Books of 2021
1. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage, Phillip Pullman
Set before the events of The Dark Materials - a wonderful, wonderful prequel to the adventures of Lyra which so fascinated me as a child. It was wonderful to be invited back into this world. So rich, so dark, so multi-layered.
“How can the weather have a state of mind?” said Papadimitriou. The gyptian said, “You think the weather is only out there? It’s in here too,” and tapped his head. “So do you mean that the weather’s state of mind is just our state of mind?” “Nothing is just anything,” the gyptian replied, and would say no more.”
Books of 2020 (7)
25. Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell
“We think we can easily see into the hearts of others based on the flimsiest of clues. We jump at the chance to judge strangers. We would never do that to ourselves, of course. We are nuanced and complex and enigmatic. But the stranger is easy. If I can convince you of one thing in this book, let it be this: Strangers are not easy.”
Always listen, and always doubt. Doubt your instincts. Proceed with caution. Listen.
26. The Book of Longings, Sue Monk Kidd
“When I tell you all shall be well, I don’t mean that life won’t bring you tragedy. Life will be life. I only mean you will be well in spite of it. All shall be well, no matter what.”
“Anger is effortless. Kindness is hard. Try to exert yourself.”
A riveting novel imagining the character of Jesus’ wife. Wonderfully written. Devoured this in one session.
Also: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/thunder.html
Thunder, perfect mind.
27. The Silence of the Girls, Pat Barker
“No one looks him in the face now, it’s as if his grief frightens them. What are they afraid of? That one day they’ll have to endure pain like this? Or that they never will, that they’re incapable of it, because grief’s only ever as deep as the love it’s replaced.”
Of Achilles and Briseis and the Trojan War.
Books of 2020 (6)
22. David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell
“Stella’s classroom, however, suggests something quite different: disobedience can also be a response to authority. If the teacher doesn’t do her job properly, then the child will become disobedient.”
“We are all of us not merely liable to fear, we are also prone to be afraid of being afraid, and the conquering of fear produces exhilaration.…The contrast between the previous apprehension and the present relief and feeling of security promotes a self-confidence that is the very father and mother of courage.” (Thomas MacCurdy in his book “The Structure of Morale” on the London Blitz and his theory of Direct Hits, Near Misses and Remote Misses)
On how the underdog can win by not playing by the “rules of the game” and doing something unexpected. And how maybe all the obstacles we have faced in life, and our struggles to overcome it, will give us that edge to succeed.
23. Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell
“The lesson here is very simple. But it is striking how often it is overlooked. We are so caught in the myths of the best and the brightest and the self-made that we think outliers spring naturally from the earth. We look at the young Bill Gates and marvel that our world allowed that thirteen-year-old to become a fabulously successful entrepreneur. But that’s the wrong lesson. Our world only allowed one thirteen-year-old unlimited access to a time sharing terminal in 1968. If a million teenagers had been given the same opportunity, how many more Microsofts would we have today?”
The principle of the 10,000 hours and also of the birthdate effect. That to become the very best at something is both a matter of chance as it is one putting in the sweat and tears to perfect that skill. There is no substitute for hardwork. There are no incidental successes. Who you are today, is who you have chosen to be, and who you have been allowed to be (by environmental factors, circumstances and genetics) every day since you were born.
24. Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell
“People are in one of two states in a relationship,” Gottman went on. “The first is what I call positive sentiment override, where positive emotion overrides irritability. It’s like a buffer. Their spouse will do something bad, and they’ll say, ‘Oh, he’s just in a crummy mood.’ Or they can be in negative sentiment override, so that even a relatively neutral thing that a partner says gets perceived as negative.”
On how the environment shapes you without you knowing. My takeaway is that mindfulness is a tool that one needs to arm one’s self with in order not to get swayed by the colours and sights of the world. Because if you see red, you are more likely to be impatient. But how will you ever know?
And also, the dangers of analysis paralysis and too much talking and thinking. At some point, too much talking and thinking and writing is counterproductive, especially in fast-paced environments where time is of the essence. Train your people well, and empower and trust that they will do the right thing when the situation calls for it.
creature comforts
“When Der Spiegel asked me what I thought separated me, the world champion, from other strong chess players, I answered, “The willingness to take on new challenges,” the same answer I would give today. The willingness to keep trying new things - different methods, uncomfortable tasks - when you are already an expert at something is what separates good from great. Focussing on your strengths is required for peak performance, but improving your weaknesses has the potential for the greatest gains. This is true for athletes, executives, and entire companies. Leaving your comfort zone involves risk, however, and when you are already doing well the temptation to stick with the status quo can be overwhelming, leading to stagnation.”
— Garry Kasparov, Deep Thinking: Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins
A book that I did not finish, but which contained timely words of wisdom for me, in this season of in-betweenness. That sense of familiarity is like a warm cottage in which I have made a home; to leave that warmth for an adventure is a true risk. As the date of departure nears, the sense of trepidation mounts. And here it goes, a leap, of faith.
"When you follow the path of your desire and enthusiasm and emotion, keep your mind in control, and don’t let it pull you compulsively into disaster."
Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (via bookmania)
Books of 2020 (5)
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18. The complete Harry Potter series, JK Rowling
Was inspired by my 7 year old nephew to read this gem of a story again. In this action-paced story, one line of recurring wisdom has stood out for me: “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
19. Delayed Rays of a Star, Amanda Lee Koe
A book by a Singaporean author, with interesting parallels to Michael Cunningham’s The Hours. Delayed Rays tells the fictional story of three historical women in the film industry - Anna May Wong (the first established Asian American actress), Marlene Dietrich (a bisexual German actress who was one of the highest paid Hollywood stars, and Leni Riefenstahl (a German actress and director, famous for her role in directing Nazi propaganda films).
“I have never been a Nazi … I was just an artist working in a certain place at a certain time. I am the scapegoat because it is easier to take your rage out on a woman, instead of the system.”
20. Folding Beijing, Hao Jingfang (translated by Ken Liu)
A novelette with an inventive take on socio-economic stratification in China, where day folds into night in three different Spaces.
21. Station Eleven, Emily St John Mandel
What a novel for these times. In the midst of this global pandemic, perhaps this novel reminds us that life could be that much worse.
Epigraph of Station Eleven (Czeslaw Milosz, The Separate Notebooks):
The bright side of the planet moves towards darkness
And the cities are falling asleep, each in its hour,
And for me, now as then, it is too much.
There is too much world.
Books of 2020 (4)
10. Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
Because Tate + Kya = <3
11. The Hours, Michael Cunningham
A tale of three ladies - Virginia Woolf, Clarissa Vaughan and Laura Brown - spent in a day; how the pattern of their hours come together, fabric upon fabric, page upon page, to create a tapestry of lives lived and breathed; time cherished and squandered. All feel trapped; one in her mind, another in her conventions, and the last in her life. How will they escape it? Can we ever escape?
Books of 2020 (3)
8. Valley of Genius, Adam Fisher
- A wonderfully written history of Silicon Valley told by the ones who made Silicon Valley what it is today; curated magnificently by Adam Fisher. A recommended read for anyone who is involved in the tech industry and dreams of the expanse of sky in the Bay Area, its quirky, eccentric and electictic vibe.
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently – they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. - think differently.
9. Know My Name, Chanel Miller
- Curiously also situated in Palo Alto, this book showcased the ugly side of the Bay Area and humanity all around. Chanel, for your strength in overcoming what should never, ever happened to you - from the horror of the rape to being disappointed by the legal system - you have all my respect. Thank you for shining your light; a light that was almost covered by society’s and man’s errors. The road ahead will be bumpy, but in your choice not to bow to shame, you speak your truth, you have lifted all the rest of us.
When I listened to her, I understood. You have to hold out to see how your life unfolds, because it is most likely beyond what you can imagine. It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do. I had to believe her, because she was living proof. Then she said, Good and bad things come from the universe holding hands. Wait for the good to come.
I was ready to dismiss their insignificant stories, deeming them unworthy of energy or attention, but reading them now I pause. During trial, the jury was forced to pick; is he wholesome or monstrous. But I never questioned that any of what they said about him was true. In fact I need you to know it was all true. The friendly guy who helps you move and assists senior citizens in the pool is the same guy who assaulted me. One person can be capable of both. Society often fails to wrap its head around the fact that these truths often coexist, they are not mutually exclusive. Bad qualities can hide inside a good person. That’s the terrifying part.
Books of 2020 (2)
6. Mind over Money, Claudia Hammond
- On how we can spend our money wisely to generate more happiness, how $1 is not always just $1 depending on the context, and the fallacies that animate our thinking
7. Stay with me, Ayobami Adebayo
- On the portrait of a marriage and the lengths we would suffer to protect our shame and those we love. 10/10 would recommend this. really one of the best books i’ve read in a long time.
“Besides, what would be left of love without truth stretched beyond its limits, without those better versions of ourselves that we present as the only ones that exist?”
Books of 2020 (1)
1. The Secret History, Donna Tart
- A thriller of a novel that races towards an inevitable conclusion.
2. Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall
- Of how power and politics move in the mountain and oceans that separate us
3. The Cat & The Banker, Nadir Mehadji
- An introduction to money and investing
4. China Reconnects, Wu Guangwu
- Tying an ancient civilisation to a new world order (& why china needs a blue water navy)
5. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami
- On ordinariness, love, power and suffering (& deep, dark places both within and without)
