching, writing to legislators, and having the courage to come out to parents. He wanted everyone to participate.
Leadership by grace was Obama’s legacy. Change may occur slowly with this style, but it’s the right thing to do. Boy, do I miss him.
Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
I’m a history guy - it’s my failsafe genre. But I have this strange habit. I’ll go to the bookstore with the intention of getting something not about the Civil War. Then I’ll look around and find a new bio about a crazy general and immediately buy it.
This was the case with Rebel Yell—a biography from SC Gwynne about the South’s most celebrated general (over-celebrated, in my opinion), Stonewall Jackson. Civil War generals could be today’s college football coaches. A bottomless well of oddballs and eccentrics. Jim Harbaugh would have run the country in the 1860s. Stonewall Jackson was no exception. He was a weird guy who ate buttermilk bread and water each night without fail. No joke. He once sat in a chair in full uniform for 24 hours because someone told him, off-hand, to sit and await orders—not thinking Jackson would take it literally.
Jackson’s life is a cautionary tale. Gwynne shows us how wrong and conflicted we can be about our ideas. Jackson believed he was doing God’s work. He staked his life upon it. Time would prove how wrong he was.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
I used to be self-conscious about my introverted side. I believed that this characteristic was a sign of weakness. Introverts are the shy ones. The dumb ones. The geeky ones. I imagine many introverts feel this way. If that’s the case for you, read Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.
Her beautifully written and well-researched book teaches that introverts aren’t shy or hate people. Introverts simply need to recharge alone. End of story.
We live in a society built for extroverts. We are taught that the loudest get ahead in life. Think of the outspoken politician or the eccentric CEO. Susan points out that the world actually needs both. In fact, the world desperately needs both.
Thank you for reading. OK, now let’s hear from you!