List

I recently started a new job and find that I cannot keep up with writing descriptions about books that I have read (or perused).  So, I will combine my love for lists and love for books and start listing out books that I have read and include any quotes or thoughts that resonate with me.

Lean In: Women, Work, And the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg, 2013

My takeaways after reading this book:
1. Confidence - I need to work on my self-confidence and feeling comfortable in meetings.  I am my  best when I am comfortable.

2. Thoughtfulness - Before babbling out an answer and being reactive, I need to take a deep breath to slow myself down, and then have a conversation instead of trying to "prove" something.

3. Lean In - Is a great analogy to participate in meetings and not just sit back and observe.  Similar to the Maisy Dobbs novels, Dobbs will reflect someone's body language to get a sense of how they are feeling.  Physical stance do reflect feelings and attitude, and vice versa.

Here's an analogy from the book that made a great point:
"Imagine that a career is like a marathon - a long, grueling, and ultimately rewarding endeavor.  Now imagine a marathon where both men and women arrive at the starting line equally fit and trained...  The male marathoners are routinely cheered on: "Lookin' strong! On your way!"

But the female runners hear a different message.  "You know you don't have to do this!" the crowd shouts.  Or "Good start - but you probably won't want to finish."  The farther the marathoners run, the louder the cries grow for the men: "Keep going!  You've got this!"

But the women hear more and more doubts about their efforts.  External voices, and often their own internal voice, repeatedly question their decision to keep running."

How To Get Filthy Rich In Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid, 2013

A beautifully written story told in the guise of a self-help book, this novel outlines the story of a boy who gets filthy rich.  There are no names, just relations, and the love interest is simply known as the "pretty girl."

The chapter titles for this how-to story:
1. Move to The City
2. Get an Education
3. Don't Fall in Love
4. Avoid Idealists
5. Learn From a Master
6. Work for Yourself
7. Be Prepared to Use Violence
8. Befriend a Bureaucrat
9. Patronize the Artists of War
10. Dance With Debt
11. Focus on the Foundamentals
12. Have An Exit Strategy

I love how the novel ends: "...you have been beyond yourself, and so you have courage, and you have dignity, and you have calmness in the face of terror, and awe, and the pretty girl holds your hand, and you contain her, and this book, and me writing it, and I too contain you, who may not yet even be born, you inside me inside you, though not in a creepy way, and so may you, may I, may we, so may all of us confront the end."

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, 2012

A page-turning pyschological thriller, Gone Girl is witty and full of twists and turns.  The ending is anything but predictable and the story is a roller coaster ride.

A combination of Girl With A Dragon Tattoo page-turner and Something Borrowed chick-lit, Gone Girl is one of the best books that I have read in awhile.

- April, 2013




The Secretary: A Journey With Hillary Clinton From Beirut To The Heart Of American Power by Kim Ghattas, 2013

A first-hand account of Hillary Clinton's tenure and travels as Secretary of State from 2008 to 2012, The Secretary provides a compelling view of American foreign policy. 

Often admonished for its interference with world affairs, the US is also criticized for its inaction, despite its limited ability to influence world leaders or outcomes. 

As Secretary of State, Clinton traveled extensively and the book provides an excellent overview of the political situation surrounding countries that Clinton visited, including Turkey, Myanmar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, where the author is from.

I learned more from this book than any Social Studies or International Relations class that I have taken and highly recommend it.                       - May, 2013


Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, 2013
Quirk, witty and wry, Where'd You Go, Bernadette was recommended by a friend.  It's an enjoyable and funny read regarding an eccentric Seattle family.

The book paints a memorable picture of Seattle, Microsoft (where Bernadette's husband and gnat nemesis work) and TEDTalks.  The book actually makes me want to plan a trip to Seattle, a city that I have never visited.  As well as Antartica.

- June, 2013



When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald, 2012
Growing up in the 80s with Molly Ringwald movies, I thought that the back jacket flap with an updated picture and bio of the author would be the most interesting part of the novel.

However, When It Happens to You is compelling, well-written and something I recommended to friends.  A collection of short stories, the novel is told from half a dozen view points where the characters intersect to tell the overarching story of Greta's and Phillip's troubled marriage.

Uniquely constructed and filled with differing voices (memorable characters include a former star of a children's show, a lonely widow and a mother of a boy who believes he is really a girl), the stories come together in a clever and compelling way.                       - June, 2013



Bend, Not Break: A Life in Two Worlds by Ping Fu, 2012
Ping Fu, CEO and founder of Geomagic, Inc., is an impressive woman. 

Growing up during the Cultural Revolution and suffering horrors that shaped her into the person she is today, Fu's tale of growing up, emigrating to the United States and finding success in her new country is awe-inspiring.

The story itself drives the book, and there are lots of moments that make me realize how much I have taken for granted.

Some quotes from the book:

"Think about moving forward to make personal or social progress, rather than moving higher to gain a superior position."

"Who can say what is good or bad?" - Buddha.

"Our choice is how to interpret what happens to us on your journeys and how to treat the people we meet along the way.  Our choice, always, is to love and to  understand."         

- July, 2013

Leaving Sophie Dean by Alexandra Whitaker, 2012

A delightful read, Leaving Sophie Dean was one of my vacation reads during my trip to Aruba.

With her clever dialog, twist on the extramarital affair and refusal to follow standard formula "happily ever after" plots prevalent in movies and literature, Alexandra Whitaker's novel is highly entertaining and a perfect beach read.

The premise of the story actually makes you think.  Not all chick-lit books do this, outside of thinking about designer labels, that is.

Adam Dean is a father of two whose monotonous life in the suburbs pales in comparison to the sophisticated and toy-free life that his co-worker Valerie offers.

When Adam decides to leave his wife Sophie for Valerie, Sophie decides that she is the one who needs to leave and take a few months to rebuild her life as someone other than Sophie Dean.

As the primary caretaker of two young children, Adam is not able to lead the life he imagined with Valerie and their relationship must adjust to this new reality.

Another entertaining relationship is the frenemy interaction between Valerie and her childhood friend Agatha.  Close as sisters, the two women care for each other deeply while also reveling in each others' misfortunes and constantly attempting to one-up each other.

Personal Notes 
Details that make this story resonate with me even more include:
   * The novel taking place in Boston, where I am from and currently live
   * The male protagonist is English, like my boyfriend
   * Agatha and Valerie are 39, which is how old I am

Given these coincidences, it is no wonder that I enjoyed Leaving Sophie Dean so much. 

Quote of note and what I still need to remind myself after taking over 35 years to realize: "I confused what's real and matters with what's superficial and doesn't."

Leaving Sophie Dean is a book that I would re-read.

What the CEO Wants You To Know by Ram Charan, 2001

While reading Birds of a Feather, the second Maisie Dobbs series, this quote got me thinking about leadership:

'e used to say that if you 'ad workers, it wasn't so important to be liked as it was to be respected, and it was possible to respect someone without actually likin' them.

So I put down Birds of a Feather and picked up Ram Charan's slim book, What The CEO Wants You To Know.

A consultant, Charan summarizes the lessons that he has learned working with top CEOs of major corporations all over the world.

His book is a fast, insightful and very thought-provoking read that I finished in one sitting.

Leadership

• A good CEO is able to break down the most complex business down to the fundamentals - This concept is reflected in the slimness of Charan's book compared to other bloated business books.

• Coaching - Give positive feedback and *specific* instructions to build a skill. Self-confident, secure leaders love to give true feedback, saying what they really think.  Not just behavior, but business side - is the individual cutting through complexity, focusing on right priorities?

• Mismatches - Mismatches become a drain.  Most common answer for CEO mistake when dealing with people is waiting too long to remove/address a mismatch.  When someone's aptitude or attitude gets in the way of execution, address the issue.

• Synchronization - Synchronize efforts and link them to the business priorities; clear, simple list.  Linking business needs to people's natural talents; right people in the right job.  Increase information flow, coordinate work, make the group more decisive, build the team.

Business Acumen 

• Lessons from a Street Vendor - A street vendor represents the fundamentals of a business: sales forecast, inventory, cash, merchandising/advertising, product mix, profit margin, consumer focused, best practices. Look at the big picture for opportunities and priorities, keeping in mind the fundamentals.
• Functional Chimney v Business Acumen - Most people build their carer in one area and move vertically up as if in a chimney.  By seeing a company as a total business, you make suggestions for the betterment of the company, even if they may not benefit your department.

• Nucleus of a Business - Cash generation, return on assets, growth.  Growing the right way means that the growth has to be sustainable and profitable.  Finding the right growth is business acumen.

• Consumers - When you can't get the price or margins that you want, talk to the consumer to find out why.

• Things you should know about your company:
  
  • What are your company sales?
  • Is your company growing?
  • What are the profit margins?  Are they growing, declining, remaining flat?
  • How does the profit margin compare to competitors'?
  • What is your company's inventory velocity?  Return on assets?
  • Is the company's cash generation increasing or decreasing?
  • Is your company gaining or losing against competitors? 

Quotes
"CEOs who deliver results have mastered both the business side [selecting the right business priorities] and the people side."

"Some of you have the intellectual capacity to cut through the complexity but are indecisive or afraid of being wrong...  Have the courage and conviction to provide focus for your area.  You have to decide what your department, division, or business unit must do and what it must stop doing.
You have to determine the business priorities, and those priorities have to be consistent and aligned with the corporate goals.  You can’t have too many, can’t keep changing, and have to communicate them clearly and repeatedly...
You should be able to explain what you need to do in clear, simple terms, and you should be able to explain how it will improve money making."

Fundamentals
As a testament to Charan's focus on the fundamentals, the business acumen and leadership lessons in this book are still valid in today's business world.

Published over a decade ago, the CEOs and superstar companies profiled are in a vastly different place today (e.g. Ford, Dell, GE), but the content of the book and advice given remain relevant.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear, 2003

Having grown up adoring Trixie Belden, it's nice to stumble across a mystery series.

I found Maisie Dobbs while browsing the Fiction section of the library.  It had been misplaced from its usual Mystery home.

My Downton Abbey obsession must have led me to the book because, lo and behold, Maisie Dobbs takes place in London during the Edwardian time.

Unlike other protagonists of Mystery thrillers, Maisie Dobbs considers herself a Psychologist first, and Investigator second. 

As a result, the story does not have as fast-paced of a Mystery/thriller story line that I am used to through my limited mystery novel-reading, which mainly pertains to Agatha Christie, Robert Parker's Spencer: For Hire series, some Elmore Leonard, and from childhood: Trixie Beldon, Nancy Drews, The Hardy Boys and the very clever Encyclopedia Brown.

Since Dobbs is a psychologist, she uses interesting techniques to uncover the secrets of those whom she is investigating.

One such technique is mirroring a person's body language, where she will adjust her stance and body to mirror those of her subjects, to get a sense of how that person is feeling - whether they are upset, angry, in pain, etc.

Not just an investigator, Dobbs emphasizes healing her clients.  One of her first case is from a man who suspects his wife is having an affair.  Dobbs will only take the case if the husband agrees to discuss his intentions with her once she has uncovered the truth.

With this focus on healing, Dobbs befriends her client's wife Cecilia, discovers the root of her troubles, steers Cecilia towards the path of healing and provides her client, Cecilia's husband, with advice on how to help ease his wife's pain; thus, repairing the marriage.

She also unearths a murderous cult-like facility for wounded veterans and prevents another murder by drawing upon her psychology background to disarm and break the spell of the villainous leader.

Supporting Cast
Like any great investigator, a Sidekick and Mentor are needed.  For Dobbs, the Sidekick comes in the form of Billy Beale, a wounded World War I veteran.  Beale is one of the many wounded soldiers (and nurses) who would bring about a deep change to English society.

The Mentor is the wise Maurice Blanche, doctor and crusader for the under-privileged, whose investigation practice she takes over.  Added into the mix is Lady Rowan, a wealthy benefactor with connections, which is always nice to have. 

In Summary
Maisie Dobbs is a pleasant, light read.  Although, I am surprised to find, I may be tiring (gasp) of period novels set in England during the Edwardian era.

There are nine books in the Maisie Dobbs series thus far, and I am planning to read the next one.  I forgot how nice it is to read a serial book again, to have an endearing character to go back to, like having tea with an old friend.

And, since Winspear is English, the characters are constantly having tea.

Quote
The following quote from the book resonated with me as I am currently struggling with my career path. 

"Truth walks toward us on the paths of our questions.  As soon as you think you have the answer, you have closed the path and may miss the vital new information.  Wait awhile in the stillness, and do not rush to conclusions, no matter how uncomfortable the unknowing."

Downton Abbey Obsession!

To feed any Downton Abbey obsession and indulge in the show itself and era surrounding the series, I recommend the following two books

With glossy pictures (The Chronicles of Downton Abbey) and sidebar tidbits and "celebrity" quotes (To Marry an English Lord), these books are the US Magazine for Downton fans.

The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era by Jessica Fellowes and Matthew Sturgis, 2012
Although Jessica Fellowes, niece of series founder and writer Julian Fellowes, is shamelessly banking off the success of the show, this book works and is a delightful read.  (Unlike the current Countess of Carnavaon's attempt.)

Filled with glossy pictures, character summaries, memorable one-liners from the series, and quotes from the actors of the show, this book is a real treat for Downton fan(atics). 

Supplementing the character overviews are light historical contexts, as well as photos of artifacts from the 1920s that the characters may have come across.

Although the content and photos are mostly fluff, the book is filled with interesting tidbits and makes for great eye candy.

Filming and Production
The book also includes interesting details on filming and production.  For example, to film the posh, serene upstairs scenes, the film crew uses wider lenses and slower tracking.

To film the hectic servants quarters, hand-held cameras are used to reflect the hustle and bustle of the servants who work to create and maintain the serene environment upstairs.

Details in each scene are meticulous, where even the letters that characters use for props are created as if they were from the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.  This attention to detail contributes to a quality end product.

For the dining scenes, which are plenty as the aristocracy's day revolved around dining, a meal of 70 servings is prepared for an 18-person dinner party scene so that food remains edible and fresh looking throughout filming.

To Marry an English Lord: Tales of Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace, 1989

Noted by Julian Fellowes as his inspiration for Downton Abbey, To Marry an English Lord is composed of profiles of American heiresses who traveled to England to seek posh marriages and titles.

The book is a fascinating read filled with tidbits and trivia that serve as a knick-knack filled reference guide of the era.

Due to the rigid hierarchical society that was controlled by Mrs. Astor in New York City, many wealthy heiresses who were not permitted into New York City society found that their wealth provided entry into London society.

Due to Prince of Wales Albert Edward's acceptance of these refreshing American women, who entertained and amused the fun-loving Prince, London society was welcoming of these women.

Marriages ensued as English nobility was quickly losing money due to land that was no longer generated enough revenue to finance an aristocracy's lifestyle, much less the upkeep of estates or increasing estate taxes.

The premise of Downton Abbey is based on this exact scenario, where Lord Grantham (based on the 5th Earl of Carnavon) is only able to maintain his estate by his marriage to American heiress Cora.

To Marry an English Lord is a pleasure to read and serves as an entertaining reference guide with photos of the grand and wealthy women and men of the late 1800s and early 1900s, atmospheric details such as diagrams of a typical New York City Washington Square brownstone, and random tidbits such as the fact that women wore gloves so tight that fingernails could be seen.

With profiles peppered with pictures, trivial details, random sidebars, this book succeeds in capturing a unique time in history

The only disappointment is that the photos are in black and white.  If the book had been published post-Downton Abbey, the publishers would have surely used color photos, which would add to the essence of the decadence of the aristocracy during the Victorian and Edwardian time.

The Quiet American by Graham Greene, 1955

The Quiet American is the second Graham Greene novel I've read and it reaffirms my recommendation for any Graham Greene novel to anyone, no matter tastes or genre preferences.

Greene writes wonderful prose, captures feelings and emotions so well, and tells a great story.

[Jonathan Franzen is another author who captures feelings and emotions well.

However, Greene's novels are more succinct and suspenseful, revolving around specific events, whereas Franzen's novels follow his characters' lives through the years.]

The Story
The Quiet American centers around a love triangle between Englishman Thomas Fowler, a reporter in Vietnam covering the Indo-China war in the 1950s; Phoung, a pretty Vietnamese woman who lives with Fowler; and Alden Pyle, an idealistic American who falls in love with Phoung.

As the love triangle unfolds, the characters' differing attitudes about the war unfold as well.

Fowler is committed to remaining impartial, and not judging actions or taking sides while reporting the news.  He is able to maintain this objectivity as Vietnam, despite being at war, provides him with an escape from his failed marriage at home.

Pyle has only recently arrived in Vietnam, but is certain that the correct solution and right thing for Vietnam lies in the books that he has read about the country.

As a woman whose country is at war, Phoung's focus is on surviving, although her sister has higher ambitions for Phoung and her beauty, including leaving the war-torn country.

Told in flashbacks, the novel begins and ends with Pyle's death.  It's a gripping tale that made me flip  back to the beginning to re-read the first few pages after discovering what had happened.

Writing Samples (i.e. Quotes)
Greene has a way of capturing moods and is so talented with prose, that he is able to convey so much with just one word.

For example, I love his use of "incongruously" in the following sentence regarding the local police chief:"...I had noticed him because he appeared incongruously in love with his wife, who ignored him, a flashy and false blonde."

He also has a subtle, dry wit that comes across in his observations, such as the "young and too beautiful French colonel."

Other quotes that I enjoyed from The Quiet American:
"...a single sigh that might have represented his weariness with Saigon, with the heat, or with the whole human condition."

"One always spoke of her like that in the third person as though she were not there.  Sometimes she seemed invisible like peace."

"Perhaps truth and humility go together; so many lies come from our pride..."

 "...free from the discomfort of personal thought."

Political View
The exchange below between Fowler and Pyle captures my conflict with America's tendency to involve themselves with other countries.

Although I may not agree with decisions that other governments make or human right abuses, I'm not sure how correct it is for a country (especially one as young as the United States) to impose its ideals onto another culture or people.

With its homeless population and hungry families, America's human right abuses may not be intentional, but they still exist, and indifference is a form of consent.

Just because America's glass house is smaller, should it be throwing stones at other, larger glass houses?

Fowler: "...You and your like are trying to make a war with the help of people who just aren't interested."
Pyle: "They don't want Communism."
Fowler: "They want enough rice.  They don't want to be shot at.  They want one day to be much the same as another.  They don't want our white skins around telling them what they want."

The Singles: A Novel by Meredith Goldstein, 2012

Meredith Goldstein is the advice columnist for The Boston Globe's Love Letters.

The Singles: A Novel is Goldstein's debut novel and I truly enjoyed it.  The book contains the same wit and sensibility that make Love Letters a mid-day treat for me while I am at work.

Beach Read
This book makes for a great beach read - the story is fast-paced and after a few chapters, I found myself anxious to find out what would unfold.

The characters are identifiable, have humorous character quirks and interesting story lines that are neither too contrived nor predictable.  Witty observations and scenes help usher the story along.

Book Report
The novel tells the story of five people who RSVP yes to a wedding without a guest.  In other words, as a "Single."

Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view and skillfully weaved together so that events are neither confusing nor awkward.  Instead, they turn out to be quite humorous.

(The interwoven character stories worked in a way that The London Train did not.)

The story begins the day before the wedding, culminates during the wedding, and ends the day after.  Flashbacks provide details to each of the character's struggles.

The majority of the Singles are part of a group of college friends, but two Singles, an uncle and son of a family friend, add dimension to the standard formula of "what happens to a group of friends once they graduate from college."

The novel weaves together each Single as they relate, bond and unknowingly help each other by the mere fact that they happen to be attending a wedding alone.