Recent books:

Medicine/Science:
My two oldest boys are doctors. In my attempt to be able to talk to them about things in their life, I’ve been reading the less “sciency” of the science related books they are reading. These were all terrific:

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Ann Fadiman
Cross cultural communication is really really tricky as this book shows. Plus I really enjoyed learning more about the Hmong.

Hot Lights, Cold Steel: Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon’s First Years by Michael Collins
Both extremes – laugh out loud funny and nightmare inducing gore.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Terrific story and wonderful prose. I’m going to read more of his books.

Polio: An American Story

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Biology by Neil Campbell and Jane Reece
(One textbook to get up to speed on the basics)

History/Biography:

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
A bit heavy but fascinating and very relevant to leadership in the business world. Although I supported Obama (after he beat Hillary) I find myself comparing him unfavorably here – Lincoln was so focused on the common good, not on himself or his image.

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1970-1914 by David McCullough
Super interesting intersection of history, engineering and medicine. Plus we just visited the canal so even more interesting.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hildebrand
Whenever I think I’ve had a bad day I think back to this book. Truly inspirational.

Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
Lots of interesting info but could not get through this one – too much detail. I’ll try again one day. Maybe.

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

Historical Fiction:

All of Geraldine Brooks. People of the Book, March, Year of Wonders.
After People of the Book I needed to read all of them.

Business Books:

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday machine

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and The Business of Life

Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

The Founder’s Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman

The Lean Startup by Eric Riess

Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston

Venture Deals by Brad Feld

Other NonFiction:

Stumbling on Happiness

Outliers: The Story of Success

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Startup Life by Brad Feld

In The Plex by Steven Levy

Behind the Cloud by Marc Benioff

Novels:

The Goldfinch: A Novel by Donna Tartt

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

The Circle by Dave Eggers

Oldies but Goodies e.g. my Favorites:

To be added ☺