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Hey everyone,
I spent a few hours trying to write a big long argument trying to convince you to download my new podcast.
Then I realized that’s not why I’m doing it.
I’m reading the 1000 most formative books of 333 inspiring people in order to become a better person … and if it helps others to join our conversation, then that's terrific, but I want to do it either way.
The podcast is called 3 Books and in each episode I'll uncover and discuss the three most formative books of an inspiring individual.
I hope you like Chapter 1 of the show and I'll let you know when the next one's ready.
Thanks for reading,
Neil
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The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas. I remember reading a blurb by David Sedaris on the back of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Geniusby Dave Eggers which said “The force and energy of this book could power a train.” I feel like that applies here. The force and energy of this book could power a train. Starr is black. And sixteen. And living in the projects while attending a glitzy private school across town. When she witnesses a police officer kill her unarmed friend she becomes the central figure in a local case that gains national attention. I loved the inner introspection of Starr… wrestling between emotions, relationships, worlds, and finding her voice. There are all kinds of braided themes around adolescence, family values, standing up for what you believe in, and just being a kid at the same time. Feels like the most timely young adult book in years.
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett. My wife Leslie is incredible at picking out children’s books for holidays. You may remember Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatchwhich has to be the best Valentine’s Day book of all time for kids. Well, The Easter Egg is our current “high bar” for Easter. While everybody is competing to make the best Easter Egg to capture the Easter Bunny’s attention, only Hoppi tends to the fallen robin’s egg in the forest, keeping it warm, and protecting it on the ground. When the Easter Bunny shows up all the animals learn (you guessed it) a valuable lesson.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck. Check out this scenario borrowed from Page 8 of this book: “One day, you go to a class that is really important to you and that you like a lot. The professor returns the midterm papers to the class. You got a C+. You’re very disappointed. That evening on the way back to your home, you find that you’ve gotten a parking ticket. Being really frustrated, you call your best friend to share your experience but are sort of brushed off.” According to Carol Dweck, if you have a fixed mindset you’d think “I’m a total failure” or “I feel like a reject.” And if you have a growth mindset, you’d think “I need to try harder in class, be more careful when parking the car, and wonder if my friend had a bad day.” She points out it was a midterm... not a final. A parking ticket... not a major infraction. Sort of brushed off... versus dumped or yelled at or anything. Hmmm. HMMMM. I found this interesting because ... I was totally in the first camp. This incredibly readable book helped me understand how to develop a growth mindset across all spectrums of life from business to parenting. I've already started speaking to my children differently. And myself too, frankly. I can’t recommend it enough.
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy. Lucy Grealy was diagnosed with a rare cancer at nine years old and had a series of surgeries which ultimately removed nearly half her jaw. This book is a haunting memoir on image and beauty seen through the eyes of a young girl growing into a young woman. Lucy wrote this book when she was thirty-two and sadly died at age thirty-nine. Despite the heaviness of the subject the writing is really soft and somewhat beautiful to read. A great book for perspective.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobeby C. S. Lewis. When I was a kid my cousins were obsessed with The Chronicles of Narnia. Child protagonists battling evil in lost worlds. Makes sense. I read this to my three year old and only censored a few of the bloodiest battles. He was completely gripped by it … although I probably should have censored how rude the siblings were speaking to each other instead.
Linchpin by Seth Godin. Over the past couple years I have shared my love of Seth Godin books like The DipandWhat To Do When It’s Your Turn. He has a remarkably tight and fast-paced way of writing mini-chapters that fill you up with energy to take action really quickly. The sub-headline of the book is “Are you indispensable?” and he teaches and inspires you to create work that is both beautiful and necessary. A fantastic read if you’re stuck in a rut or finding yourself endlessly rat-racing but yearning to do more.
Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan. Meng was an early Google employee who had eight years of climbing the ladder as a software engineer before transitioning to the human resources side of the business. He got the strange job-title of Google’s “Jolly Good Fellow” and created and popularized an internal course on meditation called Search Inside Yourself. This book is all about accessibility. It’s written in really simple language and you just nod and nod and nod until you realize you’ve bought in to everything he’s saying.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. Do you ever walk by the tabloids and sort of stare at the children of celebrities pasted on the covers? I find the idea of someone like Suri Cruise or Shiloh Pitt even being well-known a bit sickening. They’re just kids! Born onto our spinning planet by parents who happened to be famous. I wonder and maybe worry what their lives must feel like on the inside of all that press and publicity. I picked up this book casually just because – just because I’d heard of it, just because I knew Carrie Fisher from Princess Leia, just because it looked interesting. I had no idea Carrie Fisher was a Shiloh Pitt! Born to Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, or the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of the late 50s, she tells a rollickingly, radically self-aware story of the absurdist upbringing she had inside a world of Hollywood elite… while struggling with bipolar disorder and addiction. Fascinating, absorbing, and hilarious. I’m not sure I’ll be able to see her in Star Wars ever the same again.
