Dune – Frank Herbert

Considered by many the best science fiction novel of all time

If you’re new to the idea of reading fiction, specifically science fiction, you should start with Dune. Many sci-fi stories (especially movies) are big on effects, wonder, and technology but short on plot and character development. In Dune, Frank Herbert does an excellent job of telling a great story that just so happens to be taking place in a sci-fi setting. Yes, you will have to get into an open mindset to grasp the fantasy elements of the book, but the majority of the story is the human dynamics, political drama, action, and suspense that have made this book so popular.

Themes

How humanity directs technology and vice versa is considered in the book. There will always be a drive or quest for power among people. Technology is neutral in essence but can be used for good or evil. The author explores both of those ends.

Imperialism and the struggle between native populations and the ruling class is an overarching theme in the story. The main characters see what it’s like to be on both sides of the political divide.

The book also has strong messianic themes, but not in the typical religious sense. The author explores the power dynamic of a savior, our basic urge to look for supernatural relief, and how people can use and abuse this power.

“Dune was aimed at this whole idea of the infallible leader because my view of history says that mistakes made by a leader (or made in a leader’s name) are amplified by the numbers who follow without question.”
Frank Herbert, in the Introduction to “Eye“, a collection of short stories

Recommendation

I really enjoyed this one. Once I got started, it was hard to put down. Just the right balance of action, character development, pace of story, and suspense to keep it fun and entertaining. As a nice bonus, it probes some of the deeper questions about what it means to be human and how we interact with others and the world. I’m not really a science fiction fan, but I liked Dune and I think others who normally don’t read sci-fi will like it as well.

There is a whole series of follow up books written by the author and others. I haven’t read any of those, but if you’re interested you can find out more here.

Recovery – Russell Brand

The 12 Steps, a memoir, and more

Recovery and addiction are all over the news these days and it can be a controversial topic. I’ll say upfront that I’m not really a fan of Russell’s comedy, so I was a little reluctant to check this book out even though someone I greatly respect recommended it. It was way better than I expected. The book goes through each of the 12 Steps that Alcoholics Anonymous is based on. He talks a lot about addiction (obviously), but also goes deeper into the fears, hurts, and pain that lead people to self-medicate. At the end of each chapter/section/step, he includes many self reflection exercises and gives examples on how he has worked these things out in his own life.

A book for everyone, not just those with substance abuse problems

I think this book could help a lot of people, not just those who identify as addicts. He makes a good case that most, if not all, of us fall somewhere along the addiction spectrum and that we’re at epidemic levels of addiction at least in part to how isolated, disconnected, and lonely we are in modern society. We lack community and connection, both of which are crucial if you are recovering from an addiction and want to stay clean and sober. This a really helpful book. He does a good job of knowing when to insert a little joke to keep it from getting too dark, when to include a story to help illustrate a point, and when to dive into vulnerability and the dark areas. If you are offended by swear words, this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re okay with a multitude of F bombs, or able to look past it, I think you should read this book. Here’s a link to the book on Amazon. I’ve been told that he did the voice for the audiobook version, but I read this book so I can’t provide any comments on that.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain

This book isn’t just for introverts, it’s for extroverts too!

If you’ve ever felt pressure to live up to the Extrovert Ideal that our society seems to idolize, if you loathe small talk, if the thought of an hours-long cocktail party makes you cringe, you’re not alone. In this book, Susan Cain offers insights, data, case studies, and tons of practical advice for introverts and the extroverts who live and work with them.

I have a strong desire to share lots of quotes from the book right now, but that wouldn’t be fair to the author. I’ll share a few things here, but also recommend you check the book out at your library or buy it. You can also follow the Quiet Revolution. Continue reading “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain” →

An Oasis in Time: How a Day of Rest Can Save Your Life – Marilyn Paul

You need to make room for rest, reflection, and refreshing

Are you caught up in the tyranny of busyness? It seems like everything you see on social media is the worship of hustle, grit, and working as much as possible. Americans, in general, are overworked, don’t sleep enough, and are stressed out of their minds. This has far reaching impacts on our health. Can you relate? If so, this book might change your life.

In the first half of the book, Dr Marilyn Paul does a great job of explaining why we humans need time for rest, reflection, and refreshing – for our bodies as well as our souls. She does an excellent job in going through the statistics of how detrimental stress is to our minds and bodies and why we need time away from the rat race of productivity. The practice of Sabbath rest is Jewish in origin, but the concepts are applicable to everyone, regardless of faith.

Not just theory, practical wisdom as well

There is also a lot of practical wisdom in this book for people who want to try this, but don’t know where to start. Many people dismiss the idea because they think it has to be one extreme or the other. Dr Paul lists many ways that you can get started on a small basis. Whatever you decide to do, I think you’ll benefit from the many insights in this.

Recommendation

I loved this book and really benefitted from it. Find out more about Dr Marilyn Paul on her website. You can this book on Amazon here.

Here’s a video interview on YouTube where the author explains why she wrote the book and what you can learn from it.

The Road – Cormac McCarthy

It doesn’t get more dystopian than this Pulitzer Prize winner

If you’re looking for a dark novel that you just can’t put down, this is it. I don’t know how else to describe it other than to say that this book is haunting. It might take a bit to adjust to the author’s writing style, lack of punctuation, and dialog flow, but don’t give up because of that.

Setting and Themes

The Road is a true post-apocalyptic novel. Very little information is given on what happened, who the characters are, or where exactly they are. If you find that confusing, please understand it is purposeful. It is a purposely dark book to contrast with the father and son dynamic. The book explores both the dark and light side of humanity. Our capacity for unmentionable horrors and deep love.

Recommendation

I’m going to cut this review short. I feel like saying any more about the book will actually make it more confusing and possibly tip those on the fence toward not checking it out. It is dark. Really dark in certain parts. But at the same time, I just couldn’t put it down. There is something really special there between the father and son. It connects with me as a father in ways that I can’t quite explain.

If you like dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels and/or don’t mind taking a walk down the dark corridors of humanity, I think it’s safe to say that you’ll enjoy this book. While this, like East of Eden, is not my preferred style for a novel, I do appreciate the incredible talent it takes to write something like this. I haven’t seen the film adaptation, but I can vouch for the book.

Here’s a link to The Road on Amazon.

Into the Gray Zone: A Neuroscientist Explores the Border Between Life and Death – Adrian Owen

A science book that forces you to consider philosophical and ethical questions

I first picked this book up because I was curious about learning more regarding consciousness and the science behind it. This book delivered on that, but it also opened so many other doors of thought that I didn’t realize were there. What is consciousness exactly? What does it mean to have a good quality of life? What if we’re wrong in our assumptions about these questions? Who gets to decide? These questions go beyond the scientific method.

Science and storytelling

What I like most about this book is that it isn’t just a science book or textbook. Adrian Owen is a neuroscientist and researcher, but he also does a great job of telling the story of his discoveries and the patients he encounters along the way. It can all too easy to dismiss or gloss over data points and numbers, but when you hear the stories that people have gone through it makes you stop and put yourself in their place. While the science part really is fascinating, you don’t have to be a neuroscientist to benefit from (or understand) this book. The stories of Kate, Juan, and Scott will stick with you for a long time.

It turns out, we were wrong about consciousness

Spoiler alert: many people who were previously thought to be non-responsive or in a vegetative state are actually aware of what’s going on. Up to 20%, it appears. This raises all kinds of ethical questions about how we treat people who are non-responsive or appear to be in a vegetative state. Until the science improves and we can truly know who is conscious and who isn’t, should we change how we handle these cases from a medical standpoint? Are we being ethical in making decisions about care?

Recommendation

If you have a science background and are interested in the study of the mind and consciousness, you really should read this book. Those who are on the fence or are willing to reconsider their stances on the right to live or right to die movements will also find this book interesting, if not challenging. I definitely recommend this book. It is thought-provoking and doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. In fact, it will likely leave you with more questions. If you’re okay with that, check this one out.

You can find “Into The Gray Zone” on Amazon here and find out more about the book and the author here.

Creative Change: Why We Resist It… How We Can Embrace It – Jennifer Mueller

“The sad irony is that we are more likely to reject an idea because it is creative than to embrace it.”

There are countless books about creativity and how to improve creativity in your personal and professional life. Some are good, some are full of fluff, and most are very repetitive. This book is different. Jennifer Mueller looks at the problem not from a lack of creative ideas standpoint, but why so many people are resistant to creative ideas – and especially creative change. Before I share some quotes and themes, it’s important to understand the terminology she uses.

The How/Best Mindset

Evaluators and decision-makers who use this mindset are focused on knowing the most feasible and appropriate option now. They are very intolerant of uncertainty and seek to reduce risk at all costs. Here are some of the common things you’ll notice from how/best mindset:

Evaluating the solution is more important than solving the problem
Relies heavily on data to combat uncertainty
Focuses on weaknesses and unknowns
Uses “what if” method of rejection – can continuously come up with “what if” scenarios as reasons to reject an idea, even in spite of objective data
Can overvalue practical ideas and undervalue future potential
Best suited when there is one correct answer or formula for problem-solving

The Why/Potential Mindset

Evaluators who use this mindset focus on learning the future value of something. They are much more tolerant of uncertainty and realize that you can’t accurately predict how successful a creative idea will be. The following are some examples of the why/potential mindset:

Focuses more on problem-solving than problem finding
Embraces the idea that creative ideas evolve over time
Understands that creative ideas can’t be evaluated by existing paradigms
Think like an inventor
Can overvalue future potential at the expense of the practical

Quotes, Topics, Themes

Creative ideas are risky because they are full of unknowns. Many of us are fearful of risk and change, even though we say we love innovation and creativity. It’s a tricky dance. It’s almost impossible to have a full analysis and data on a novel, creative idea that hasn’t been done before. There are too many unknowns, and that can be terrifying to people in a how/best mindset. So they settle for familiar, lesser ideas because they are easier to judge. Experts really struggle when evaluating creative ideas because they rely on familiar reference points. Creative ideas are often a poor fit with existing paradigms (that’s the nature of creative ideas/innovation) and are therefore rejected by experts. Obvious examples are Kodak being unable to see the value of digital technology (even though they invented it!), the music industry, the rise of social media, and telehealth. Experts and decision-makers have more to lose and less to gain be endorsing a creative idea. They tend to favor the familiar because it’s more comfortable and safer. You may think that you love and value creativity but actually be biased against it. This is because the bias is hidden/implicit. Research using an implicit attitude test (IAT) has proven this. Don’t believe me? Read this.

“Why are paradigm-shifting ideas throughout history consistently, and predictably, ridiculed and rejected? It’s because, as a culture and as individuals, we’re deeply biased against creativity. This creativity bias makes sense if we look at the way our brains are wired. By nature, human beings are highly risk averse. And when there is a motivation to reduce uncertainty, creativity biases are activated on both individual and institutional levels. Across the board, people (not to mention institutions and decision makers) deny creative ideas, even when they explicitly cite creativity as being among their goals or values.” http://thepsychreport.com/society/the-bias-against-creativity/

“The irony is that the person rejecting the idea does not reject it because he is smart. Rather, he rejects the idea because he does not understand how to evaluate it…” Contempt is a powerful marker of bias. Studies have revealed that showing contempt (like in the case of a critic/reviewer) makes us feel better about ourselves and look smarter to others. It’s a defense mechanism. “If you frame your role as an inventor who is leading the creative process, and not as a leader who seemingly already knows the answers, you will have a better shot at embracing the creative ideas you want and improving them in the process.” You can change your mindset and become more receptive to creative ideas. “Creative ideas redefine something, and we know that generating a creative idea requires you to think outside the box.” The problem is that the decision makers and manager don’t use this mindset to evaluate creative ideas. They don’t “see” the same connections. “Group polarization happens when people jockey for status and end up taking a more and more extreme position.” Group polarization leads to terrible decisions and very low creativity. The following are three questions that leaders can ask to disrupt conformity and polarization when groups get stuck. These questions also get people thinking and promote creativity.

What problem are we trying to solve?
Why does this solution have value?
How can we make this solution work?

The big-picture, take-home message on creative change We want the world to be a predictable place where everything fits nicely into its box and there is no uncertainty. But people don’t work that way. Creative change is complicated and messy. It’s a process that you wrestle with and it helps to have people involved who understand this process. The more you understand your mindset and the mindset of people you work with, the better you’ll be at communicating your ideas and implementing creative change.

Final Thoughts

Sorry for the long review, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cut some of this stuff out. I strongly recommend this book whatever your role or job title. There is a lot of practical wisdom in these pages for managers, bosses, and even us creative types.

Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience – Dr Meg Jay

book cover supernormal childhood resilience

Why are some people more resilient than others, despite childhood adversity?

Supernormal, by Meg Jay, Ph.D., is the best book I’ve ever read on the topic of resilience. We live in a culture where “hustle” and “grit” are buzzwords used by many to draw attention to themselves or show how productive they are. But resilience is often misunderstood. Is it a character trait, something you’re born with? Or is it an adaptive response to what you’ve experienced?

If you’re interested in understanding the social determinants of health and the long-term effects of childhood trauma (adverse childhood experiences), this is a must-read book. I’m really tempted to copy and paste a lot of info here, but I’ll restrain myself and stick to the main highlights.

What are ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and why are they important?

If you’re not familiar with the ACEs data, you can read more here. In summary, the more adverse childhood experiences you have, the more likely you are to face multiple chronic conditions – both physical and mental. An adverse childhood experience can be a single event, such as witnessing or being the victim of domestic abuse, or it can be something more continuous, like living with a parent who has a substance abuse problem. ACEs are more common than you might think, with up to 75% of the population having experienced at least 1 of the criteria and up to 40% with 2 or more.

The best part of this book is how Dr Jay provides a case study example, from her clinical expertise, on the most common (and detrimental) experiences that people face and how it tends to shape their life. Data can sometimes be impersonal and it can be easy to gloss over statistics. The author does a great job of helping you to see and feel what abuse, neglect, and trauma does to the soul of a child. It is both powerful and painful.

Trigger warning: As a heads up, some parts were a little too much for me. If you’ve experienced some of these things, it may be the same for you.

What makes someone resilient?

According to Dr Jay and other researches, many resilient people don’t consider themselves as being resilient. Being resilient doesn’t mean that you no longer have problems, it’s something you learn how to do to adapt when bad things that happen. Pain and struggle are almost always part of the untold story of adversity and resilience.

At some time or another, we all learn how to cope with difficulties in life. Some coping skills are very helpful and healthy, but some are detrimental.

“one of the single best predictors of good adjustment after adversity is having external support.”

Resilient people are more adaptable and “adoptable” per the author. This means that while they might not have family support, they are able to find external support through teachers, coaches, or mentors. They often learn how to develop skills (and a personality) that helps them be better received. Healing is always found in community, of one type or another. Loneliness and isolation are dangerous.

Many people find that their trauma is transformed when they actively serve others through volunteer work, support groups, or other services. This is what the author calls “altruism born of suffering.” There are many emotional, mental, and physical benefits to serving others. Many resilient people feel compelled to help others who have been through similar situations and traumas. In turn, they unexpectedly find healing in themselves at the same time.

What makes a life well lived?

According to Dr Jay, what’s the single best predictor of a life well lived, of well-being in adulthood? Love. Here’s a great quote to close this post regarding love and when we need to “reboot” our lives after hardship.

“Part of the untold story of adversity and resilience then is that, for many, love is the greatest reboot of all.”

You can learn more about Dr Jay and this book on her website. You can find her book for purchase on Amazon here.

East of Eden – John Steinbeck

An epic masterpiece from an iconic author

John Steinbeck is regarded as one of the greatest American authors and East of Eden is his masterpiece work. This book is an epic as it follows a family through 3 generations through the highs and lows of life. Steinbeck has a way of painting the picture in your mind, not only of the rich scenery but also the subtle mannerisms and depth in the characters. This is a heavy book that covers heavy topics.

“It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years. I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.”
John Steinbeck (source here)

Major themes

East of Eden contains a cyclical story arc that also parallels with the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis. Certain themes and ideas are played out in the book, often in graphic detail. The major themes are:

Human depravity
The search for love and acceptance
Guilt
The battle of good and evil

The author pulls no punches as he explores the depths of depravity, especially through the character Cathy Ames (possibly the greatest villain of all time). The main characters struggle to find family love and acceptance, while at times giving in to their worst impulses.

Final thoughts

While I greatly appreciate the skill and genius it took to compose this masterpiece, it is way too dark for me. The detail in the scenery is beautiful, but the detail of the darkness is overwhelming (for me at least). Samuel Hamilton is my favorite character and there is a lot in this book that is powerful. It really is an excellent novel overall, but the content may be too much for some. I also want to point out a trigger warning of self-harm and suicide in this book.

To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee

harper lee to kill a mockingbird book cover

The highly controversial and popular book that became a beloved movie

What can I possibly say in this post that hasn’t already been said about the classic American novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee? It is at the same time one of the most loved and hated books. It has been banned many times in many school libraries but in other places praised as one of the greatest American novels ever. In some ways, this perfectly reflects the time in history that Ms Lee grew up in and was writing about.

Comparing the movie and the book

If you are one of the few people who hasn’t seen the movie that was based on this book, you’re missing out. Gregory Peck’s acting job as Atticus Finch won him an Oscar and is considered by many to be the greatest film hero ever. Those who are not familiar with the book may assume that the movie is just like it. While the movie does capture most of the book, I feel like the book has more depth and humanity. It also develops some of the surrounding characters to a greater depth.

Major themes in To Kill A Mockingbird

Since many people are familiar with the storyline, I wanted to address the major themes in the novel. These are the following:

Southern culture
Racial injustice
Gender roles
Honor/ethics/morality

The use of racial slurs and profanity will shock many readers. It is difficult to see a word so frequently that is now condemned. The book itself is challenging in how it looks at class struggles, racism, culture, and morality. One of the things I appreciate most is that it causes you to ask questions instead of trying to provide nice and neat answers. What is the right thing to do? Why would someone act that way? What drives the behavior of some people, or even the culture at large? How can we have more compassion for the outsiders in society? It is raw at times and representative of the culture. And it isn’t perfect either. It feels very human.

Final thoughts

This is a powerful book. I can see why some consider it to be the most impactful book they have ever read. I can also see how some people who find it offensive or flawed in how it deals with the issues. I believe this book should be at or near the top of any “must read” list. What do you think?