Books to read – December 2014
As we head down the stretch of 2014, here’s my list of books to read for the merry month of December 2014. This month’s books are an eclectic mix, as I’ve been branching out into some new territories these last couple of months. I hope you enjoy this month’s picks, and Merry Christmas to everyone and a healthy and prosperous 2015.
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca the Younger
I heard about this book while listening to an interview with Maria Popova of Brain Pickings. She mentioned it as one of her favorites of all time. Given how many books she reads, I figured that recommendation alone made it worth the read. What an amazing treat this book is! I had been meaning to dig into the Stoics for quite some time, given how much they are mentioned in books by people I respect and admire. As we head to the new year, this is the perfect book to read over the holidays as you contemplate what’s most important in the next chapter of your life. Seneca writes brilliantly on the importance of time and how easily we can let it slip past us as we pine for the future. We are only promised today, and all of our whinging about the future only serves to distract us from the beauty of now. You will find yourself highlighting, folding over pages, and re-reading this brilliant, timeless essay. You will be reminded that although we live almost 2000 years after Seneca, the human condition and struggles are timeless. I will be recommending this to everyone I meet from here on. It is my must-read for this month.
The Company by Robert Littell
This is my first book by Robert Littell, but as with other authors I mention frequently, it won’t be my last. The Company is a brilliantly crafted novel about the beginnings of the Cold War and the start of the CIA. From the quashing of the Hungarian Revolution to the Bay of Pigs all the way up through the Gorbachev era, Littell creates amazing characters and weaves stories of infighting, murder, deception and even a little romance to create a really fun novel. I don’t know if Littell has researched actual events in depth, but the stories feel as though he lived through all of them. This is a really long book, and it’s taken me a while to get through primarily because I read it for my wind-down at night. I recommend this if, like me, you have a certain nostalgia for the Cold War.
Bird by Bird by Anne LaMott
Anne LaMott is another new author in my stable. I’m about a quarter through my second book of hers, but Bird by Bird was my first. LaMott’s writing is a lot like Donald Miller (or probably more accurately the other way around). It’s very conversational, as if you are sitting at her table listening to her tell a story. It’s so natural. The first part of this book is a history of how LaMott got into writing, as well as a glimpse into her family’s past. The last 3/4 of the book is about the art of writing and storytelling, with practical advice abounding as well as more stories from her life. There is one particular illustration from this book about lunch hour at school which was just remarkable. The amount of detail, the emotion captured, and the characters painted are so well done. Even if you don’t care about becoming a better writer, this book is worth the read.
Let me know what you think of this month’s selections, and as always, thank you for reading!