2021 Reads

Thirteen Moons by Charles Fraiser – I don’t read as much fiction as I should, but when I do, I’m drawn to epic, sweeping novels set in landscapes that I know and love. Thirteen Moons is one of those books– it’s set in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and follows the life of a teenage orphan who is adopted by a Cherokee Chief. The book spans several notable historical periods, including the Trail of Tears and the Civil War, and it highlights the respective heartbreaks and horrors in that unique way that only novels can. But what I loved most about this book were his depictions of the lush, temperate landscape where I experienced my first serious-to-me outdoor adventures. Frazier (who also wrote Cold Mountain) is a master of describing the sights, smells, and sounds of the rhododendron-covered coves of the North Carolina mountains– if someone can do it better, I need to read their work immediately. [Another epic novel that you need to read is Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks.]

Team Of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by Gen. Stanley McChrystal – I’m slightly obsessed with elite military leaders, so McChrystal’s writings and media appearances always command my full attention. I mean, the guy only eats one meal a day and runs seven miles every day… how could I not be obsessed? This book explains the foundational shift in the U.S. military’s leadership structure during the Iraq war of the 2000s. Technological advances rendered the U.S.’s tried-and-true top-down leadership model ineffective against an outgunned but tough and nimble insurgent force. As the war raged on, McChrystal had no choice but to upend traditional models and establish a more fluid, more open, more trusting system for distributing, analyzing, and responding to quickly changing information. The book is exceptionally well written, complex yet understandable, and offered me a new approach to leading and being led in today’s fast-paced, information-overloaded world. [The best leadership book I’ve ever read is Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.]

I Hate Running And You Can Too: How To Get Started, Keep Going, And Make Sense Of An Irrational Passion by Brendan Leonard – The uber-prolific Brendan Leonard is at it again, this time with optimistic and hilarious encouragement for runners of all stripes– from even-keeled 5K enthusiasts to out-of-their-gourds 100-miler masochists, and everyone in between. Combining his trademark hand-drawn charts with insightful lessons from his own running adventures, Brendan explains why a commitment to the sometimes-silly practice of running is a worthy pursuit. While I love (and need) the encouragement for running, I believe the book’s lessons can be applied to any “irrational passion”– just substitute “writing” or “acting” or “creating” wherever the word “running” appears. Voilá, you’ve got yourself a customized book chock-full of level-headed, positive-minded encouragement to pursue whatever crazy, challenging passion is consuming you. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy– the book will be officially released on March 16th. [And speaking of encouragement for creative projects, Brendan’s Make It Till You Make It is a book I revisit often.]

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson – While I always prefer books to marinate in my brain for a few months before making bold claims about them, I can confidently say that Caste redefined my framework for thinking about race and class here in the U.S. I grew up in the rural south, where there were very clear delineations between subsets of the population– divisions often based on skin color. But after reading Wilkerson’s analysis, I have a more substantive, holistic understanding of those divisions– divisions created by what she defines as a caste system. Wilkerson combines a broad range of world and U.S. history with masterful analogies to make a strong case that racial divides here in the U.S. are a symptom of a larger, deeply rooted hierarchal social structure. I’m admittedly poorly read in subjects related to race and socioeconomic disparity, but I’m looking forward to continuing my exploration with books that will expand on Wilkerson’s point of view– and most importantly, challenge my own. [I’m currently being challenged by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Full recommendation coming in my April email.]

Wild Like Flowers: The Restoration Of Relationship Through Regeneration by Daniel Firth Griffith – Regenerative Agriculture is all the rage these days, finally getting its due in mainstream publications such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. While there are plenty of resources for understanding the technical details of regenerative farming and ranching, Wild Like Flowers provides thoughtful, poetic insights into the philosophies behind the practices. I was honored to blurb the book, so I’ll let that serve as my official recommendation: “Daniel Griffith masterfully weaves together history, philosophy, ecology, and literature into one poetic narrative that speaks directly to those of us who deeply love the land. Wild Like Flowers is one of those rare books that simultaneously inspires, educates, and awakens the reader to the promise of regenerative agriculture and its ability to heal our land, our planet, and, ultimately, ourselves.” [For a deeper dive into regenerative ag, check out Jim Howell’s For the Love of Land: Global Case Studies of Grazing in Nature’s Image.]

On Having No Head: Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious by Douglas Edison Harding – Here’s a niche subject: If you’ve ever wanted to delve into the philosophy of “non-dual awareness,” you’ll gain a lot from this book. But if you are currently wondering, “What the hell is non-dual awareness” and/or “did Ed get another concussion?,” I’d encourage you to skip this one. For those still with me: the book is quick, dense, and mind-stretching, and it offers an unconventional approach to understanding the illusion of “self.” So if you enjoy running your brain through the wringer with these types of thought exercises, or if you have experience with non-dual mindfulness practices, I think you’ll find this book fascinating. Or, if your interest is ever-so-slightly piqued, read Sam Harris’s Waking Up for an intro to the subject. OR… if you think this is all foolishness, but could still use some down-to-earth spiritual encouragement from a certified legend of a human being, check out McConaughey’s Greenlights.

Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land by Noé Álvarez – A good buddy sent me this book, insisting that I’d love it. I did. It’s the true story of Noé Álvarez, a first-generation American of Mexican descent who walks away from a full scholarship at a well-regarded liberal arts college to run the length of North America. And the run was not some kind of high-dollar adventure travel “glamping” trip– it was a hardcore, barebones grind alongside Native American runners who approached the endurance challenge with the reverence of a religious quest. While I enjoyed the adventure narrative that chronicled the run, what has stuck with me is Álvarez’s descriptions of his parents’ lives– their harrowing journey to the U.S., the backbreaking work of processing fruit for minimum wage, and their perpetual struggle to avoid falling apart, both financially and physically. An eye-opening, perspective-shifting book for sure. [For a memorable adventure tale based in the Mexican wildlands, check out God’s Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre by Richard Grant]

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham – I was honored to be asked to interview Dr. Lanham for a virtual conference here in Colorado, so I quickly got to work absorbing all of his books and articles. He’s a birder, naturalist, hunter-conservationist, professor, poet, writer, and Ph.D.– a fascinating guy, to say the least. The Home Place is his personal story of growing up in rural South Carolina, a story that delves into his family’s deep connections to the land and natural world. He also explores the sometimes opposing family forces that shaped him into “A mystical type-A… an oil and water amalgam whose soul is pulled to opposite poles.” One of my favorite aspects of Dr. Lanham’s story is how he walked away from a sure-fire career in engineering to pursue his passion for wildlife, despite the uncertainty and societal/racial pressures to follow the “normal path.” An inspiring, enlightening, and memorable book. [If birds are your thing, I also recommend David Gessner’s Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond.

Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts by J. Drew Lanham – This is Dr. Lanham’s most recent book, a collection of poems, short stories, and meditations that run the gamut from eastern meadowlarks to whitetail deer, racial injustice to practical advice for birders. I’m generally intimidated and/or confused by poetry, but I connected with Sparrow Envy in an unexpected way. The book refined some of my own incomplete and evolving ideas regarding race and inclusion, while also rekindling my commitment to teaching my daughters about our backyard birds. Just as a powerful novel can sometimes communicate truths in a deeper, more visceral way, Dr. Lanham’s poems provided much-needed insights across a range of topics that are important to me. [Two other books of poetry I’ve loved are Ragged Anthem by Chris Dombrowski and One Sentence Journal by Chris La Tray]

Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson – Despite never having read anything by him, I’ve disappeared down many a Thompson-inspired internet rabbit hole, gawking at his raucous lifestyle and prolific writing with an odd mix of admiration, aversion, and awe. I finally decided to turn off Youtube and open this book, and I was taken aback by his completely unique writing style. I’ve never experienced anything like his blend of pacing, sense of humor, journalistic bent, and personal boldness. In Hell’s Angels, Thompson embeds himself into the notorious motorcycle gang and travels around California with the outlaws for many months during the 1960s. If you know anything about Hunter S. Thompson and the Hell’s Angels, then you can probably guess what types of chaos ensue, and Thompson’s ability to tell such a crazy story is second to none. The book offers fascinating history into post-WWII America, a fun entry point into Thompson’s body of work, and a strange behind-the-scenes look into Thompson’s insane lifestyle. [After reading Hell’s Angels, you may need to cleanse the mental and spiritual pallette. I recommend Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach.]

The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin – And here it is, the obligatory military book. Dichotomy is the follow-up to their first book, Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win, which is one of the most influential books I’ve read in the past decade. While Extreme Ownership focuses on the easy-to-misinterpret idea that leaders must take full responsibility for EVERYTHING, Dichotomy focuses on that confounding, very large gray area of leadership– situations that require flexibility and finesse. They examine the fluid situations where a simple yes-or-no, black-or-white prescriptive solution will simply not work. As with Extreme Ownership, the authors offer real-life lessons from the battlefield countered with real-life case studies from the business world. These guys’ experiences as highly decorated SEALs and renowned leadership consultants give them a unique perspective into leadership across the spectrum, and their theories are equally humble, effective, and wise. [Another influential military-focused book was Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram.]

Two of my buddies recently released beautifully crafted coffee table books that I’ll be proud to display for decades to come. For those of you connected to the tidal marshes and salt air of the Carolina coast, I recommend Undertones: Gifts of a Southern Tide by Douglas Cutting and Nan Young Carey. For those who love to venture into the wide-open spaces for days or weeks on end– or just want to read about it and look at stunning photos– I check out The Camping Life: Inspiration and Ideas for Endless Adventures by Brendan Leonard and Forest Woodward.

Quiet Desperation, Savage Delight: Sheltering with Thoreau in the Age of Crisis by David Gessner – The uber-prolific David Gessner is at it again, this time diving deep into the life of one of his most significant literary and personal influences: Henry David Thoreau. But rather than write a book on some obscure, yet-to-be-analyzed aspect of Thoreau, Gessner extracts the most valuable ideas from Thoreau’s life and offers them to us, the readers, as tools for dealing with this nutty world we’re living in. The book begins in March 2020, just as society was realizing the threat of COVID, and follows Gessner through the rest of the year, as he attempts to find his way through the ensuing madness using Henry’s wisdom as a guide. He obviously digs into important Thoreau-ish themes such as self-reliance and civil disobedience, but also meanders into many other prescient topics– our overly connected electronic world, climate change, the creative process, his famed waterfront writing shack, and more. A timely, wise, important, hilarious, irreverent, and useful book that could not have entered my life at a better time. [For another take on global pandemics, check out Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars.]

A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload by Cal Newport – Through his books, blog, and podcast, Cal Newport has been the Obi-Wan to my Luke in providing me the tools to fight off the ever-increasing onslaught of information overload. A PhD-level computer scientist by trade, Newport understands the value of technology but fairly and clearly analyzes its downsides, especially when it comes to social media and email. The first half of this book is Newport’s thorough and convincing argument detailing why email is inefficient, as well as some history on how it became the ubiquitous tool that dominates so much of our days. The second half offers some reasonable alternatives to email, mostly through case studies of businesses that have managed to bypass the “hyperactive hive mind” work culture that email encourages. [Newport’s book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World is one of the most important books I’ve read.]

Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown – As you can probably tell from this title and the one above, I’m becoming obsessed with decreasing distraction. My goal is to focus much less on nonsense and significantly more on the important-to-me, truly enjoyable projects that fill my to-do list. In this quick and easy-to-read follow-up to his best-selling book Essentialism, McKeown offers specific techniques for accomplishing the most important tasks in your life, but without the whole “nose to the grindstone” tough-guy mentality. While I didn’t think that it offered any new-to-me, perspective-shifting ideas, it did offer many fresh, actionable tactics and thought exercises that have proven to be beneficial. I particularly connected with the ideas in the chapters “Invert: What If This Could Be Easy” and “Start: The First Obvious Action,” but I underlined sections in every chapter. [One of the best productivity books I’ve read in years was Atomic Habits by James Clear.]

Sidecountry: Tales of Death and Life from the Back Roads of Sports by John Branch: If you’re not a sports fan but have found yourself engrossed by a New York Times sports story, odds are, that story was written by John Branch. Branch says he likes to write about “ordinary people tangled in something extraordinary,” and sports just happens to be the common theme that binds all of his work together. Whether writing about the first ascent of the Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capítan, the super-intense world of competitive dog grooming, or even the death of Kobe Bryant, Branch always gives the reader an unexpected perspective on a story that they may not have even known they wanted to read. Sidecountry is a collection of Branch’s twenty favorite stories from his career at the Times, including his Pulitzer Prize-winning story Snowfall. A perfect book to pick up for a quick chapter or to read all the way through. [You can listen to my conversation with John, or, for another excellent book of past stories, read Hampton Sides’ Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier.]

Blood Is Not The Water by Mara Panich – As many of you longtime subscribers may have noticed, books of poetry are ever-so-slowly appearing more frequently on this list. I’m still in the learning phase and don’t have many of my own opinions about poetry. But, if someone I respect recommends a specific book of poetry, I read it. This book was recommended by friend, poet, and author Chris La Tray, who– whether he knows it or not– has exposed me to many new and challenging ideas. While I’m no expert, Blood Is Not The Water gave me the feeling of spending some time inside the mind of a strong, tough, creative, unapologetic, deep-thinking woman who has thought intensely about we humans can find our place in this weird world. I’ll look forward to revisiting these poems in the years to come. [Chris also recommended Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry by Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser, which has a permanent spot on my desk.]

Freedom by Sebastian Junger – I will read anything that Sebastian Junger writes. This short-n-sweet book is really more of a long essay, and it digs into the question of what the ridiculously overused word “freedom” actually means. In a style that is completely unique to Junger, he efficiently melds ideas from history, sociology, war journalism, sports, and more to offer up a well-crafted examination of what it means to be truly free. The book is built around the story of Junger’s 400-mile hike of an East Coast railroad line, which he completed with a few friends and his dog. Are they free to do whatever they want and go wherever they please? Or are they bound by reliance on each other for food and safety, and therefore not free at all? In the end, it doesn’t seem that Junger has a hard-and-fast definition of freedom– just like all things related to humans, it’s complicated. But I did love this quote: “…the inside joke about freedom… is that you’re always trading obedience to one thing for obedience to another.” [Junger’s book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging is one of my all-time favorites.]

Pushed Out: Contested Development and Rural Gentrification in the US West by Ryanne Pilgeram – Full disclosure, I have not yet finished this book, but it is incredibly impactful– it’s a book I’ve been hoping someone would write for many, many years. Ever since Europeans set foot in the American West, there has been a cartoonish level of feast and famine– frantic extraction of resources followed by a bust that leaves the boomers running for the coasts and a huge mess in their wakes. Pilgeram is a college professor who brings her academic expertise to help us readers understand how these wild cycles impact rural communities, specifically examining how economically depressed towns respond when they become havens for tourism and second homes. Pilgeram has a talent for presenting dense, academic research in an engaging and fun-to-read style, and I think this book should be required reading for anyone who works in land conservation in the West. [For more on the idea of “Boomers” and “Stickers,” read Wendell Berry’s It All Turns on Affection: The Jefferson Lecture and Other Essays.]

Godspeed by Nickolas Butler – This novel came highly recommended by a trusted friend who said, “Ed, I know you don’t read much fiction, but you’ll love this. Trust me.” And trustworthy he was– I cranked through the entire book in just a few days. Set in my old stomping grounds of Jackson Hole, Godspeed has all of the components that make for a great story– action, suspense, wild landscapes, complex characters striving toward a goal against all odds. It also touches on many challenges facing the modern-day West, including income inequality, rural gentrification, and substance abuse. But at its core, it’s a book about ambition, greed, and that classic yet mostly unattainable American fantasy of striking it rich and ending up on Easy Street. If you’re looking to be entertained and educated, I highly recommend this book. [Another western-based novel that I really enjoyed was Callan Wink’s August.]

Sugar in the Blood: A Family’s Story of Slavery and Empire by Andrea Stuart – I’ve recently become obsessed with sugar, mostly because the sight of a distant pack of Sour Patch Kids instantly transforms my well-behaved young daughters into wild beasts. I had a hunch that the history of sugar would be somewhere between disturbing and horrifying, and this book confirms that, yes, it’s horrifying. Stuart traces her family’s lineage back to the 17th Century when her ancestor immigrated to Barbados to build a new life in the new world. From there, the business of sugar shaped her family tree for centuries to come. While I loved this book and all of its storylines, its descriptions of the horrors of slavery and the slave trade are permanently burned into my psyche. I was surprised to learn how the Caribbean sugar business perfected the model of plantation-based agriculture– a model that would go on to be the basis for the slave-based economy of the American South. A powerful, memorable book that filled some big gaps in my understanding of history. [For another fascinating read about a rough business, check out The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen] 

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant (audiobook) – I’m not sure when Adam Grant started working on this book, but its publication could not have come at a better time. It’s about the importance of changing our mind– of being perpetually curious, always seeking out new ideas, and being willing, even excited, to adjust our mental models when new information is presented. One of my favorite parts of the book is his discussion of imposter syndrome and how doubting oneself can create a level of humility and curiosity that keeps individuals sharp and intellectually humble. Overall, I’m in complete agreement with Grant’s ideas on this topic– the whole reason I read all these dang books is to eliminate blind spots and change my mind on topics as needed. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t want to be wrong for a moment longer than I have to be.” I hope that many people will read (or listen to) this book. We’d all be better off if everyone were slightly more curious and flexible in their thinking. [Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind offers a drastically different approach to flexible thinking.]

Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jocko Willink (audiobook) – I read the paper version of this book several years ago and enjoyed it– hard-nosed advice from a former Navy SEAL about how to live a more disciplined life. But a few months ago, I revisited it in audio format, and I have become obsessed. No exaggeration, I have listened to the book’s “Part One” at least ten times over the past few months. If you’re not familiar with Jocko, you’d be justified if your first impression was something along the lines of “Wow, this guy is intense” or “This is a little over the top.” I even had similar first thoughts. But as I’ve piped Jocko’s voice into my head for many hours over many weeks, his wisdom regarding leadership, discipline, and living a meaningful life are proving to be straightforward and effective. He offers no “hacks” or shortcuts, just firm, time-and-battle-tested wisdom– wisdom that is directly benefiting me today. [Another powerful audio recording that I’ve listened to many, many times is Don’t Bite the Hook by Pema Chodron.]

Close Range: Wyoming Stories and Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2 by Annie Proulx – When time is tight or I’m just too damn tired to read for extended periods of time, I turn to short story compilations to keep my reading momentum moving forward. Someone gave me these books back in early July, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading a story or two either before bed or as I’m lying on the sofa nursing sore legs. The most popular story from these two volumes is Brokeback Mountain, which is obviously an exceptional piece of writing. But the story that I continue to think and wonder about is The Hellhole, the first story in Volume 2. I even dreamed about it. In all of these stories, Proulx merges her poetic writing style with her deep connection to the Wyoming landscape to create stories that are fun to read… but continue to rattle around in my brain for many weeks later. I’m looking forward to exploring more of her novels. [A few other short story compilations for your consideration: Sidecountry by John Branch, Americana by Hampton Sides, A Man’s Life by Mark Jenkins, The Best of Outside by Outside Magazine, Pecked to Death by Ducks by Tim Cahill, and Kick Ass: Selected Columns of Carl Hiaasen.]

A Walking Life: Reclaiming Our Health and Our Freedom One Step at a Time by Antonia Malchik – It’s no secret that here in America, we are deeply mired in an impressive mess of societal crises. While there is obviously no one-size-fits-all panacea, a recommitment to the simple act of walking could be an excellent place to start. In this informative and wide-ranging book, Malchik explores the importance of walking from physical, mental, and societal perspectives. She also investigates how we humans’ transition from bipedal mobility to car-centric transportation has eroded our health and communities. Malchik’s writing style reminds me a bit of Bill Bryson’s— she seamlessly transitions from one fascinating topic to another, bringing the reader along for an engaging journey across a wide range of topics that go far beyond the book’s primary subject matter. [For more on community and mental health, check out Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope by Johann Hari.]

The Guide by Peter Heller – If you’ve ever driven the off-the-beaten-path road from Colorado’s Taylor Reservoir to Crested Butte, then you know the spectacular setting for this novel. Even in real life, it’s a prime location for an action-packed thriller– the landscape is remote, rugged, at times suffocating, and mostly owned by the 1%-of-the-1%. I love everything Peter Heller writes– both fiction and nonfiction– but The Guide may be my favorite to date. It combines Heller’s uncanny ability to describe western terrain and the art of fly fishing with his gift of writing a suspenseful, page-turner of a tale. The story is also structured around several present-day, front-of-mind storylines, including a global pandemic and the weird obsessions of odd-ball billionaires. I cranked through this book in a single day, an accomplishment that speaks less to my reading speed than to the super-addictive quality of this book. [For insights into Heller’s writing process, check out my 2019 conversation with him.]

The Exotic: Intrigue and Cultural Ruin in the Age of Imperialism by Hampton Sides – Just when I’d begrudgingly accepted the grim reality that I would have to wait at least two more years for Sides’ next book, he goes and releases The Exotic. It’s much shorter than his typical 400+ page tomes but much longer than a magazine article, giving the reader a chance to soak in Sides’ one-of-a-kind historical storytelling in just a few hours of reading. The Exotic details the life and unbelievable adventures of Mai, who was the first Polynesian to set foot on British soil. In 1774, Mai hitched a ride to England with Captain James Cook, where he spent several years hobnobbing with the highest of high society, including King George. Despite being a commoner in his Polynesian culture, Mai was a genuine celebrity in Europe, which made his eventual return to the South Pacific quite jarring, at times comical, and eventually tragic. A wonderfully entertaining tale about a little-known historical figure whose story deserved to be told. The Exotic is available exclusively on Scribd. [Another of my favorite Sides books is Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History.] 

Arbitrary Stupid Goal by Tamara Shopsin – A big thanks to my pal Brendan for recommending this fantastic book– there is a 0% chance I would’ve read it without his enthusiastic endorsement. I’ve never encountered a book quite like it. Everything from its meandering, time-jumping storyline to the seemingly random number of words on each page created a completely unique-to-me reading experience. It’s the hilarious and surprisingly touching story of the author’s upbringing in New York City’s frenetic Greenwich Village, a community defined by one-of-a-kind characters and some of the more bizarre tales I can remember reading. But buried within the craziness are some impactful lessons about community, family, creativity, and purpose– lessons that are still rattling around in my head two months later. I’m not sure how Shopsin convinced a publisher to take a chance on such an unorthodox book, but she did and I’m glad and my life is better for having read it. [Another weird and hilarious book is David Sedaris’s When You Are Engulfed in Flames.] 

Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry That Radicalized America by Ryan Busse – For many years, Ryan Busse was one of the country’s top gun salesmen. Over the course of his career, he transformed a small, fledgling gun company into an internationally recognized brand and was repeatedly recognized by the NRA as a top-performing firearms executive. But Busse’s love of public lands and conservation, combined with his dogged refusal to be bullied or told what to think, led to an awakening of sorts– a realization that the firearms industry had transformed from a sportsman-centered business into a politically driven machine that uses decisiveness and fear to grow profits. To be clear: This is not an anti-gun book. Rather, it’s a nuanced examination of how and why the gun industry moved toward such extreme rhetoric, written by a uniquely qualified insider. If you’re sick of binary thinking and looking for a thoughtful explanation of guns and gun culture, I highly recommend you give Gunfight a read. [And if my simple mention of the word “gun” infuriates you from either a left or right-wing perspective, please don’t email me. Instead, read All the Rage: Buddhist Wisdom on Anger and Acceptance.] 

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler – Okay, I’m now officially a Nickolas Butler superfan. Back in August, I read, loved, and recommended Godspeed, his most recent novel. I’m now plowing through all of his work, starting with Shotgun Lovesongs, his debut novel. It’s the story of four friends who grew up together in small-town Wisconsin– men who are now in their mid-thirties and are working their way through the familiar challenges that accompany the ebb and flow of life as a grown-up. I’ve never been to Wisconsin, nor am I a member of an inseparable cohort of brother-like childhood friends. Still, Butler’s masterful storytelling made me feel a deep connection to all of the characters, as well as Wisconsin. I was fully consumed by the story from page five onward, and, as all great novels do, it explored specific themes (friendship, community, love, work) more thoroughly and intensely than any nonfiction work could ever do. I’m excited to dig into more Butler novels in the coming months. [A novel I think about daily is Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.] 

Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow by Heather Hansman – For many years, I’ve wished that someone would write a book about the social, economic, and environmental complexities of ski communities– so I’m thankful that Heather Hansman apparently read my mind and did it. Hansman is the perfect person to write this book. She’s an accomplished outdoor journalist who also logged many years as a bonafide ski bum in resort communities around the West. Drawing on her past personal experiences scraping by in ski towns coupled with present-day journalistic research in areas ranging from Jackson Hole to Silverton, Hansman investigates all aspects of American ski culture, from its post-WWII historical roots to today’s issues of climate change and income inequality. Whether you’re a hardcore skier (I am not) or a curious observer of the evolving culture of the outdoor recreation (I am), I wholeheartedly recommend this educational, entertaining, insightful, witty, and timely book. [For deep insights into another obsessive sport, read Monte Burke’s Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession, and the Hunt for the World Record Tarpon.)

The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler – This is the third Nickolas Butler novel I’ve read in the past five months, and once again, he knocks it out of the park. The Hearts of Men traces the lives of two young boys into adulthood– from their early, formative experiences at a Wisconsin summer camp, all the way through the Vietnam War and deep into middle age. In all of his work, Butler has a remarkable ability to dig deep into emotional, sometimes-hard-to-talk-about concerns that can consume the psyches of men– ideas around duty, work ethic, bravery, loyalty, community, and the depths of friendship. (At least these are some of the things that rattle around in my man-brain, but I could be projecting.) At times intense, at other times heartbreaking, Butler uses his characters and the Wisconsin landscape to explore relatable, important ideas about people, relationships, and our complex lives– ideas that are best understood through masterfully crafted fiction just like this. [I’ll go ahead and re-recommend the other Butler novels I’ve read: Godspeed and Shotgun Lovesongs.]

The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity–And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race by Michael E Long and Daniel Z Lieberman – Could this be the world’s longest subtitle? Seems excessive. But don’t let the cover’s wordiness scare you off. I found this book to be a quick read and highly educational, and it gave me some new insights into why we humans act as crazy as we do. On a very primitive, biological level, we’re programmed to crave specific things and activities, and dopamine is the culprit inside our noggins that powers all of our incessant impulses. The book is organized around areas of life that often reveal humans’ nuttiest behavior–love, drugs, politics, etc.–and then the authors break down dopamine’s role in encouraging said nuttiness. I learned a lot from this book, but would’ve loved a deeper dive into dopamine’s involvement with our addiction phones/internet/social media, although that topic would likely need to be a book unto itself. [For a detailed audio introduction to dopamine and its effects, check out this Stanford professor Andrew Huberman’s podcast on the topic.]

A Decade of Howler Brothers – I’ve had the great fortune of getting to know some of the all-stars behind the Austin, TX-based brand Howler Brothers– a one-of-a-kind, outrageously creative outdoor apparel company that blends “surf culture mixed with vintage western wear mixed with streetwear mixed with tiki gods mixed with fly fishing all set to the soudtrack of a dub reggae mariachi country band.” This five-pound behemoth of a coffee table book is a celebration of Howler’s first ten years in business. It features 300 pages of photography, art, design, and words from renowned fly fishing guide JT Van Zandt and Howler’s founders Chase Heard and Andy Stepanian. The team at Howler have served as great inspiration to me that it is indeed possible to meld together seemingly outlandish and unrelated passions into one single vision– a vision that can resonate with a surprisingly large tribe of like-minded weirdos, if presented with humor, humility, and authenticity. I consider this less of a “book” and more of an instruction manual for creative thinking and sharing your own original ideas with the world. [If running and creativity are your things, check out I Hate Running and You Can Too by Brendan Leonard.]

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman – For the last few years, I’ve become more and more skeptical of the omnipresent productivity gurus and their promises of “inbox zero” and other increasingly ridiculous “life hacks.” In this book, Burkeman respectfully yet thoroughly destroys the foundational ideals of uber-productivity cults. He makes a strong case that the very act of endlessly seeking to squeeze more and more out of every minute is the main source of many people’s anxiety and discontent. My two main takeaways are: 1) Tight constraints– on time, attention, and options– will lead to more contentment over the long haul than having the freedom to do whatever the hell you want whenever you choose, and 2) The pursuit of “getting it all done” is a game that you cannot win, so focus on prioritization, quit frantically rushing, and don’t take yourself so seriously. It’s more of a philosophical treatise than a “tools & tactics” manual, and I’m sure I will reread it in the coming months. Highly recommend!

Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears by Pema Chodron – I’ve said it many times, but I firmly believe that Pema is one of the wisest humans ever to walk the earth. She has an uncanny ability to present complex, sometimes woo-woo, ideas around mindfulness and spirituality in a relatable and easily understandable manner, even for a lunk like me. Taking the Leap follows the format of many of her other books– relatively short but powerful chapters that can be read individually or as a whole. Using Buddhist principles (without being preachy or indoctrinating), she offers up ideas that have helped me become more aware of just how wild and out of control my mind is. Most importantly, she offers actionable insights that have allowed me to (sometimes) not get caught up in the chaos of my consciousness. I owe Pema a lot… as does my wife, because my wife is the one who has to deal with me on a daily basis! [If you are new to Pema and looking for a good entry point, I recommend When Things Fall Apart: Heartfelt Advice for Difficult Times.]

7 Treasures of Awakening: The Benefits of Mindfulness by Joseph Goldstein – This book was sitting mostly unread on my Kindle, originally downloaded in 2014. It’s a lengthy excerpt from Goldstein’s well-known book Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening. I’m not sure what prompted me to start reading it again, but I’m glad I did. Goldstein is one of the United States’ most admired mindfulness teachers, receiving top praise from everyone from the most committed Buddhists to the most vocal atheists. If you are new to mindfulness or Buddhist theory, I would suggest you steer clear of this book for the time being–I’m guessing that when I started it back in 2014, I promptly spaced out in the midst of all the Dharma jargon. But now, nearly eight years later and more deeply entrenched in mindfulness lingo, I found the book very meaningful and useful, even for a non-Buddhist like me. [You can listen to some lectures from Goldstein on Sam Harris’s meditation app, which you can try out for free for seven days.]

Relentless Solution Focus: Train Your Mind to Conquer Stress, Pressure, and Underperformance and Organize Tomorrow Today: 8 Ways to Retrain Your Mind to Optimize Performance at Work and in Life both by Jason Selk and various co-authors – As mentioned above, for the past few years, I’ve made a concerted effort to avoid self-help-type books–certain people (i.e., I) can get quickly sucked down a rabbit hole of seeking out the latest and greatest system that promises to solve all of their (i.e., my) problems. Selk is a well-regarded Major League Baseball sports psychologist, and both of these books are mostly focused on training yourself to be “relentlessly” committed to action and finding solutions, rather than getting hung up in the cycle of over-thinking and complaining. Like any ideas, Selk’s are worthless without execution, but I’ve had surprising success implementing a few of his techniques into my professional and personal lives over the past eight weeks. His ideas are simple, nothing groundbreaking here, but something about his presentation struck a chord with me, and perhaps they will with you too. [And completely unrelated to this book or any on this list, but it popped in my head so I want to recommended it: The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert. One of my all-time favs.]