What’s On Your List?
I woke up this morning, and if I am honest, nothing of interest came to my mind to write about. Call it a need to step off the treadmill and just chill my brain. I suspect many people feel that way. It is, after all, almost summer. Kids will be out of school soon and I am sure we are all keen to find a getaway that fits our mood. For me, I want to relax and look to improve my energy; the last several months, with a bum knee, have left me whiny.
When I think about recharging, and summer, I immediately begin to think about finding several good books that capture my interest. Last summer, you might recall, I asked the readers of I Was Just Thinking to send in a list of their all-time favorite books so we could all add them to our reading list. The response was awesome; I heard from so many readers who enjoyed hearing about books that were memorable. I took advantage of the info and was even able to read five or so of the books that were recommended. This year, instead of looking at books from the past, I thought I would see what books are on subscriber’s summer reading list.
There are so many titles that come out and frankly, it is hard to keep up with; that is why it is helpful to leverage a large group for ideas. For me, I always love a good biography but have yet to find something I want to grab. I am purposely avoiding political books or stories about political figures. I want to enjoy the summer, not add to the stress already present.
In the spirit of sharing, please send me any books you have recently read, and would recommend, or any books on your reading list for the summer. I will compile what I get and share it with all.
For those who may have missed last year’s list, or just want to see it again, here is what readers recommended in August of 2024.
Fiction
In Ascension by Martin MacInnes. “I am not much into science fiction. But I really enjoyed Martin MacInnes’s In Ascension. His language is lovely. His characters are very relatable. And his vision is surprisingly not dystopian, in fact quite inspiring.”
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler. “A beautifully written, deeply felt exploration of what it means to love and be loved.”
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien. “I’m not a fantasy nerd. I’ve read the series three times and every time I read it, my vocabulary noticeably grows.”
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. This was recommended by two people. “Ranks right up there with the best of them.”
The Foundation Series by Sir Isaac Asimov. “I’m a science fiction and fantasy nerd so Sir Isaac Asimov and The Foundation Series is a favorite of mine. He had a doctorate degree in chemistry which I think gave him the ability to write more realistic science fiction.”
Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling. “Harry Potter has become iconic and is now among one of the most read book series in history.”
Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson. “Very intriguing read, it’s not a new book but so interesting. It is a historical fiction about the Chicago World’s Fair. I learned so much.”
The Immoralists by Chloe Benjamin. “I read a lot of fiction, just finished this fantastic book. This is my current favorite.”
The Inferno by Dante. “When I was much younger, I liked some odd things like The Inferno, but I also enjoyed early John Grisham like The Client. I wouldn’t call these “favorites”, I just enjoyed them.”
The Help by Kathyrn Stockett. “Captivating, entertaining, and gripping. The book is wonderfully written and beautiful; thought-provoking, inspiring, and poignant.”
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl. “A beautiful literary book.”
Annapolis by William Martin “One of my favorite historical fictions.”
Spandeau Phoenix by Greg Iles. “Fantastic, one of my favs…and his more recent stuff is based on Natchez, Mississippi and is really great.”
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. “Considered one of the original Great American Novels. Noted for use of regional vernacular & satirical depiction of the pre-Civil War South.”
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. “Unique style with emphasis on concise dialogue. Examines post-WWI 'Lost Generation's' society, challenges, & psychological scars from the first mechanized war.”
Adventures of Augie March by Sual Bellow. “Accessible narrative style. Examines self-exploration and the American tendency to incessantly seek a better fate.”
On The Road by Jack Kerouac. “Unique ranting, stream of consciousness-type writing style. Examines postwar counterculture & the search for individual purpose & meaning.”
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. “Dark humor. "Each chapter is a joke." Accessible writing style. Considers implications of nuclear proliferation.”
Gravities Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. “Dense, challenging read spanning multiple styles. Great sense of humor. Examines US culture in the nuclear era. Explores wartime paranoia.”
Beloved by Toni Morrison. “Poetic and nonlinear style. Depiction of the effects of slavery and racism at both the individual and societal levels.”
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. “Unique style. Intentional overwriting for comedic effect. Realist depictions of addiction/mental health issues. Explores postmodern condition.”
Terminal List by Jack Carr
Harry Bosch Detective Series by Michael Connelly
Grey Man Series by Mark Greaney
First Conspiracy by Brad Metzer
Not a Penny More, not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer
Non-Fiction
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker. “Enjoyed this when I was in college.”
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. “Another great read from my college days.”
Start With Why by Simon Sinek. “I can’t stand Simon Sinek clips and stories, but I read Start with Why and did enjoy it despite my distaste for him.”
Monday Morning Mentoring: Ten Lessons to Guide you Up the Ladder by David Cottrell and One Rental at a Time: The Journey to Financial Independence through Real Estate by Michael Zuber. “Both are significantly less entertaining, but I’m drawn to the subject and that nature of what helps us transform.”
The Power of Myths by Joseph Campbell. “An extraordinary book that reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war.”
Pain: the Gift Nobody Wants by Dr. Paul Brand & Phillip Yancey: “It’s about leprosy and the loss of pain. The reality is pain is a gift and a life without pain can be exemplified by the challenges of a leper. They don’t feel a hot stove, or know how hard to squeeze a door handle, or when they step on a nail. In turn those injuries get infected and cause serious problems.”
Eyewitness to Power by David Gergen. “Is terrific, especially if you are a moderate Republican.”
The Narrow Corridor; States Societies and the Fate of Freedom by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. “They argue that countries rise, and fall based not on culture, geography, or chance, but on the power of their institutions.”
Titan by Ron Chernow. “And really ANYTHING written by Chernow.”
The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis. “I will read anything written by Nikos.”
Mom’s Diary: A Story of Loss, Reflection, and Hope by Michael West. “I have a first printing and will cherish it all my days.” I promise this isn’t a relative and I didn’t put them up to it. It is very nice though and I appreciate it.
Splendid Isolation: The Jekyll Island Millionaires’ Club by Pamela Bauer Mueller. “A peaceful story of a simpler time living in relative isolation.”
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. “Compelling and powerful.”
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. “I am blown away by this book.”
The Black Hole of Wauwilermoos by Dan Culler. “If you are wanting something a little more original my grandfather had a pen pal that was an airman over in Europe during WWII. He wrote this book, which talks about his time in a POW camp in Switzerland which is controversial since they were believed to have been neutral throughout the war
The Glass Castle: a Memoir by Jeannette Walls. “A remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant.”
The Jewish Phenomenon - Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People by Steven Silbiger.
Shoe Dog: The story of Nike by Phil Knight
The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
Mindset - Updated Edition: Changing the Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck
Humility by Andrew Murray
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Life by Keith Richards
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
The Storyteller: Expanded: Because There’s More to the Story by Dave Grohl
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall,
Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink
