A comprehensive list of every book I recommended in 2022, taken directly from my bimonthly book recommendations email.
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl – While I’ve never considered myself a big-time Nirvana or Foo Fighters fan, I’ve always been intrigued by Dave Grohl– he struck me as a fascinating combo of hilarious yet sincere, wild & crazy yet down to earth. So I had high hopes for this memoir, and it surpassed all of my expectations. It’s Dave’s story of growing up a hyperactive kid in suburban Virginia, followed by his journey on the front lines of rock history–first as the drummer for Nirvana and then as the frontman for the Foo Fighters. It’s refreshing just how humble Dave seems to be– he writes as if he’s completely flabbergasted by his success and all of the rewards that accompany rock-stardom of the highest order. There’s nothing I love more than super-successful yet aggressively humble people. And if Dave Grohl can be humble and light-hearted, then there are very few (no?) people on earth who can claim the right to be arrogant. This is one of my all-time favorite memoirs. [Two others are Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight and Acid for the Children by Flea.]
Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life by Kathleen Dalton (the first half) – This 700+ page, microscopic-printed beast of a biography is on track to be my favorite TR book of all time. I had to take a break midway through to read other things; otherwise, this email would consist of only this one title. Dalton offers the most clear-eyed, detailed examination of TR’s personality and legacy that I’ve ever encountered– she does not get caught up in the hero-worship or mythology that often accompanies almost every other TR biography. She busts countless common TR myths and explores many of his often-ignored personality flaws. She also lays out the critical role that his wife Edith played in all aspects of his success, and how she often acted as the calming counterbalance to his sometimes self-sabotaging, shoot-from-the-hip demeanor. I don’t have anything in common with superheroes, but I can relate to mere mortals– so understanding TR as a flesh-and-blood human being who struggled with everything from his health to his self-confidence has only increased my admiration for the man. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the second half of the book. [For another clear-eyed look at TR, but one that is much more fun, funny, and easy to read, check out another of my TR favs: David Gessner’s Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt’s American Wilderness.]
Wayward by Chris Burkard – I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this, Chris’s newest book, and it did not disappoint. It’s a collection of some of his best and never-before-seen photographs from the wildest places on earth. It also features extensive written stories detailing his fascinating career path and the challenges, mistakes, and adventures that made him into the artist he is today. The photographs are obviously stunning, but what I really appreciated was Chris’s willingness to share the lessons he’s learned along his professional journey– lessons that anyone can apply to their own creative endeavors, whether that’s photography, writing, music, or any art. I’ll be proud to display this book on my shelf for many years to come. [For another top-notch book that combines words and photographs, check out Pete McBride’s The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim.]
The Voyage of the Cormorant by Christian Beamish: I first read this book back in 2015, but recently picked it up off my shelf and was immediately sucked back in for a second reading. It’s the story of California-based surfboard shaper and all-around craftsman Christian Beamish, who builds an 18-foot, open-hulled sailboat by hand– a boat he christened “The Cormorant.” Then, despite having no sailing experience, he takes The Cormorant on a surfing and sailing adventure down the coast of Baja, experiencing the power of the ocean and desert landscapes in a unique, at-times intense, life-changing voyage. The book melds together many genres I love: memoir, adventure narrative, natural history, and nature writing. So, if you’re drawn to tales of solo adventures, surfing, sailing, and/or substantive introspection, this is your book. [For a different kind of sailing adventure, check out In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick.]
Buck, Buck, Moose: Recipes and Techniques for Cooking Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope and Other Antlered Things by Hank Shaw and The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game by Steven Rinella – In early January, I headed over the Continental Divide to Colorado’s Western Slope for my first-ever elk hunt. As a 44-year old longtime meat-eater (who has experimented with vegetarianism and veganism), I decided it was long past time for me to participate in all of the actions required to procure meat for my family. Long story short, my successful hunt and the act of processing the elk into 150+ pounds of healthy, organic meat completely upended my thoughts around food. I went from caring a little as possible about cooking to becoming obsessed with where my meat comes from, how it is processed, and specific techniques for cooking it. Both of these books came highly recommended by many of my food-obsessed hunter friends, and my wife and I have been referencing them weekly. Hunting is obviously not for everyone, but if you’re a meat-eater who wants to play a more involved role in procuring and preparing your food, look no further than these two titles. [For those who want the full story of the hunt, you can check out this podcast episode: Reflections On My First Elk Hunt, with Adam Gall.]
Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find Zen on the Sea by Jaimal Yogis – I reread this book at least once every other year– not according to any predetermined schedule, but because I often think of it, pick it up and begin leafing through it, then find myself reading the entire thing. The book traces the author’s journey from juvenile delinquent runway to a Buddhist monk in training to a fully committed soul surfer. Combining two of my life’s most life-improving activities–meditation and surfing–Saltwater Buddha is a much of a coming-of-age travelogue as it is an examination of Buddhist philosophy and the life-changing benefits of exploring one’s mind. [Love surfing adventures, but prefer less spirituality and more unsettling intensity and darkness? Then pick up a copy of In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer’s Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road by Allan Weisbecker.]
And finally, for the past few months, I’ve been writing up monthly book recommendations for my friends at Ranchlands, all of which have been published on their excellent blog, The Ranchlands Review. Each month, I focus my recommendations on a different theme, offering five or six books that have been important to me over the years. If you’re not already “booked out” by this point in the email, you can check out all of the themes and associated recommendations here: Transition, Scale, Symbiosis, Time, Expertise, and Place… with more to come!
Closer to the Ground: An Outdoor Family’s Year on the Water, in the Woods, and at the Table by Dylan Tomine – Up until very recently, I could not have cared less about food. Weirdly so. All of my close friends thought it was extremely bizarre how little thought I put into the taste or preparation of my meals. But this past January, I procured and processed 150 pounds of clean, organic meat via my first elk hunt, and now I’m obsessed with the idea of nature-to-table eating. So, it was perfect timing when Closer to the Ground appeared at my doorstep soon after my conversion into this hunter/gatherer state of mind. Closer to the Ground is the story of the Tomine family’s commitment to filling their fridge, freezer, and pantry with food that they procured with their own hands, sustainably and respectfully, from the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. After seeing my own kids’ curiosity around our now twice-weekly elk dinners, I was especially drawn to Dylan’s descriptions of teaching his children and their process of developing a deep relationship with the land. An important book that I will read again. [Another excelllent growing-your-own-food book is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.]
Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession, and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman by Dylan Tomine – I enjoyed Closer to the Ground so much that I dove immediately into this, Dylan’s newest book. Headwaters is a collection of essays and stories from his life as a self-proclaimed fly fishing bum, a journey that has taken him from his home in the northwest to the far reaches of the globe and back again. I’m not a hardcore angler, yet I still felt a deep connection to the book– it’s an important read for anyone who loves wild places and our natural resources and feels drawn to protect them. And as is the case with everything published by Patagonia Books, Headwaters offers much more than just powerful writing. The book is filled with one-of-a-kind paintings of water, skies, and fish– all created by artist-angler Frances Ashforth. Come for the writing, stay for the paintings, and proudly display Headwaters on your shelf for many years to come. [Two other fishing books that I recommend time and again are Body of Water by Chris Dombrowski and Lords of the Fly by Monte Burke.]
Why Honor Matters by Tamler Sommers – When I saw that one rich movie star slap the other rich movie star, my first non-sad thought was recalling a podcast I’d heard a while back about “honor cultures.” I remembered an interview with philosopher Tamler Sommers, who wrote a book about why certain people go to great, even violent, lengths to protect their family’s “honor.” So I bought the book, which compares and contrasts “honor cultures” with “dignity cultures.” He makes a surprisingly compelling (to me) argument that we humans living in wealthy, cushy countries have become worse off as we have made efforts to eliminate the importance of honor in society. Sommers argues that by outsourcing rule-making, enforcement, and punishment to unbiased third parties, society suffers widespread, unexpected negative consequences. While I do not agree with every aspect of his analysis (especially the weird part about bike helmets), this book made me think, consider his point of view, and stress-test my own ideas, which, after all, is the whole point of reading all these dang books. [In this book, Sommers references one of my all-time favs: Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger.]
American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God & Public Land in the West by Betsy Gaines Quammen – This book had been high on my need-to-read list since its publication back in the spring of 2020. Nearly all of my friends who work in public lands conservation/advocacy had repeatedly told me that I needed to read it immediately. Well, I quit procrastinating and finally did, and I loved it. It’s the story of the Mormon settlement of the American West, and how certain subsets of the religion have shaped many of the present-day battles over public lands around the country. What I appreciated most about American Zion is how it connected the dots between the many books, podcasts, and articles I’ve consumed over the years about everything from the Mormons’ cross-country journey in search of their “Zion,” all the way to the recent Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation by the Ammon Bundy and his lackeys. The book offers a clear, fair narrative that gave me a new appreciation for the power of belief and the ripple effects that a few charismatic individuals can have on entire societies. [Under the Banner of Heaven is an intense, eye-opening read, as is everything Jon Krakauer writes.]
Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm by Thich Nhat Hanh – The world lost a once-in-a-generation teacher when Thich Nhat Hanh passed away in January. I’ve read a ridiculous number of books by a wide range of Buddhist teachers, and TNH is one of the most prolific and wise authors in the genre. If you’ve read much of his work, then you’re familiar with the structure of Fear: sparse yet powerful prose, short chapters, a strict economy of words, and simple-but-not-easy techniques for managing fear in our daily lives. He blends Buddhist principles with practical advice, packaging it all in a format that can be consumed in one sitting or over the course of a year. TNH seems to have written a book on every human weakness imaginable, so if you’re a tough guy who’s got fear completely under control, perhaps you could use some help with Anger. But regardless, if you are interested in better understanding your mind, I recommend checking out all things TNH. [Two other extremely wise teachers worth checking out are Pema Chodron and Tara Brach.]
Lying by Sam Harris: This is more of an essay than a book, and I try to re-read it at least every other year. In it, Harris makes a rock-solid case for never lying. No white lies, no little fibs to make people feel better about themselves. None. Ever. To be clear, he is not advocating for uncontrollably blurting out whatever unfiltered, half-baked opinion enters your brain. He’s simply committed to being 100% honest, 100% of the time. I initially read this essay eight years ago, and I still think of it often. Reading it would be a good use of an hour of your time. [Another short Sam Harris book that’ll make you think is Free Will.]
Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map by Rick Ridgeway – Back when I was in college, I read Rick Ridgeway’s book Seven Summits, which opened my eyes to the then-crazy idea that an average person like me could slog up some of the world’s highest peaks. So when I heard Rick was publishing a memoir about his life of adventure and exploration, I impatiently and excitedly awaited its publication. And it was well worth the wait– the book recounts Rick’s mind-blowing exploits everywhere from the summit of K2 to the jungles of Borneo and many wild and dangerous places in between. But what I loved most about Rick’s life story is how he gradually shifted away from pursuing adventure for adventure’s sake and began using his skills as an athlete and explorer to advance more purpose-driven causes, including wildlife conservation and environmental advocacy. If you’re fascinated by humans who are equal parts ambitious, humble, and driven by motivations greater than themselves, this is your book. [And thanks to the great folks at Patagonia Books, I was able to sit down for an hour-long conversation with Rick– a dream come true.]
The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard – I love books that open my eyes to ideas or phenomena that have been “hiding in plain sight” for most of my life– books that allow me to see parts of the world from a completely new and different perspective. It only took a few chapters of The End of Night for me to realize just how much artificial light dominates our daily lives and what a new and crazy phenomenon it is. (How had I never considered this!?) In a fun and easy-going style, Bogard lays out the relatively recent history of artificial light and how its prevalence in the world has exploded over the past few decades. Darkness used to be a fact of life– something we humans had to work around. But now, thanks to the world’s expanding resources and technology, darkness is something to be eliminated, or at least suppressed. I especially enjoyed Bogard’s exploration of why we humans need darkness, myths connecting safety with light, and the myriad of health challenges resulting from being perpetually blasted by artificial light. A fun and informative book. [Another perspective-shifting book is What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength by Scott Carney]
Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places by Pete McBride – As I was reading The End of Night, I kept thinking, “I want to read a book about how human-caused noise dominates our lives.” And then, a few days later, as if the good folks at Rizzoli had read my mind, Seeing Silence arrived on my doorstep. It’s Pete McBride’s latest coffee-table-style book, one that combines his decades of experience photographing some of the earth’s wildest places with his top-notch writing on the ideas of silence and natural sound. From Himalayan glaciers to the African grasslands, Pete has experienced regions of the world completely void of man-made noise. And as expected, he does a wonderful job explaining why we humans are drawn to such wild and natural places. Pete wrote much of this book during the early stages of the pandemic, so the book also includes some eerie images of New York City during its most quiet moment. Seeing Silence is a book I’ll proudly display on my shelf and revisit often. [Another of my favorite coffee table books is Galen Rowell: A Retrospective.]
Poison: Sermons on Suffering by Mark F. Twight – When I first read renowned alpinist Mark Twight’s masterpiece Kiss of Kill, I didn’t connect with it. I’d heard it praised time and again by some of the world’s greatest climbers, but I did not understand what all the hype was about. Then, a few years later, after two trips deep into the Alaska Range where I learned the true meaning of “cold,” I re-read it. It was as if I was reading a different book– I connected with Kiss or Kill in a big way and quickly understood its genius. Poison is Twight’s newest book, a self-published collection of some of his most intense and incisive essays from the past decade+. The essays’ bare-bones titles will give you a idea of the no-nonsense themes of the book: Revolt, You Haven’t Earned It, Weakness, Mental Toughness, The Struggle, Go Down Fighting… you get the idea. While I’ll never be as tough or single-mindedly committed at Twight, I do glean great value from trying to understand his operating system– his personal code of conduct built around the ideas of hard work, no shortcuts, and clear-eyed, ruthless self-examination. [Another book that I initially dismissed but then connected with years later is The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, the most important book I’ve ever read.]
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger – I re-read Tribe at least once per year, and I review my highlights and underlined passages every few months. The more I revisit this book and the crazier the world seems to become, the more I appreciate just how clearly Junger has identified the primary source of many of our societal woes: A glaring lack of community and purpose. Since I’ve re-recommended this book at least a dozen times, I won’t rehash its details here. But if you are as perplexed as I am about the current state of our culture, this book will help you understand how things got off track and what you can do to stabilize your own little corner of the world. [And speaking of finding peace in your corner of the world, I’ll once again recommend Pema Chodron’s work, specifically Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion.]
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl – Yet another annual re-read that becomes more powerful and useful with each passing year. If Frankl can find happiness and contentment while awaiting execution in a Nazi-controlled concentration camp, it’s hard for me to feel sorry for myself in the face of unpleasant news or typical 21st-century day-to-day challenges. A short and powerful book that I believe every human above the age of 16 should read. [For a daily attitude adjustment, I recommend The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday.]
This America Of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild by Nate Schweber – Having read extensively about many aspects of the North American conservation movement, I figured I had a decent understanding of all of the key historical players. WRONG! After just a few chapters of This America of Ours, I discovered a massive blank spot in my mental map of conservation history, specifically the time between TR and FDR’s conservation efforts and the modern-day environmental movement. Situated prominently in the epicenter of that critical period were the DeVotos, a formidable power couple who are credited with spearheading some of the most important conservation victories of the 1950s. They locked horns with J. Edgar Hoover, Joseph McCarthy, and other infamous Washington DC bullies– but they never backed down and thankfully emerged victorious. As the subtitle states, this is a mostly “forgotten” time in the history of the West that needed to be revisited… so thank you, Nate! [I was lucky enough to chat with Nate about the book a few weeks ago, and I also recommend Sara Dant’s Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West.]
Wilted Wings: A Hunter’s Fight for Eagles by Mike McTee – As a newly minted big game hunter who fancied himself well-educated on most of the conservation issues in the West, I never once considered the detrimental impacts that lead ammunition has on eagles. Yes, I understood lead’s effect on waterfowl and the steps that were taken to remedy that damage. Still, I had (embarrassingly) never considered how lead makes its way from successful big game hunts and into the bloodstreams of these majestic raptors, eventually debilitating or killing them in an excruciating manner. In a mere 146 pages, McTee lays out this hiding-in-plain-sight issue, explains how we got here, and offers some reasonable, doable solutions that could solve the problem. I predict that years from now, we’ll look back on McTee’s book, as well as the groundbreaking work of scientists like Vince Slabe, as the catalyst for bolstering the populations of these iconic birds. [For more thoughtful, level-headed writing about hunting, conservation, public lands, and food, check out the Backcountry Journal from the good folks at Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.]
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel – I heard Housel on the Making Sense podcast and immediately ordered his book. Presented in 20 bite-sized, easy-to-read chapters, Housel lays out just how bizarrely we humans act when managing money, saving, or investing. He argues that our decisions around money– no matter how rational we believe them to be– are directly connected to our individual experiences and hard-wired personalities. He also offered some new-to-me perspectives on risk and the drivers of greed. More of a study of weird human behavior than financial theory, this book provided actionable insights that will (hopefully) help me approach all things Ca$h Money with a more rational mindset. I’ve long said that financial advisors and real estate agents should ignore business classes and instead study psychology, and this book seems to confirm my thinking. [For another book about how money makes people nutty as hell, read Justin Fox’s The Myth of the Rational Market: A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street.]
The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving Water by Chris Dombrowski – Ever since reading Body of Water back in 2017, I’ve been excitedly (impatiently!) waiting for Dombrowski’s next book. He’s a poet, author, fly fishing guide, upland bird hunter, conservationist, teacher, committed father and husband, and all-around thoughtful dude– if you lay out all these descriptors on a Venn diagram, the area of common overlap makes him exactly the kind of guy whose books I want to read. In The River You Touch, he take us on his personal journey from his home in Michigan and through his process of building a home and life in Missoula, Montana. From his profound connection to the West’s rivers and mountains, to his partnership with his wife, to the joys and uncertainties that accompany parenthood, Dombrowski has written a beautiful, poetic meditation on topics that are all near and dear to my heart. Awesome book, hitting shelves in early October. [For more soulful explorations of water and wild landscapes, check out Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman by Dylan Tomine.]
Sins of the Founding Father: George Washington, the Indigenous Tribes, and the Decisions that Shaped America’s Future By Peter Stark – Based exclusively on how he looked in portraits, I always assumed that George Washington was a buttoned-up, prim-and-proper colonial gentleman who approached all conflicts with the calmness and level-headedness of the Buddha. Once again, WRONG! Turns out, he was a bit of a wild man in his youth, and, throughout his entire life, he worked desperately to balance his personal ambition with his duty to his new country. In this short, 70-page e-and-audio book from Scribd, Stark provides a fascinating glimpse into the first President’s psyche and illuminates how the United States’ insatiable hunger for land drove almost every critical decision during the republic’s early years. Washington’s harsh choices in the aftermath of a deadly 1791 battle set the course for most of the unjust and violent policies against Native Americans for the next century and beyond. An eye-opening, quick read. [Peter Stark’s Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival is one of my all-time favs.]
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield – I first read this book more than a decade ago, and I’ve revisited my underlined passages countless times over the years. Now that I’m all-in on creative work, I decided to read it again, front-to-back, cover-to-cover. Much to my surprise, I got more out of it this time than I did 10+ years ago. Pressfield’s descriptions of The Resistance– that invisible force that keeps us from pursuing meaningful creative work– hit harder now than ever before. Perhaps because I’ve spent the past 7+ years in a knock-down-drag-out fight with the Resistance, I now have first-hand experience with just how ruthless it can be– and appreciate Pressfield’s explanations even more. Whether you’re a wanna-be creative or a battle-scarred professional artist, this book is the gift that keeps on giving. [Seth Godin’s Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? also receives my highest praise.]
When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World’s Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe – I heard these authors interviewed on Fresh Air, and I ordered the book immediately. The book is predictably described as “explosive” and “devastating,” but, really, I wasn’t all that surprised by its findings– just another case in a long list of big-time businesses that lost their way while chasing the big bucks. What I gleaned from this book is not that McKinsey is a company full of scumbags– I have many friends who have worked there who are most definitely not bags of scum. Instead, the book offered me new insights into how and why many (most?) of the incentives of 21st-century mega-business are not aligned with behavior that has traditionally been accepted as respectable or values-driven. If you’re looking to be outraged by a few horror stories of McKinsey “turbo-charging” opioid sales, then listen to the podcast. But if you want to think a little more deeply about the incentive structures of American and global commerce, read the book. [This book reminded me of business school, which reminded me of The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff.]
The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten – I read this book as part of a book discussion group that I was invited to join– a group that I quickly realized was made up of people who were all exponentially smarter than me. But despite my intellectual inability to contribute to the discussion, I gleaned quite a few valuable lessons from the book. Most notably, the need to frame all crises as opportunities– opportunities to learn, adjust, re-calibrate, or change course completely. Also, I appreciated the authors’ focus on the importance of seeking out opinions that clash with our own, so as to expose blind spots in our thinking. The book discussion also helped me to remember that many of my proudest personal and professional achievements grew out of some event that, at the time, I considered a crisis. A potent, quick read that adds value whether you lead a huge team or are a lone wolf like me. [Another guidebook for productively weathering life’s storms is When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron.]
I was a bit distracted over the past few months, thanks in part to a lot of fun-but-time-consuming work travel. Whenever I’m on the go and struggling to finish normal books, I turn to short story compilations to keep the reading momentum going (and to keep me off of my silly phone). One that was highly recommended by many friends was The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie. The few stories I read made me chuckle uncontrollably while simultaneously feeling very sad for many of the characters and their circumstances. The stories also further hammered home the point of how ridiculously destructive alcohol abuse can be to communities. First and Wildest: The Gila Wilderness at 100, edited by Elizabeth Hightower Allen, is a collection of stories and reflections related to America’s first wilderness area, New Mexico’s half-a-million-acre Gila Wilderness. There are essays from Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich, and Pam Houston, and I look forward to reading every one of them. But for now, I especially enjoyed past podcast guest Gabe Vasquez’s essay, in which he highlights the importance of exposing under-served youths to the marvels of wild places. [When it comes to compilations, it’s hard to beat John Branch’s Sidecountry: Tales of Life and Death from the Back Roads of Sports.]
And speaking of shorter, bite-sized reads, I recently teamed up with the social reading app Threadable to lead a reading Circle on the topic of Conservation in the American West. What makes Threadable unique is that the readings are short– 20-to-25-page chapters from specific books– so you don’t have to read an entire book to participate in the discussion. The first reading I’m featuring is Chapter 1 of past podcast guest Dr. Sara Dant’s book Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West. This chapter provides an overview of the very early human migration into North America all the way up to just before Europeans descended on the continent. Two weeks from now, we’ll be reading Chapter 8: Indian Country from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s An Indigenous People’s History of the United States. The app and readings are FREE, the founders are cool, McKinsey does not advise them, and I’d love to have a few of you join me to virtually discuss books and conservation in the West. Open this link on your phone to join the Circle! [Sorry Android amigos, this is for iOS only.]
Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering by Cameron Hanes – For those not familiar, Hanes is a renowned bowhunter and legit ultrarunner, having completed many difficult mountain trail races, including the Moab 240. I was feeling bored with my normal podcast rotation, so I downloaded this audiobook on a whim, hoping for a jolt of motivation to help me ramp up my exercise routine. The book delivered the jolt (which was followed by debilitating soreness), but what I most enjoyed was learning about the non-physical aspects of Hanes’ life– particularly the long and grinding process that he endured in order to finally become a published author. Over and over throughout the book, Hanes repeats that he is not talented or smart or special in any way, with one exception: He is world-class at working hard. Whether or not I agree with his politics or connect with his demeanor, I do appreciate and respect his commitment to embracing the long-term grind. As a non-talented dude myself, I’m always happy to be reminded that hard-hardheaded hard work can also produce results. [Another audiobook that is over-the-top but surprisingly motivating is Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins.]
15-Second Recipes: A Cookbook for Busy People by Brendan Leonard – Are you busy? Do you need to eat? Like to laugh? Looking to optimize your life far beyond anything Tim Ferriss can offer? This is your book. Hurry! Order it! Hurry!
The Majic Bus: An American Odyssey by Douglas Brinkley – Like many history buffs, I have long considered Brinkley to be my own personal history professor. Specifically, I owe him for teaching me everything there is to know about Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy and for creating much of the source material for my understanding of public lands. So, in preparation for my interview with him, I wanted to understand the foundations of Doug’s career as an educator. This book is the story of the then-31-year-old Professor Brinkley, leading a busload of Hofstra University students on a six-week, cross-country road trip where they immersed themselves in the complex, perpetually fluid culture and history of the United States. From Washington DC to the Badlands of North Dakota to the Redwood forests of Northern California, Brinkley rejects textbooks and memorization and instead provides an opportunity for these students to truly understand US history– with all its warts and confusion and contradictions. Even if you don’t read the entire book, his introductory warning about the risks of “historical reductionism” is worth reading and is more important now than ever. [In our podcast conversation, Doug and I talk about how teaching is the foundation of all of his work.]
Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening by Douglas Brinkley – It had been way too long since I tackled a serious, super-long history book, and this one reminded me of just how much I love the work of world-class historians. This 800-page+ tome examines the third wave of conservation in the United States, a movement that spanned three presidents and birthed our nation’s modern-day environmental consciousness. What I did not realize is that a single individual was the catalyst for our environmental awaking (and the laundry list of associated bipartisan conservation legislation). That individual? Rachel Carson– ocean lover, marine biologist, prolific writer, and author of Silent Spring. While I loved learning more about JFK, LBJ, and Nixon, I was especially inspired by the idea that a single “normal person” like Carson can be such a powerful force for change and can shift the trajectory of the world toward good. [To understand the first two waves of American conservation, read Brinkley’s Wilderness Warrior and Rightful Heritage.]
Fight Club: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk – I spent all of December laid up recovering from shoulder surgery, with the first half of the month spent bumbling around in a low-grade painkiller-induced haze. My altered brain chemistry is the only explanation I can come up with as to why I decided to read this book– I’m generally not a fan of dark, weird, disturbing satire. But I loved it. The novel digs into themes that are much more pressing and in-your-face today than they were when it was published back in 1999: Young men’s failure to find purpose in modern-day, cubicle-based work, the need for “right of passage” ceremonies, a wave of growing anger and emptiness fueled by consumer culture, lack of community, and more. I cannot imagine how out-of-left-field this book may have seemed back in ’99, but, unfortunately, its themes make perfect sense to me some 23 years later. [For more on our societal lack of purpose and community, read Tribe by Sebastian Junger and Lost Connections by Johann Hari.]
Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday – If you’ve read any of Ryan Holiday’s other books, then you know exactly what to expect here: Pithy, easy-to-read chapters jam-packed with historical references that are fun to underline, highlight, and revisit months later. I have skipped several of his most recent titles, but picked this one up because of my often-futile obsession with self-discipline. Following his usual formula, Holiday references a wide range of historical figures, offering real-world examples of how they demonstrated exceptional discipline (or an embarrassingly exceptional lack of discipline)… and how you can too. I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of Queen Elizabeth II, who I knew next to nothing about and had no appreciation for her stoic, calm approach to service and life. I’m looking forward to reading more deeply about the Queen and several other new-to-me historical figures that this book introduced me to. [If you’re looking for a New Year’s instruction manual for building discipline, the best one I’ve found is James Clear’s Atomic Habits.]
