I have compiled my summer reading list, and I’d like to share it with you today. I’m not saying you have to be honored, necessarily, but please understand I don’t normally share my summer reading list, as it is akin to baring my soul.
But I am too tired to be so difficult and uppity, so here ya go. Keep in mind that there is no junk fiction in here, but all philosophical, political and sociological nonfiction. Thanks to Mark Manson for many of these suggestions, and all of the “F” bombs. I overdid “F” bombs last week, these are his:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. How trauma in childhood affects your decisions, even when you don’t know that something actually traumatized you.
The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz- When you are given more choices in life, you become less satisfied with what you choose. More is less, says this tome.
The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker. We are susceptible to influences that shape us during our entire lives.
Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix. This is a little corny of a book, but it deals with how our love maps form what we know to be true about relationships and love.
The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker. Most of our motivations in life are because we are terrified of dying. That’s why we undertake massive projects, so we will be remembered.
Influence by Robert Cialdini. The author explains how people are influenced in making their decisions.
Atomic Habits by James Clear. Clearn describes how our behavior is driven emotionally.
The Elephant in the Brain by Robin Hanson and Kevin Simler. We are all animals at heart, but we spend our entire lives trying to rationalize away our decisions.
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg. How much subtext and meaning is embedded in our language- “You made me feel angry,” or “Traffic ruined my day.” No. You made yourself angry, and you let traffic ruin your day.
The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff. Cut and dry? Parents and teachers are fucking up with the children in their care. Not us, of course, but, you know, other people.
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport. Most towns have their own version of “Daddy Ball.” You know, the fathers who coach the team so they can groom their own kid and put him and his friends in the most enviable positions, while the rest of our kids stand in the outfield or sit the bench. When Daddy Ballers tried that with my sons, their father always told them the same thing:
“Fuck them. Be so good that they can’t ignore you.” My boys worked toward that goal with everything they have ever done. The book follows the same theme.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. The gist? Nobody knows what the fuck they are talking about, especially me.
The Second Mountain by David Brooks. Everyone has two mountains they want to climb- the first is worldly success, and the second is purpose. In the middle is the pit of nihilism and despair.
Democracy for Realists by Christopher H. Achen and Larry Bartels. The book explains the answer to the question: Why are people so fucking stupid?
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