Most of my February reading was dedicated to Black History Month. This was the first time I had done a themed reading month. It was a great opportunity to learn more and to read some books that I might not have gotten to otherwise.
♀️ Sister Outsider – Audre Lourde
The writings of Audre Lourde a Black, lesbian, feminist on oppression and intersectionality. Lourde’s openness to her own role as oppressor in some circumstances makes it accessible for the reader to examine their own role in oppression, intended or not.
💵 Race & Economics – Walter E. Williams
Williams argues that labor protection like minimum wage laws take away Black workers’ ability to compete through compensating differences, i.e. lower wages. Williams gives examples of how compensating differences raise the financial cost of discriminatory hiring to the point that it is not practical for employers. I was previously unaware of the level of Black entrepreneurialism during the slave era. It was interesting to see how free market forces overcame not just systemic oppression but systemic captivity. Thanks to Romy Francis for the recommendation.
⛓️ Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
An entertaining and informative coming-of-age story of a consummate outsider growing up in South Africa. Noah writes with the perfect blend of humor, feeling, and education.
🗽 A Promised Land – Barak Obama
Even though I lived through the events leading up to and during Obama’s presidency, I am amazed at how much I forgot or even missed. Obama writes with candor about the people he encountered and the challenges he faced. I was struck by the pure volume of work that a president has to manage and how important it was for Obama to prioritize his time to move big goals forward.
♟️ The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek
Sinek’s work formed a significant portion of my early leadership philosophy. I feared reading his new work might sully my view of one my original inspirations. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. The Infinite Game encourages us to take a longer-term approach to business decisions in a world that expects quarterly returns. The argument is that longer-term thinking will ultimately provide stronger returns in both the long and short run as well as creating a better environment for people to work in. I found The Infinite Game a bit idealistic and not very actionable, but there were still some worthwhile takeaways.
🖋️The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
Strap on your boots and go to art. Overcome Resistance to do the work that expresses what is inside you. I wasn’t planning on reading this book in February, but I made the mistake of opening the cover and couldn’t put it down. Thank you, Justin Keane.
One of the things I enjoy most about reading a book someone recommended is that it connects me more to them and I get to know them a little better. I always picture them reading the same pages I am and wondering how the words landed with them. Keep the recommendations coming, it may take me a while, but I’ll get to them.