December 2020 Reads
The pandemic returned me to a beloved hobby: reading. Previously I found time to read while walking and jogging on the treadmill, but you can only see so much Tiger King before curling up with some hot tea (we’re so lucky in Morgantown to have the Tea Shoppe for connections to amazing tea) in a blanket with the Kindle (or a physical book). Historically, I have made it my goal to read as many books as I am years old. This year I overshot the goal significantly!
I read all kinds of books and love recommendations from friends or the friendly algorithms for recommendations from Goodreads. Picks this month are:
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow
Ronan Farrow risked his career by chasing after the victims of Hollywood predators, namely those of Harvey Weinstein, to amplify stories that reveal some of the not-so-nice elements at play in the business. The title refers to the practice of media outlets (tabloids) of “catching” a story and then “killing” the story by ensuring it never sees the light of day. Mission not quite accomplished.
The Hacker and the State: Cyber Attacks and the New Normal of Geopolitics by Ben Buchanan
The amount of geopolitical tension spread via the internet is virtually unknowable, but author Ben Buchanan develops a robust list of hack types and provides examples of each. The text is suitable for a broad audience; it is not targeted toward a technical audience. Anyone could pick up this book and develop an appreciation for the havoc wreaked while anxiously considering what remains to occur. Also, the author has a Ph.D. in War Studies, which just sounds awesome.
Much to my ignorance, Glennon Doyle is an icon for contemporary women trying to live their best life. I missed the first two memoirs and the TEDx talk but I would rather show up late than not at all. At this point in her life, Doyle is focused on remaining connected to her Knowing and practicing ways to live in tune and listening to her instinctual knowing. It is a positive and inspiring read.
Connecting the Dots: Lessons for Leadership in a Startup World by John Chambers
On November 18, 2018 the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University became the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. At that time, copies of his book circulated broadly throughout the college. I believe there is a copy of the book in nearly every office, just like there is a Bible in just about every hotel room. I am almost embarrassed that it took so long to read the book. John Chambers is an interesting guy with a lot of experience to share, I just wish he were a little less self-indulgent at points. Of particularly value of this book versus others written by former CEOs, the last page or so each chapter has the key takeaways and the highlights from the proverbial playbook.
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
The bare minimum every white person can do to fight racism is to do a little bit of research, especially in lieu of treating your family, friends, colleagues, and strangers as your personal antiracist Google. I started here, but slid deeper and deeper into texts about race by people of color. Even in college, I complained that a white woman taught the required course on diversity. I digress. If you ever think you might talk about race, whether to a friend or large audience, this book is invaluable.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Austin Channing’s memoir of growing up and earning success weaves in many critical, contemporary issues surrounding race in a fairly quick and easy read. It clearly features the tactical thinking of some African American parents in terms of naming their children and how chasms form within racial groups.
Claiming the Land: British Columbia and the Making of a New El Dorado by Daniel Marshall
Gifted by my great aunt, who knows I love history, sent me this book all the way from Vancouver Island. It is a painstaking description of the Fraser River Gold Rush, which is bookended by the more famous California and Klondike gold rushes. What amazed me most was the naming of places—most had some cultural link to the California rush or the nationalities or religions of prospectors. For example, Boston Bar, Puget Sound Bar, Mormon Bar, and China Bar. It is definitely a historical text and reads slowly, but if that part of the world is interesting for you, you will love what you find here.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
After some lighter reading on the current state of race, I turned to Kendi’s book for a history of racist ideas in America. While my native Canada has racial issues, the slavery element in the United States adds a layer of complexity that this book helped me better understand. I also noted how politicians behave over time and it is clear that politicians are happy to adjust their opinion to suit the circumstances of the moment. This is the best book I read in December.
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw introduced the world to the concept of intersectionality, which describes how race, gender, class, and other characteristics intersect with each other and overlap (Vox article that goes into waaaaay more detail). For example, it is probably important to consider gender when discussing racism because males and females may both experience racism, but their experiences could potentially differ because of the difference in gender. Hood Feminism is intersectionality at its best, it is race, feminism, and a series of other characteristics.
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
After eating up Stamped from the Beginning I was interested in something a little more contemporary from Kendi. This book is great, too. I find Kendi’s style to be very practical. In this case, definitions of key terms are at the beginning of each chapter and these definitions are provided to illustrate the difference between an antiracist and others. Kendi leaves the proverbial ball in the reader’s court, but there are powerful ideas that can be executed by an individual or group at any level of devotion to the cause.
If one look at the length of Stamped from the Beginning makes you nervous, this is a novelist’s take on the text. Stamped is much shorter than Stamped from the Beginning. Stamped is presented in a conversational tone using font size and spacing to emphasize key points and keywords. I think this helps readers focus on the key themes, rather than get lost in the historical minutiae.