Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert

I read the first 3 chapters and thought to myself, "This should be a Netflix series." And so I sent Elizabeth Kolbert a message on Twitter, and she responded! Exciting! 

That's besides the point, which is that this book is one the examines a small handful of very interesting topics, and Kolbert intertwines their relevance back to the impacts of climate change and man's defiance of nature. Take a singular natural occurrence, understand it's evolution over time - how's it changed / adapted / grown / shrunk / morphed - and you'll find that we've unknowingly and unconsciously altered that instance's course of existence. And then once we've learned that we've altered it, we try to reverse engineer the process to revert it back to old - what we think it should have been. 

As humans, we've become skilled at deviating a natural path, trying to course-correct it, but impacting other natural processes simultaneously. All this to say that while we think we can control the uncontrollable, the only thing we're really doing is harming ourselves in the process. 

Kolbert makes it so easy to visualize and comprehend that these seemingly inconsequential issues are just a sampling of the global damage occurring on a daily basis, some with a butterfly effect. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

Non Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future by Rohit Bhargava

When you pick up a book in a series, the biggest fear is that you won't be able to fully appreciate references that are made in the latest edition. That is definitely not the case here as the Non Obvious series is crafted in such a way that there are recaps to support the continuation of trends that weren't so obvious in the past. You get a glimpse at the genesis and evolution of ideas, the divergence in the paths from the old trend, or the support and building blocks to the current trend. The book allows you to imagine how things may play out or fizzle. 

While the collection starts with the methodology in seeking out or identifying trends, the heart of this book consists of Bhargava's current thoughts on trends that we're unconsciously following and contributing to in society. And the tail end recaps and assesses the past identified trends, whether they survived or flopped or took an alternative route and nevertheless blossomed into something else. 

I enjoyed this book for the easy read it was and the hints at what to look for in trendsetting across a variety of industries / subjects. I think this book will really hit hard for the creatives and analytics in our lives. Designers, marketers, advertisers, investors, retailers, and people interested in the possibilities of our future will find a topic to cling to and see out. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People—and the Fight for Our Future by Alec J. Ross

I read this book along with The Future Is Faster Than You Think simultaneously and thought it was the best decision I've made in 2021 thus far. While the latter gave us thoughts about convergence in the future, this book attacked the future with a tint of history. It's written with a cause and effect premise examining the economic and political factors of the past to get us to where we are now with a look at what could be of our future if things do or don't change. 

A simple look at the table of contents hints at the direction the book endeavors to take, but a thorough appreciation for the contents will reveal insights about our present in hopes of making the future brighter. The only thing certain is that change is necessary. The questions are, "How?", "When?", "What will it take?", and "Who's in?"

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon.

The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives by Peter H. Diamandis & Steven Kotler

I've been thinking about the future a lot lately. You may have noticed a couple of the books I read last year were about the future (The Storm Before the Calm: America's Discord, the Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond, 2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything, and How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need). My interest was mostly driven by my want to become a better investor but also my curiosity about what changes should I expect / anticipate and prepare for. This is another title to add to my collection of "books- that-I-read-during-the-pandemic-because-the-future-seems-uncertain."

Seriously. The Future is Faster Than You Think couldn't be a more apt title. Getting through this book made me more aware of some of the technologies that are already available, maybe not commercially yet, but certainly out there. Given the exponential growth in technology and the development of our understanding and capabilities, I would not be surprised if many if not all of the ideas / thoughts detailed here become available to the common person in our lifetime. 

What's really more interesting than the ideas and products are the ways in which they come together to change the world. In what the book describes as convergence, the overlap of what we dream up, what gets created, who it's available to, when it's available, what it improves or solves, and how it changes our lives personally / economically / politically is what makes this read hard to put down and compelling. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

A sequel to the hit novel and major motion picture by Ernest Cine called Ready Player One, this novel was just as easy to read with great detail and description making your imagination build as if a Roblox or Minecraft world. If you were a child of the 80s / 90s or just a fanatic of the gaming and entertainment worlds, the references throughout the book will be easy to identify. And your memories will be brought to the forefront of your mind making for a blast from the past through reading. 

While entertaining, I thought the book was too long and the storyline predictable for the most part. However, the ending was certainly interesting and a look into a real possibility in the not so distant future. And there's plenty of futuristic ideas in here that maybe aren't so futuristic at all since we are starting to see some of the electronics and gadgets become more commonplace and slowly affordable (ie. haptics). 

I'll say that it's an enjoyable, leisure time read and worth it if you've read the first book. It also seems like there might be a 3rd book given the ending... or maybe I'm just reading into it? 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

Numbers Don't Lie: 71 Stories to Help Us Understand the Modern World by Vaclav Smil

I enjoyed this book so much that I sent a copy to my dad for his reading pleasure. I know he'll enjoy the history, logic, connectedness of everything, and daily life / common application that each story in this collection of work describe. 

The best part about each of these stories is that they are easily understandable. The breakdowns make sense. The brief history provided is helpful and insightful. The comparisons and relativity provided give context and make the difficult to understand much less challenging and digestible. 

I'll be honest, when I read that Bill Gates recommended it, I expected something I wouldn't understand. I imagined something overly scientific and highly technical - something I'd have a hard time comprehending. But while there was terminology that I had to lookup, 95% of the book was written in such a way that the average Joe could appreciate it. 

Truly, if you want a little bit better of an understanding of the modern world, read this book. You'll appreciate a lot more about our lives on this Earth. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Didn't finish in time for the 2021 Reading Challenge, but it can surly kick off my 2022 Reading Challenge. 

I didn't know I needed to read this book until I read it. I love when that happens. In so many ways, this book has helped to relieve my stress. It's made me feel better to know that there are many people out there who have succeeded later in life - not because of inability or ineptitude, but because of their chosen paths that provided for ample learning in a range of fields, from a variety of people and experiences, through myriad trials and tribulations. I'm comforted in the fact that I need not be a specialist or to have trained thoroughly in a single discipline, but rather, I can enjoy the vast opportunities to soak in knowledge and eventually something will rise to the top. 

I've always worried that I haven't been on a path towards the kinds of successes that you see on television. And admittedly, that won't really stop just because I read this book. But it is a good reminder, and something that I can have in my back pocket to keep myself in check if / when I feel stressed about being the best or wanting to succeed as soon as possible. 

I'm certain to advise others who I think will benefit from reading this book to pick up a copy and digest its contents as soon as possible. 

Quotes from the book: 

"Don't feel behind."

"Compare yourself to yourself yesterday, not to younger people who are not you. Everyone progresses at a different rate, so don't let anyone else make you feel behind. You probably don't even know where exactly you're going, so feeling behind doesn't help." 

"Approach your own personal voyage and projects like Michaelangelo approached a block of marble, willing to learn and adjust as you go, and even to abandon a previous goal and change directions entirely should the need arise. Research on creators in domains from technological innovation to comic books show that a diverse group of specialist cannot fully replace the contributions of broad individuals. Even when you move on from an area of work or an entire domain, that experience is not wasted." 

"It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Check it out on Goodreads. 

Buy it on Amazon. 

The Archer by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist, is a master of metaphor through story. In this book, The Archer, he uses the life of a legendary, successful, but now retired archer to convey the ideas of hard work, devotion towards a purpose, thoughtfulness, being open to failure, and the want to make a difference.

Everything in life is connected and you cannot just do without feeling nor understanding.  One should understand the effects that his or her actions have on others. One should lay foundations and build on top of them. One should be willing to risk to succeed. One should live life without fear and learn from experience. 

While the book is not a complete story but a collection of maxims and adages bookended by a short story, the messages are clear, and the connections are evident. There's plenty to learn from The Archer. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Although, it's known to be widely read and a classic in it's own right, I don't believe I ever read this book in my youth. Strangely, I think it would have been easier to comprehend back then than it is as an adult. But why? Maybe my imagination has diminished over time, or maybe fiction is something I struggle to grasp (I don't read a lot of fiction - can you tell?). Or maybe it's because I'm too stuck in reality and am adulting too hard. But more likely, my comprehension of the simple things is poor because I over-complicate them or just plain don't see the light of day.

The story is of a young prince who travels to different planets, including Earth, and learns by the experience of others about loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. His understanding of these things comes through discussion and asking questions, and his experiences throughout planet-hopping. The Little Prince makes observations about life, nature, and the fickleness of humanity. 

After reading the book and consulting Wikipedia to actually understand what the book is about, it dawned on me - I am one of the characters that the Little Prince met on some far off planet. Which one am I? Read the book to find out...

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Sam Walton: Made In America by Sam Walton, John Huey

Humble beginnings. Sam Walton's Made in America is the epitome of that phrase. This was a great story about an all-American, hard working, considerate, and passionate man. It's proof that drive, perseverance, and the ability to learn from your mistake and adapt are keys to being successful. 

I learned so much about Walmart from reading this. And I don't think I'm alone in saying that my perception of Walmart was that of a budget type organization with low standards. But after reading this book, I have a new appreciation for the type of business the family runs. And my thoughts about the quality and standards of the company are certainly now different. I admit, it was ignorant of me to have thought anything negative of Walmart without knowing any better. And for that I apologize. 

What I learned is a principal business practice that makes so much sense. And the scale at which it is accomplished by Walmart is a feat that should be admired, and is evidently admired by the economy and the patrons of this Superstore - and now me as well. That practice is sacrificing the huge markups on retail goods to sell more quantity and of passing on the savings to your customer. It's so simple but so powerful. 

If Walmart can buy an item for a $1 and sell it for $1.25 and sell 100 units, then their gross receipts are $125 with a cost of $100 and profit of $25. If a competitor sells the same product with a markup of 30% instead of 25%, and can only sell 90 units - the gross revenue is $117 making profit only $17. But I bet the competitor who sells for just a 5% greater markup loses more than just 10 units to Walmart, making their profits significantly less than Walmart's. 

While the business appeals mostly to those looking to save money, that doesn't mean the quality of the products they sell or the relationships they have with their vendors and others is any different or less valuable / important than another chain's quality / relationships. In fact, they might even be better in some ways. 

I have plenty more respect for Walmart, the organization, the employees, and the consumers of their products than I did before - not that I was ever disrespectful, but I just looked at it differently. 

I think the most important lesson I learned from this is, again, that you can't judge a book by it's cover. You've got to read between the covers to unearth the truth, the realities, and the things you wouldn't have known otherwise. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon.

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb

Why would a terrorist group target such a young girl? This autobiography reveals the reasons. For such a young person, Malala Yousafzai is extremely intelligent and diligent. Her thoughts and dreams are those of a typical concerned adolescent, but her actions are those of a thoughtful and powerful young activist. Malala's perspective on life and education are ever so simple, but the execution of the goals are daunting and full of challenges. It's clear how impactful she has been to the youth and girls specifically. Her story is interesting to say the least, and her legacy can only evolve as she grows, learns how to tackle current issues, and empowers others to take action. Education is important, there is no doubt. There should be more people in the world like her. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee by Shannon Lee

"Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless like water."

One of my favorite reads this year, this book was everything I hoped it would be. I expected to learn so much from the daughter of one of the greatest martial artists of all time, and Shannon Lee delivered in her own words and through the aphorisms, maxims, and proverbial words of wisdom imparted by her father, the great Bruce Lee. 

In Be Water, My Friends the author shares countless insights to her father's way of life. Lee reveals shards of truth about Bruce Lee's philosophies and teachings. She relates our lives to the quotable words of an icon. And throughout the book, we learn that being like water allows us to act in a fluid manner that is necessary to live a fulfilling life. Water is natural and powerful. It is form-filling. It's movement is logical yet free. 

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon.

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells

The dangers of climate change are coming sooner than you think. If you're reading this post right now, you'll probably still be alive when some of the worst imaginable things could come to fruition. Come on, you've already felt the affects. Don't be naive. Just accept the fact that it's coming. But do your best to contribute to mitigating the factors.

Climate change will impact every aspect of our lives. It will distort the pictures in our minds of a world that once was, and stories told to our children will seem fairy-tale-like. 

This book, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, is a flavor for what's to come. It might seem extreme and the numbers may come off as hyperbole, but make no mistake, if we continue on the path we are on, life could be a living nightmare. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee

My favorite book of the year, The Making of Asian America: A History, was an easy and impactful read about our history, one that I'm certain not many people know anything about. Because the reality is that Asians and Asian Americans have been left out of the US history books and teachings in school. I, for certain, was not educated in the least bit during my high school career about the importance and significance of Asians in America. For all intents and purposes, it should be said that much of America, American culture, and the standards that this country flourishes upon are grounded in what Asians and Asian Americans lived and died by and for throughout this nation's history. And it's not just the United States. Asians have had profound impact in both North and South America. I bet you didn't know that. 

From railroads to laundromats, from the slave trade to indentured servitude, from healthcare to politics, from food and culture to standards of daily living... Asians have had meaningful, noteworthy impact. And you may not even realize it. 

And because of the way history is taught in school, you may never even know how deeply you have been affected by the struggle, survival, effectiveness, and diligence of the people of these ethnic origins. 

Thank you, Erika Lee, for opening my mind to a history and a future that matters.

Read this book!

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein

 Comprehensive. 

Through 2014, this is certainly the word I'd use to describe the way this book was written. This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate examines seemingly almost every aspect of climate change. Naomi Klein's research is extensive and global. The causes, effects, potential, the conflicts, possible solutions, the ideas and failure, the who / what / where / when / why if everything that climate change touches is addressed in her writing. She even gets personal, and that's the most heart-wrenching part. Because it's easy to see climate change as an existential crisis, it's easy to just set it aside in your everyday life. But once it hits you, once you're affected and cannot avoid the direct impact and parallels, your personal life will never be the same. 

I loved this book for how it addressed everything that I ever thought about and more about climate change. The exposure to different lines of thought and possible outcomes was insightful and sometimes anger-inducing. 

And after reading it all, if someone remains unconvinced that climate change is real and that actions need to be taken, then that person is unfortunately delusional. For me, this was further proof and knowledge about the goings-on of climate change. And I wonder what Klein would add to this since 2014. Obviously many things have changed, and more change is coming in 2021 with a brighter outlooks. I'm anxious to see how climate change and our reactions will guide our future. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon. 

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

Every once in a while I have to read some fiction to change up my mindset, refresh, and try to keep some level of my imagination in use. If anything, it's a good way to not be so serious all the time. It allows my brain to relax. 

But in this book, The First Phone Call from Heaven, strangely enough, the topic at hand was pretty heavy in mind and heart. The novel calls to our attention the age old ponderings of the afterlife. Without any kind of understanding of life after death, the mystery continues to confound us all. 

There are a number of main characters whom we all follow to some extent, each of them having a seeming connection to a loved one or related person who has passed. Those connections were established and developed through a series of phone calls from the dead. It becomes a phenomenon to be watched and debated by the religious and non-religious alike. But are these phone calls real? 

Do you believe in life after death? 

This story makes you examine your own hopes, dreams, and beliefs. But no matter how you conclude on matters of the afterlife, that reality remains totally unknown. And maybe that's the way it should continue to be.

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

We know he's funny. And often the ability to make someone laugh is rooted in your experiences, your upbringing, the way you live. Trevor Noah had all the trappings to prevent him from being successful. But somehow, he survived and has come to be one of the most popular comedians of our time. 

His stories about being born during and living through apartheid at such an impressionable age are laughable looking back. But I'm certain that in those moments in time, there was nothing funny about his environment. The challenges he overcame, the obstacles his mother (and even father to some extent) had to live through, the hurdles that a bi-racial, multicultural South African had to endure all made Trevor Noah the person we know today. 

I found his stories entertaining and telling of the kind of person he is now. I enjoyed a chuckle at the craziness of his choices and the way he reflects on his past mistakes and life lessons. I now have an understanding of a perspective of a similarly aged person in a completely different environment. The truths, the fears, the simplicity, and the reality of his life was eye opening and thought provoking.

There's plenty to learn from a read of this memoir. I hope to read future books about his life and reflections. I suppose like all biographies and autobiographies, this was one to learn from and enjoy.  

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh

This book was fantastic! If I could give one word to describe how this book was written it would be: real. Despite the title, the descriptions in these pages and illustrations are so accurate. Any of these events could have happened to any of us. And reading about them happen to someone else is sometimes so amusing. There is no doubt that you will laugh out loud when you read through some of the scenarios that Allie Brosh describes. It's just hilarious. This is one of those books that you read and think..."this has happened to me" and it might not be funny as it's happening to you, but when you read it back and remember what happened to you way back when, you can't help but laugh. I've often thought that there are so many things that I should have, could have documented throughout my life that would have been just as stupid, frustrating, debilitating, stressful, thought provoking, intelligent, happy, and funny of course. 

There are sections that are deeply emotional and difficult to talk about. But this medium gets it across and acknowledges that they are things that need to be addressed and spoken "outloud." Still real. And very important. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read and the portraits painted that have an uncanny way of connecting with your own experiences. 

Check it out on GoodReads.

Buy it on Amazon.

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty

I've finally had an opportunity to read about the "Zen master's" life! Phil Jackson's life experiences have helped him develop the modus operandi that we've all come to admire. I enjoyed learning about what makes the greatest basketball coach of all time tick. His approach to dealing with difficult situations is truly zen-like. For example, working with a Dennis Rodman or a Ron Artest we all imagine is very challenging, but Phil Jackson makes it seem so easy and put together. He's a master of figuring people out, making them perform to the apex of their abilities, and having them reflect on themselves and dig deep to push their limits. It's amazing what his approach has produced. 

I learned about the Chicago Bulls. I learned about the LA Lakers. I learned about his time and own personal experiences with the New York Knicks. He shared his family life, conversations in basketball's management circles, and his own personal reflections. I learned about backstories of some of the most famous basketball players from reading Phil Jackson's account. The Chicago Bulls background was very much like The Last Dance on ESPN. Everything in this book was just so cool to read about. 

I think I was hoping to gain more than I did out of this book, but I don't think I did. And that's ok! I've read a lot about these paths towards success in other books, but these perspectives were so different and hit so close to home because of my deep interest in the sport of basketball since my youth. It was just good to connect the suggestions to the results that I've watched growing up. 

I wish I learned more about Phil Jackson's thoughts on humanistic psychology and Native American philosophy, as well as Zen meditation. But he only touched on some of these aspects as they related to his coaching. I think I expected more depth, but I can't complain because it was still interesting to read about. 

Overall, it was still a good read. And I've taken away a few leads to other things to read. One of the books Jackson referenced was Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

by Shunryu Suzuki, so I've put it on my reading list. What is this zen about? We will see...

Check it out on GoodReads. 

Buy it on Amazon.

What inspires you to read, reflect, and journal (or blog)?

Reflection - Mt. Fuji, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Japan - Circa May 2016

The following is an MS Teams conversation with a colleague after learning that we each enjoy reading, reflection and writing: 

T: What inspires you to read, reflect, and journal (or blog)? 

J: I think I was inspired to read by just my curiosity of everything in the world. In my past, I never read that much. I only started reading heavily in the last maybe 3-4 years. Instead of reading, I traveled a lot. I learned a lot that way, from talking to people, observing, feeling, and experiencing. But as I grow older, my responsibilities grow and so travel (although I still do it often) is now not as often as I would want it to be. Reading (specifically non-fiction) has kind of opened up those other avenues to learning and education about things foreign to me while I cannot travel as much.

Reflection is something pretty new to me too. I only really started reflecting on my life when I took a sabbatical from work. That really allowed me to take time to think of my past and my future in great detail. I started to understand better what I was doing, why I was doing things, and what I could do to change or improve my future. The reflection is so important now. I feel like if I didn't have that time (sabbatical) to reflect, then I wouldn't have grown in all the ways I feel like I've grown in the past 5 years. I was out of work for nearly 2 years.

The journaling and blogging has always been a part of my life. My dad used to journal when I was a kid. I grew up on notebook journals and writing events down. I had a calendar that I would just fill in all the boxes with tidbits. So I always did these little things, albeit not as consistently as now. But now I find that my blogging has allowed me to just put my thoughts out there. To not just contain them in my head but to make it "real" by making it public. It helps kind of relieve my brain from just constant thought. And if anyone reads it, then great. If not, then at least I can look back on my thoughts to see how I've grown. And because they're "tangible" I'll never have to wonder what I've possibly forgotten. 

And more recently in my life, writing / blogging is a way for me to pass on my life to whatever children I may have in the future. I looked back on the lives of my parents and thought, I don't really know what their day to day life was like. You get to hear stories and tidbits of whatever they can remember. But those memories are few and far between and obviously not nearly enough for you to understand who your parents are and what they really went through. If they had written it down, you could read it like a book and imagine and fully feel what they experienced and lived. I think that more than anything now is my motivation to write. 

And then kind of as an aside, I feel like the more I put out there for people to read, the better the chance that others get to know me and understand me. And maybe my thoughts will help others in their lives somehow. But that's existential. 

But let me turn it back to you... what is your inspiration to read, reflect, and/or write (if you do all of the above)?

T: That's powerful. You're so right--often times we don't know our parents. We know what they did for us throughout rearing, but we don't know simple things about them like their favorite color or greater things like what they experienced in their lifetimes. I hope your future kids find comfort being able to read about their dad throughout their life. You inspire me to do the same. 

In college (the fist semester of my junior year, to be precise) a profoundly impactful professor told us to never stop reading if we wanted to grow. He said, "You are the sum of two things: the books you read and the people you meet." As someone who craved growth (and still do), it was enough convincing for me to stick my nose in books from that point forward. Similar to your sabbatical, I took a few months off after I graduated and before I started work at [XXXX] and solo backpacked SE Asia. During this time, I required myself to journal each day; so quickly can we forget life-changing experiences--whether we realize it in the moment or in hindsight--if we don't pause from our busy lives to make sense of the what we experienced that day. I reflect on my journals from that trip and can track back to key catalysts and see how they've shaped the man I am today. So, I now live by a slightly amended version of my professors quote: "you are the product of three things: the books you read, the people you meet, and the journal you carry, for your journal is the free-space where you can make sense of your books and experiences." The reason I read, reflect, and write is to make the most of my precious, limited days on this beautiful planet and to wake up with the goal to be a better version of myself from the day before.