April provided me with ample opportunity to get lost (found) in books on my long boot slogs through the Vermont wilderness. I managed to listen to fifteen, six of which are definitely worth checking out.
My top pick (and given a very rare ***** rating) is “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. This book is both an insightful look into the foundations of tyranny, and a frightening description of how far we are down that road already. In my opinion, this is a must read for anyone that wants to make sense of our current political climate here in the U.S., and more importantly, for anyone that has the courage to take a stand against authoritarianism.
Endure – Alex Hutchinson ****
Everything All At Once – Bill Nye ***
Living with a Seal – Jesse Itzler **
The Examined Life – Stephen Grosz ***
Chasing Excellence – Ben Bergeron ***
She Comes First – Ian Kerner ****
On Tyranny – Timothy Snyder *****
Overcoming The Nice Guy Syndrome – Ron Louis & David Copeland **.5
A Very Short Tour of the Mind – Michael Corballis ***
When – Dan Pink ****
Hold Me Tight – Sue Johnson ****
Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk – Danielle Krysa ***
Focus – Daniel Goleman ****
Excellent Sheep – William Deresiewicz ***
Natural Causes – Barbara Ehrenreich ***.5
(if you are not yet an Audible member, you can get one of these books for free, by signing up for a 30 day trial – use this link, and you’ll help support my work as well – Audible Trial Membership)
The biggest letdown of the bunch was “Living with a Seal”, by Jesse Itzler. It’s an overdramatized account of what it’s like to have David Goggins as your roommate and coach, and a great example of how NOT to get in shape, or change your habits. Don’t waste your time or money on this one.