Reading widely is an invariable part of developing as a thinker, conversationalist, writer, and individual. Focusing on specific genres has its merits certainly, though I’ve always found value in casting a wide net.
These are the five books I read in the month of August.
The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham (1908)
I try and read one classic novel per month, fitting it in among the contemporary fiction and nonfiction books. It helps with my writing and storytelling. To learn the art of fiction, Maugham is one of the best authors to turn to.
In The Magician, he weaves a complex story set in 20th century Paris with multiple characters and crisscrossing narrative. There is an occult, dark figure, Oliver Haddo, and he acts as the puppeteer, the fulcrum, for the story. Some parts creepy, some parts exciting — it’s one of Maugham’s lesser-known books. It involved magic without being magical (vis-a-vis Harry Potter) and it was unsettling without being off-putting.
Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson (1991)
A fantastic, lighter read this month. Bill Bryson lets his humor shine through as he recounts his trip through Europe. Bryson’s astute observations and hilarious commentary on people, places, and cultures make this an enjoyable read. He does a wonderful job of extracting the story from his travels; he exemplifies narrative nonfiction.
If you want some fantastic, poignant, and laugh-out-loud travel writing, Bryson stands second to none. My favorite all-time travel writer — he deserves recognition for his sense of humor alone.
Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance (2015)
Iconic. Visionary. Controversial. Business mogul. All these could only describe one figure.
Elon Musk broke into the Silicon Valley playing field with multiple startup tech companies, ranging from online banking to solar energy. Most notable of them all being Tesla and SpaceX, arguably two of the most forward-thinking companies in existence today. Musk is driven by a singular goal: humans must become a multi-planetary species.
Vance paints an illuminating portrait of Musk by detailing his upbringing in South Africa, his tumultuous family life, and his otherworldly ambitions. For those looking to improve upon their entrepreneurial background, or those seeking insight into one of the world’s brightest minds, or for great journalistic writing, this is a great place to start.
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson (2018)
Dr. Peterson didn’t write a typical, cliche self-help book in 12 Rules.
Infusing together the disparate fields of mythology, religion, psychology, and evolutionary biology, Peterson creates guidelines to improve your life. The rules are practical and backed by the wisdom of our ancestors and human archetypes. Rules like “Treat yourself like someone you’re responsible for helping” and “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today” ring true and overshadow any potential political controversy he may inspire. “Tell the truth — or, at least, don’t lie” and “Be precise in your speech” remind us to speak our reality into existence with honest intentions and specified goals.
One of the most impactful books I’ve read from the “Self-Help” genre in recent memory. I’m hesitant to even call this self-help, as I learned a lot of biblical references and mythology here too.
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins (2019)
David Goggins is one of the most decorated military men of all time, and arguably the toughest. He has the self-proclaimed title of “Hardest Motherf****er God Ever Created” — and he may just be right.
Goggins walks us through his horrendous, difficult, and abusive childhood all the way to his near-breaking point as a 300 lbs+ rodent exterminator. He decided to make a change one day and, within a handful of months, lost over a hundred pounds and began training to become a Navy Seal. The book revolves around the power of mindset to overcome any and all odds. Goggins explains times he ran marathons on broken legs, toughed out multiple “Hell Weeks” of Navy Seals BUDs training, and how he became one of the world’s top ultra-marathon runners (despite his genetic predisposition for sickle cell disease).
This is the autobiography of one of the toughest, baddest men in recent history (maybe even in the history of the universe).
If you are unsure of what to read or where to find books, my Essential Reading List is a good place to start.
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