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My Bookshelf

My bookshelf reflects my curiosity. I choose books that explore history, politics, philosophy, and the human condition. These books challenge me to think, question assumptions, and connect dots between unrelated ideas. The more I read, the more connections I make.

Book links include Amazon Affiliate tags. Your purchases support this site at no extra cost to you.

📚 Currently Reading

The Righteous Mind

The Righteous Mind

Jonathan Haidt

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores the roots of our moral divisions, arguing that moral judgments stem more from intuition than reason. Through moral foundations theory and the “rider and elephant” metaphor, he explains how different groups prioritize values differently.

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Night

Night

Elie Wiesel

A haunting memoir of Elie Wiesel’s experiences as a teenage boy in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. This profound account chronicles the loss of faith, family, and humanity in the face of unimaginable evil, bearing witness to one of history’s darkest chapters.

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Fantasyland

Fantasyland

Kurt Andersen

A comprehensive analysis of America’s 500-year history of embracing fantasy and its impact on contemporary society. Andersen traces how the nation’s foundation on dreamers has led to a blurred line between reality and illusion, culminating in today’s post-truth era.

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✅ Recently Completed

Abundance

Abundance

Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson

Klein and Thompson argue that America’s persistent shortages stem from outdated regulations and bureaucratic inertia. They advocate for renewed liberalism focused on building and innovation to overcome self-imposed scarcities.

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The Color of Law

The Color of Law

Richard Rothstein

Rothstein examines how governments systematically imposed residential segregation in the United States. This compelling work provides extensive evidence of de jure segregation and its lasting impact on African American communities.

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Let’s Get Real or Let’s Not Play

Let’s Get Real or Let’s Not Play

Mahan Khalsa & Randy Illig

A fresh approach to sales emphasizing clarity, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. The authors argue that focusing entirely on helping clients succeed leads to mutual benefits for both buyer and seller.

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The Policy-Making Process

The Policy-Making Process

Charles E. Lindblom & Edward J. Woodhouse

A foundational text examining the complexities of decision-making in government. The authors explore the incremental nature of policymaking and the factors that shape it.

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Jesus and John Wayne

Jesus and John Wayne

Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Historian Du Mez examines how white evangelical culture embraced militant masculinity, intertwining Christian faith with rugged individualism and nationalism over the past 75 years.

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A People’s History of the United States

A People’s History of the United States

Howard Zinn

A groundbreaking reinterpretation of American history from the perspective of the marginalized. Zinn highlights the struggles of workers, women, Black Americans, and Indigenous peoples.

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On Tyranny

On Tyranny

Timothy Snyder

A concise guide on resisting authoritarianism, drawing lessons from history to protect democracy. Snyder distills complex historical patterns into actionable steps for modern citizens.

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The Men With the Pink Triangle

The Men With the Pink Triangle

Heinz Heger

A harrowing account of the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of history.

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They Thought They Were Free

They Thought They Were Free

Milton Mayer

An exploration of how ordinary Germans came to accept and support the Nazi regime, offering insights into the nature of conformity.

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📖 2024 Reading List

The Limits of Power

The Limits of Power

Andrew Bacevich

A critical examination of America’s foreign policy and its overreliance on military power.

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Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

Barbara Bregstein

An accessible guide for beginners learning Spanish, focusing on essential grammar and vocabulary.

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Four Thousand Weeks

Four Thousand Weeks

Oliver Burkeman

A profound reflection on time management, urging readers to embrace life’s limitations and focus on what truly matters.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Dale Carnegie

A timeless classic offering practical advice on effective communication and building meaningful relationships.

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Master of the Senate

Master of the Senate

Robert Caro

An in-depth biography of Lyndon B. Johnson, focusing on his tenure in the U.S. Senate and mastery of legislative power.

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Means of Ascent

Means of Ascent

Robert Caro

The second volume in Caro’s series on LBJ, detailing his controversial 1948 Senate campaign.

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The Passage of Power

The Passage of Power

Robert Caro

Chronicles Johnson’s vice presidency and transition to presidency after JFK’s assassination.

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The Path to Power

The Path to Power

Robert Caro

The first installment exploring Johnson’s early life and political rise in Texas.

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Man’s Search for Meaning

Man’s Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl

A moving memoir by a Holocaust survivor on finding purpose amidst suffering.

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Sapiens

Sapiens

Yuval Noah Harari

A sweeping narrative of human history, examining how Homo sapiens came to dominate the world.

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Dreyer’s English

Dreyer’s English

Benjamin Dreyer

An informative and entertaining guide to writing and grammar from a seasoned copy editor.

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Lean Enterprise

Lean Enterprise

Jez Humble, Joanne Molesky, Barry O’Reilly

A guide for organizations adopting lean principles to drive innovation and growth.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt

A heartwarming story about unexpected friendships and healing, featuring a giant Pacific octopus.

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Animal Farm

Animal Farm

George Orwell

A satirical allegory on totalitarianism and power dynamics, as relevant today as when written.

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How We Learn

How We Learn

Stanislas Dehaene

Cognitive neuroscientist Dehaene explores learning mechanisms, combining insights from multiple fields.

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A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

Bill Bryson

Bryson’s humorous memoir of attempting to hike the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail.

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📚 Past Favorites

Salt: A World History

Salt: A World History

Mark Kurlansky

Explores the profound impact of salt on civilization, trade routes, economies, and revolutions throughout history.

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Dataclysm

Dataclysm

Christian Rudder

OkCupid co-founder analyzes online data to reveal patterns about human behavior and relationships.

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The Phoenix Project

The Phoenix Project

Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford

A novel illustrating IT operations challenges and the journey to implement DevOps practices.

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The Reason I Jump

The Reason I Jump

Naoki Higashida

A thirteen-year-old with autism offers extraordinary insight into his mind and experiences.

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Who Moved My Cheese?

Who Moved My Cheese?

Spencer Johnson

A motivational fable about adapting to change through the story of mice searching for cheese in a maze.

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The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing

Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, Michael LeBoeuf

Comprehensive guide offering straightforward advice on investing and long-term wealth building.

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The Surprising Science of Meetings

The Surprising Science of Meetings

Steven G. Rogelberg

Evidence-based strategies to enhance meeting quality and transform collaboration.

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Can’t Hurt Me

Can’t Hurt Me

David Goggins

Former Navy SEAL shares his own path from poverty to becoming a top endurance athlete through mental toughness.

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The Demon-Haunted World

The Demon-Haunted World

Carl Sagan

Sagan makes a compelling case for scientific literacy and critical thinking against pseudoscience.

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