Books of August 2020
Ah, August, the end of what is conventionally considered to be summer. Although in my mind, summer involves a lot of sitting out in the sun with a good book, I can count on one hand the number of times I did that in the last few months. Oh well. With fall with should come a lot of afternoons spent on my couch with a cup of tea and a good book as the rain patters on the window - hopefully, this idea will exist more in reality than in my imagination in the coming months.
But since this year has been what no one expected, I guess it is only fitting that the summer followed that trend as well. And although it didn’t involve as much reading as I would have liked, I still did get some done.
Memoir: Hell and Other Destinations - 2 Stars. While I was definitely familiar with Madeleine Albright before reading this book, I’m a little young to be intimately familiar with the intricacies of her career. I found the ins and outs of her life after the completion of her role as Secretary of State, as well as some of the social commentary, to be a bit tedious. She definitely has played a unique role though in our nation’s history and has a very fascinating background. It’s amazing what she has overcome and how the political and governmental landscape has shifted in just a few decades. This book certainly was far from hell, but her other memoirs didn’t necessarily jump to the top of my “to read” list.
Business: The Creator's Code: The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs - 3 Stars. I’ve always enjoyed reading about successful entrepreneurs and how they’ve created their amazing businesses. This book captures the stories of many of the top entrepreneurs of our day from the founders of Chipotle, Under Armour, SpaceX, Airbnb, Jetblue, and others. I was shocked to see the company Theranos mentioned and lauded so often throughout the book especially after having read Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup earlier this year. But since the book was written before the Theranos scandal, I really can’t fault it too much. However, it was a good reminder that the companies that occupy such a large market share and impact the lives of thousands or millions of customers have a large responsibility for integrity. And unfortunately, Theranos (and some of the other companies mentioned to a lesser extent) definitely have fallen far short of that. The six essential skills mentioned in the book didn’t seem particularly revelatory or inspirational, but they definitely do seem to have played a roll in the rise of the great (and not so great) companies mentioned.
Mystery: The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories - 3 Stars. This was a fun compilation of mysteries in short-story form. I enjoyed that the stories incorporated Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne, and seeing their different methods back-to-back had me marveling at Agatha Christie’s talent. None of the stories particularly stood out, but then again, they were all over relatively quickly. Regardless, I was once again amazed at how mysteries that seem equally complex can be solved in a 200-page book or a 12-page short story.
Personal development: Hold On, But Don't Hold Still: Hope and Humor from My Seriously Flawed Life - 3 Stars. This book was a fun half-memoir, half-personal development blend. I liked it even more when I was sharing parts of the book with my dad and he told me that he went to college with the author’s father. They went on one adventure where they accidentally ran over a cow - which sounds like exactly the kind of story Kristina Kuzmic would appreciate. I appreciated Kristina’s vulnerability in sharing her story, even the dark and messy and tear-stained parts. She also shared a lot about how she parents her kids, both in the theoretical and the practical. So while I don’t need that advice at this point in my life, I’ll hold onto it for when I do.
Novel/fiction: Big Summer - 4 Stars. I didn’t know when I started this book that it technically could have been my mystery book for the month! But that’s okay, it was a surprise mystery and so I get to read at least two mystery books this month - and if you know me, you know I definitely consider that to be a win. I was vaguely reminded of reading Nancy Drew in my childhood, although there were certainly very adult sections in this book that would never have found their way into her stories. It was interesting reading a cook where the main character is an influencer since it is such a new and evolving industry. It fascinates me and so I was interested to read about it, even in fiction. Since the character is a plus-size influencer, that adds another level of intricacy, especially to consider how much that impacts her and her way of life. On the whole, it was definitely a perfect summer novel.
Sustainability: A Zero Waste Life: In Thirty Days - 3 Stars. If you need a quick start guide to living a more zero waste life, this short book might be just what you need. Each “day” is a short chapter with an assignment - some are mindset-related and others are practical action steps. I liked how some of the chapters had different levels depending on how much waste you were looking to eliminate from your life and what might be most achievable for you. Some of the sections seemed to be a bit mixed up, there were several chapters on minimalism and decluttering, but they weren’t all together and seemed a bit repetitive. The progression didn’t really flow to me, but that may be because I’ve already implemented several of the steps in my own life - I’m not really sure. It was a great primer though with some tangible and practical tips. And of course, I love the 30-day challenge format.
In addition to my “planned” books, I also read:
Epistles/Now - 3 Stars. This book is a beautiful poetic rendering of the letters from the New Testament. Although it certainly isn’t the same as reading the books themselves, the restatement from a slightly different perspective is really unique. And hearing the principles I know to be true in slightly different language is a good reminder of their value, importance, and meaning.
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win - 2 Stars. I will preface this review by saying that I really know next to nothing about poker, so a lot of this book went over my head. My knowledge was certainly expanded over the course of the book, but even after reading it, I really have no desire to further my knowledge of the game, and I’m okay with that. I love the idea of one year challenges, and trying to go from newbie to professional in a game you know nothing about is fascinating - even more so to hear about the whole journey to success. The persistence and determination factors are really highlighted here, showing that they can get you a long way. Descriptions of some of the poker theories and hands were a bit long and tedious and seemed to slow down the momentum of the story. The book walks the line between crediting skill and luck, seeming at the end to credit luck for a lot of what goes on in the world. Although it seems almost poetic in some ways, I prefer to see the world in terms of intentionality. And looking at what Maria Konnikova went through over the course of her poker journey, I see a lot of intentionality at every step - from her plan, to her course of study, to the specific hands she played and techniques she utilized. But who knows, maybe that was the biggest bluff of all.
Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth - 3 Stars. In Christian circles, intercessory prayer is a topic that is discussed very rarely. Even in the other books I have read about prayer earlier this year, it is something that is either glossed over entirely, or that is never discussed in true depth. If you have questions about the purpose, function, or operation or intercessory prayer, this book has the answers (and the scripture to back it up). Dutch Sheets, the author, has a unique writing style, but at least in most parts of the book, it helps rather than hinders his important message.
The Heir Affair - 5 Stars. A 5-star book doesn’t come along very often! But I figured this one would fall into that category even before I even started it since I loved The Royal We, the first book in the series, so much. This was another one of those “perfect summer reads” - and just an all-around great novel. Plus, since it is set in the ranks of British royalty, it is very much in line with many of the memoirs I have read this year - which I think only deepened my appreciation. I love the story and all the characters, and of course, who they are based on in real life. It was the perfect combination of light distraction mixed with meaningful reminders that no life that is easy, our choices have endless ripple effects, but also that we can choose to be happy pretty much wherever we are. The only sad part is now to wonder if there will be another book in the series.
I’m looking forward to September! As Gretchen Rubin likes to say, September is the other January - a perfect time to launch into new endeavors or start again with a clean slate along. There is just something about the start of the school year and the change in the seasons that makes it feel like such a fresh start. Instead of starting school or classes though in September, I will be receiving my certification in life and weight coaching! It will be nice to complete that and also to launch into the next chapter.
There are some exciting things around the corner! But I’m also excited to take some time this fall to cuddle up in my new(ish) apartment with some tea and a stack of books (I hope).
Until next time,