I just read Amanda Palmer’s “The Art of Asking” this weekend after hearing her on a couple of podcasts. Think of her as speaking Brene Brown’s “Power of Vulnerability” message from an artist’s standpoint. She’s out there, a very open and stereotypically artistic individual, so she might not be for everyone. But I think if you give her a chance there are a lot of nuggets buried through her book. The gist is we’re all connected and in this world together, so it is OK to be up front and ask for help; that act of being vulnerable enough to trust others is gracious and invites humans in, sharing the experience of humanity together. It’s lovely. I listened to her 2 hour podcast episode with Tim Ferris this weekend while biking home from my kid’s out-of-town soccer tournament and got to a specific part where she talked about a miscarriage experience; reading the book and knowing her heart through that plus her telling the story just broke me down, crying on my bike as I pedaled. I don’t think I’ll be loaning out my copy of the book, but probably will be picking up copies for certain friends and gifting them.
Three Body Problem - some good SciFi by Liu Cixin
Listening in car to “Supernova in the East” - a Hardcore History with Dan Carlin episode
With the kids we’re listening to “Interworld” a teen SciFi novel by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
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In the car or just working around the house listening to Sam Harris’ Making Sense podcast. Working my way through from the beginning a couple of years ago.
home
finished a Brigid Quinn (Becky Masterman) mystery over the weekend, as well as something by Sophie Hannah
current: Defending Jacob - William Landay
in a stack by the bed: the first couple of the Lars Kepler series, which I’m trying to get into but are NOT the “if you loved Steig Larsson you’ll love these” that they’re advertised to be
work
a grad student’s lit review, a journal submission I’m a reviewer on, and a couple of already-published articles
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I am as well. I’m an RN, finishing my doctorate in nursing. They have an MBA dual degree option. I do not have a business background. I liked my Econ class, struggled in accounting.
This semester is non marketing strategy and organizational behavior—That’s what I am reading.
I like the MBA classes. Out of my comfort zone. I don’t feel the job pressure—which is nice.
I am in a management position. I will never have an MBA on a job requirement, although it may separate me from the rest.
I’m probably as high as I will go within my company.
I am hoping that it picks up a little in econ and accounting but I’m not holding my breath.
Ops was probably pitched at the right level for many, but my first post grad was manufacturing management so it was too elemental
Leadership I felt was poor; content, continuity and whilst I accept some skills can be developed, I’m not convinced they have figured out what they are or how to do it
The upside for me is that if it carrys on like this it requires far less time than I envisaged.
My “dissertation” will be the issue as I want to do something around AI and healthcare… That may be hard to arrange
Just finished re-reading “Living With A SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet” and read “Living with the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus” both by Jesse Itzler. I took his Build Your Life Resume course and I’m doing a 3-day camp with him in November. I’ll now get back to “Life After Death” by Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three who was railroaded into a murder charge and wrongly convicted and spent many years on death row until they were released.
Work:
Slowtwitch. Ha ha
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Lots of legal news aggregators.
I got bogged down in Karl Ove Knaussgaard’s ‘The End’ (book six of My Struggle). 45 pages of analyzing a poem was killing me so I’m taking a break from that and reading Neal Stephenson’s ‘Fall or, Dodge in Hell.’
I’m trying to stick to happier themes lately as I’ve been pretty depressed and anxious. I have a Tim Winston book in my to read pile that I think I’ll hold onto until I’m in a better mental state. Stephenson’s geekery is occasionally annoying or dull but never grim.
Best leadership book in my experience was Age of Paradox by Charles Handy (just checked and he’s still alive, right on) since it wasn’t about teaching a style, but thinking about the persons capabilities - big on federated groups and understanding multiple intelligences. Basically figure how someone can be valuable (and apply comparative advantage even if you as the leader are best at everything) then get out of the way.