Hi readers:
With the exception of maybe two books, you won't find the books on my list on any other major publisher or book review list. All the books are nonfiction. Some of these books were published prior to 2014. I have not listed the books in any particular order of preference.
I confess that as I get older ( I am now 62), I find it harder and harder to be wowed by a particular book. I don't have the same patience with sitting down and focusing on a book for an hour or more that I did 10 years or more ago. Largely I blame that on the Internet and the lure of a quick intellectual or entertaining fix when it comes to reading.
Here is my top 8 nonfiction books for 2014. Enjoy!
I confess that as I get older ( I am now 62), I find it harder and harder to be wowed by a particular book. I don't have the same patience with sitting down and focusing on a book for an hour or more that I did 10 years or more ago. Largely I blame that on the Internet and the lure of a quick intellectual or entertaining fix when it comes to reading.
Here is my top 8 nonfiction books for 2014. Enjoy!
The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
This book covers the relationship, sometimes acrimonious, but between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. I find Roosevelt to be an interesting character on his own. I was not aware of the Taft legacy or details around his presidency. This is a long book but it's very interesting from the beginning to the end. Taft and Roosevelt were political giants in the beginning of the 20th century. Even though Taft and Roosevelt had their political differences, the debate was largely civil and in the end, each man respected the other, genuinely.
This book covers the relationship, sometimes acrimonious, but between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. I find Roosevelt to be an interesting character on his own. I was not aware of the Taft legacy or details around his presidency. This is a long book but it's very interesting from the beginning to the end. Taft and Roosevelt were political giants in the beginning of the 20th century. Even though Taft and Roosevelt had their political differences, the debate was largely civil and in the end, each man respected the other, genuinely.
The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball's Best Players by Idan Ravin
If you like basketball, you'll really like this book. Some very interesting observations about many of the players today including Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and others. The observations are not just based on what happens on the court but how the respective athletes handle things off the court particularly in terms of training and how they approach the game.
If you like basketball, you'll really like this book. Some very interesting observations about many of the players today including Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and others. The observations are not just based on what happens on the court but how the respective athletes handle things off the court particularly in terms of training and how they approach the game.
Living in More than One World: How Peter Drucker's Wisdom Can Inspire and Transform Your Life by Bruce Rosenstein and Frances Hesselbein
This was an interesting portrait of Peter Drucker, "the father of modern management." I enjoy reading stories of "Renaissance men." Drucker was a man of diverse interests, including business, literature, music and art.
This was an interesting portrait of Peter Drucker, "the father of modern management." I enjoy reading stories of "Renaissance men." Drucker was a man of diverse interests, including business, literature, music and art.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Todd Purdum
This is an excellent book about the people, personalities and politics around the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though Presidents Kennedy and Johnson have received most of the credit for the passage of this bill from historians, there was incredible effort from senators Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirksen to get this bill through Congress. This book should be part of every black history class in high school and college.
This is an excellent book about the people, personalities and politics around the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though Presidents Kennedy and Johnson have received most of the credit for the passage of this bill from historians, there was incredible effort from senators Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirksen to get this bill through Congress. This book should be part of every black history class in high school and college.
Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman
I am not a Lakers fan but I really enjoyed this book about the team that played in the 1980s. Some fascinating stories and portraits of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Lakers coach Pat Riley, owner Jerry Buss and others. This book was very interesting because it not only captured what happened on the court but some of the interesting activities off the court, particularly when it came to women and parties.
I am not a Lakers fan but I really enjoyed this book about the team that played in the 1980s. Some fascinating stories and portraits of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Lakers coach Pat Riley, owner Jerry Buss and others. This book was very interesting because it not only captured what happened on the court but some of the interesting activities off the court, particularly when it came to women and parties.
What Should We Be Worried About? Real Scenarios that Keeps Scientists Up at Night by John Brockman
I enjoy thinking out-of-the-box. This book provides a variety of experts in different fields and their observations about what we really should be worried about. Many are very surprising as they cover scenarios in science, politics, culture and technology. You will be informed. You will be entertained. You will be surprised at some of the hidden threats that we may be facing.
I enjoy thinking out-of-the-box. This book provides a variety of experts in different fields and their observations about what we really should be worried about. Many are very surprising as they cover scenarios in science, politics, culture and technology. You will be informed. You will be entertained. You will be surprised at some of the hidden threats that we may be facing.
The Billionaire's Apprentice: The Rise of the Indian American Elite and the Fall of the Galleon Hedge Fund by Anita Raghavan
This story about a major business scandal and insider trading reads like a novel. Business people with the best of intentions caught up in greed and scandal.
This story about a major business scandal and insider trading reads like a novel. Business people with the best of intentions caught up in greed and scandal.
The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird
This book has generally received excellent reviews and is well-deserved. It's an interesting biography, an exciting spy yarn and very compelling history. Ames was a CIA a operative with assignments all over the world but in particular the Middle East. How Ames performs his responsibilities and his interactions with major political and intelligence figures makes for compelling reading. The lessons from this book in regards to Middle Eastern politics and how we deal with the various interest groups is very applicable today.
