Reading Reflections: February Catch-up

I'd like to have my Sunday Monday posts be a reflection on whichever book I've read the previous week - but seeing as I'm starting this practice with a massive backlog of books I'd like to talk about I figure I'll reflect on the books I've read this year month by month until I'm caught up. 

 

Once I'm caught up I'll put a bit more depth into these reflections; but until then it's the lightning round.

 

Here's February.

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Every now and then a book lives up to the hype. This was one of those cases. It's absolutely unbelievable to me that a book written nearly 100 years ago is still just as relevant, important, and critical today.

I can't say that I learned anything wholly new - I've worked in enough customer facing/sales roles to have been trained on a lot of this content over the years; and it's no question to me that all of those trainings are derivative of the lessons Carnegie teaches in this book.

This is one of a handful of books I've read this year that I would say that every single person should read. No caveats. This book will provide value to truly ANYONE who chooses to read it. 

It's a clear 10/10 

 

The Advantage - Patrick Lencioni

This book was okay - but not Lencioni's best. 

There is a sort of implied condescension layered through this entire book that makes the whole thing feel more like a lecture from a snotty consultant than a call toward doing things a better way.

The content and recommendations in this book are worthwhile - but not particularly novel.

This is a 6.5/10. I don't regret reading it but there are likely better books covering the same topics.  

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

"The horror, the horror!" 

I don't know what inspired me to pick this one off the shelf. I read it a few times in high school - and figured it was worth another read with 'grown-up' eyes.

For such a short book - this is one of the harder ones I've read this year. It's dense and dark. I'm not remotely qualified to provide a meaningful commentary on this book.

I give it a 7/10 - but with the caveat that it's probably a must read for anyone who considers themselves a highly educated adult 

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis 

"We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement" 

I adore C.S. Lewis. His perspective on Christianity was a major influence on my own. 

Screwtape is such a brilliantly simple examination of such a complex topic - and to my mind should be required reading for any Christian who has ever tried to wield their faith as a weapon or tried to claim their own opinions as God's.

This one is an 8/10.

The Catalyst - Jonah Berger

This book was good - but probably could have been about half as long. The core questions/lessons being taught are novel and interesting; but the author spends far too much time setting up stories and relaying anecdotes.

The anecdotes are interesting and generally support his arguments - but there is a sense of confirmation bias to many of them that weaken them. I did not feel that he consistently was able to demonstrate causation. 

All that said - I did enjoy this book - and despite his weak evidence found his arguments agreeable.

7.5/10 

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck 

This was another case of a book I read in high school that I figured I should read with more grown up eyes. I'm glad I did.

We read a handful of Steinbeck books when I was in school and they never really resonated with me - but this time around it was a different experience.

This is another short book - but there's just so much here. Much like with Heart of Darkness though - I don't feel qualified to provide meaningful commentary.

8/10 - this one really hit a nerve for me.