Lately, I’ve come out of my reading slump with a strong 4 for 4 performance this summer. Since I’ve enjoyed all of these books, I figured I would share a few recommendations.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan asks and answers more questions about the food that we eat than I, or even the Food Network, could ever imagine. Pollan tracks the food chain from mother nature to your dinner plate and I was surprised and fascinated by how it all happens. I especially enjoyed the in-depth account of how farming works and the modern day economics of our food system. I never before got the whole idea behind organic and local food movements but now I actually seek out more natural foods. He even explains the mystifying phenomenon of chickens (CC: Vant and Lisa). If you had a conversation with me in the month of June there’s a good chance it drifted to discussing this book as it totally consumed my thoughts for a few weeks. Luckily, the Omnivore’s Dilemma’s promise to change the way I think about the pleasure of eating only lasted a few weeks. I’m back to craving processed Chicken McNuggets.

I also enjoyed Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. I was obviously intrigued by this book as it combines two things, Israel and entrepreneurship, that greatly interest me. The author’s share analysis, research, case studies and anecdotes on how Israel’s culture, education, community networks and military training have led to a thriving, innovative technology sector that provides integral value to the global business world. Israel’s tech/entrepreneurial cluster is one of the most promising opportunities for the country to put itself in position to prosper and grow in future generations. Much of Israeli’s ability to create a business climate in which good ideas are nurtured and risk is palatable is traced back to the values, ideals and networks that Israeli’s learn in their mandatory military and reserve service. I actually would have liked if they spent more time detailing some of the other factors. What I enjoyed most was reading stories how Israel is becoming more valuable and integrated into the global community in an economic way that I believe is far more powerful than the political posturing, and media bickering that dominate the conversation these days.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers is the true story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian-born contractor living in New Orleans who decides to tough out Hurricane Katrina (mostly for business reasons) rather than evacuate. The incredible dramatic events that follow touch on the tragedy of the Hurricane, intertwined with race and culture through the experiences of one man. Like in What is The What (about Sudan), Eggers is able to tell the story of a community through the events of one person and does it in a way that blends truth with fiction that makes it even more real than any news report I’ve watched about Katrina.

It only took me a few days to fly through The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine. I’ve been a big Michael Lewis fan since I read Liar’s Poker in college and have read just about all his other books. It’s nice to see him come back to Wall Street — he does so just the way he left it. A keen ability to sift through the bull shit, unimpressed by the shine and $$ of Wall Street, and really tell it like he sees it. In this book, Lewis uses three examples of contrarian finance guys who shorted the housing market within his larger explanation of the financial events that led to the housing meltdown. As always, Michael Lewis is brilliant in breaking down complex phenomena into laymen terms and gets down to the psychological nitty gritty of the characters that he details. I love how he gets into the heads of guys who were so unflappable and sure of themselves. They were convinced they were right and everybody else was crazy/wrong and endured the immense pressure until they were proven right. At my best, this is exactly how I want to think and act in my business actions.

I’m now reading The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. While it’s not exactly my cup of tea, it’s an extremely well-written story and is the selection for my office book club.

On deck I have How Zappos Delivers Happiness by CEO Tony Hsieh, Suttree by Cormac McCarthy (for another bookclub that I am in) and The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson. My rule of thumb with these breakout books is that if everybody seemingly loves it (including Lisa and my pops) then it must be good!

Looking for a good book website? Check out the AV Club blog by the good and funny folks at the Onion. There reviews are money and they are usually on point with the books they cover.

I would love to hear about what you are reading. Leave a comment or hit me up by email.

If you’re wondering about my motivations, I wrote about starting a book club in my new year’s resolution post. If you want to get an idea of the kinds of books I enjoy reading then check out Littybooks (my current book blog). If you know of anybody that is interested please send them this blog post. If you want to join the book club, hit me up and let me know. All you have to do is get the book, read it, and show up ready to chat and listen. I want to try and get the group to 6-8 people for the first meeting and never get to more than ten minds in a room at once.

The first book club session will take place on Monday, February 18th at 9pm. Location is TBD but it will be in the city at an apartment or coffee shop or wherever I can find a room with enough space and good vibes.

The first book we will read is What is the What by David Eggers. The book is the fictionalized memoir of Valentino Achak Deng, a refugee in war-ravaged southern Sudan. Separated from his family, his travels bring him in contact with enemy soldiers, with liberation rebels, with hyenas and lions, with disease and starvation, and with deadly murahaleen — the same sort who currently terrorize Darfur. Based closely on actual experiences, What Is the What is heartrending and astonishing, filled with adventure, suspense, tragedy, and, finally, triumph. You can also read the NY Times review.

If you would like to buy the book you can find it here on Amazon. If you use these links to get the book I’ll get a commission that I’ll use towards book club refreshments.

What Is The What is written by David Eggers who is well-known for A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. AHWOSG focuses on Eggers struggle to raise his little brother in San Francisco following the sudden deaths of their parents. It is one of the most unique, emotional and innovative books that I have ever read.

In the upcoming weeks I’ll send around links and articles about the book, the author and other interesting and related materials to help stimulate and shape the conversation. For instance, here is a link to the Valention Achak Deng Foundation – a real life organization started by the book’s protagonist to help rebuild Sudan. I recently read A Long Way Gone (my review) a gripping account by another “Lost Boy” of the Sudan. It was an eye opening and thought provoking read on what is happening in another part of the world. Perhaps we’ll touch upon the situation in Sudan and Darfur, perhaps not. Excited to see where the conversation might go as I think there are plenty of interesting paths and mind-bending issues.

If this book club is something that interests you I look forward to hearing from you. But what I’m really looking forward to is hearing what you have to think and say about What Is The What on the 18th of February.

If you want more information on the film you can read the reviews on rotten tomatoes or watch the preview below. One of my friends enjoyed it to the point of sending out an email to friends urging them to go see it. I would be happy to forward that on to you (if it’s cool with him).

As for my review, I enjoyed the film. I thought it gave some life and beauty both to the book and to my essay. Emilie Hirsch injects his character with life and idealism, the people he meets on his journey are straight out of a Kerouac novel, and the Eddie Vedder soundtrack is pretty cool. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t come close to replicating the thought-provoking and intimacy with the characters that Krakaur provides in his book. The people I saw the movie with thought there were holes in the plot and had a more difficult time relating to McCandless than myself. That seems to happen often when a book (especially one that is based on themes over plot) is condensed into a flim. So I would recommend that you read the book before seeing the movie.

My friend Adam works for Paramount Vantage Films in LA. They are a specialty film division within Paramount that released Into The Wild and they generally focuse on movies that develop themes and send an impactful message to its audience. Adam is a passionate dude, and although we don’t talk much, he usually lets me know when a new film that he is working on is about to released. He told me about Into The Wild and I sent him my essay. He gave it a read and the forwarded it on to Sean Penn’s assistant. Sean Penn’s assistant passed it on to Sean Penn and Krakauer. I have no idea if they actually read it but it’s pretty cool to think they did!

I’m not going to try and explain the show or even the reasons why I enjoy it. I never expected the flash-forward but I think it was an ingenious move. As my buddy John said after the show “I’m smarter than like 84% of people in the world but the guys who write this show are smarter than 99.9% of the dudes out there”. Regardless of intelligence deviations, I’m stoked for next season.

I don’t really try to guess the conspiracies, understand the black smoke or hunt for hidden clues. I don’t follow any of the Lost blogs or give a hoot about other people’s theories. I think the whole magnetic poles thing sounds stupid and not sure why Sayid’s girl pops up in every flashback. Trying to think through some of this stuff makes me dizzy and makes the show seem more like work than entertainment. Often I think that there is nothing unifying all these coincidences and that perhaps the point of the show is to pose questions, not answers.

The reason I watch the show is because of the characters and their personal and cathartic journey through life. For me the magic aura hasn’t anything to do with the island but rather can be found within Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer, Sayid and the rest of the folks on Oceanic Flight 815. My favorite scenes each week are when the episode is coming to a close and they play happy music and show the people on the island enjoying themselves in slow motion with a wide angle shot. The juxtaposition of happiness and pain in life gets me every time!

My favorite character is far and away Jack. He is the protagonist and everything and everybody should and does revolve around him. Jack is decent and likeable. He is the leader, the consciousness and the heart of the island. I’m fascinated each week to follow Jack’s struggle to find his inner peace and win the war he is waging within himself.

I loved the episode “Stranger in a Strange Land” when the random old women Isabel tries to herb him on his tattoo and for a minute your heart sinks as you think Jack got played once again only for him to sternly replies that what it says, that isn’t what it means. Perhaps there is hope for him to quell his daemons after all.

Jack was determined to lead his people off the Island and it seems like he does just that. But we learn that Jack hasn’t found his inner peace in his future and is actually in worse shape than ever. He’s losing his battle.

I’m not really sure what happens to Ben, Desmundo, or the rest of the characters and frankly I don’t really care. I’m also not all that interested in how they got off the Island. What I really want to know, and the reason I will watch next year, is to root for Jack and desperately hope he uncovers what it is that he is so desperately searching for in life.

In honor of Charlie, I’ve included the best song from Drive Shaft’s greatest hits CD…

Vonnegut’s stories were an ironic mix of satire, dark comedy and fun. His characters are likeable, extraordinary and compelling and his themes are subtle yet powerful and are masterfully revealed through playful plots. Kurt Vonnegut made the world seem ridiculous and precious at the same time. He had the unique gift to turn the harshest facets of life into a joke and maybe make them a little less harsh. He dealt with serious topics (war, religion, humanity) and became both an inspirational and radical voice without taking himself too seriously. Vonnegut didn’t try to be a leader but rather was a free and original thinker who did things his own way. It just so happened that people listened.

I first encountered Vonnegut when I read Slaughterhouse-Five. I was probably a junior or senior in high school and just beginning to explore different kinds of literature on my own. I liked the story because it was easy to get, yet at the same time there was tons of knowledge waiting to be discovered. I’ve gone on to read Cat’s Cradle, Hocus Pocus, Jailbird and Timequake and in each novel there are passages that I read, re-read and then smile because they just seem perfect to me.

Luckily Vonnegut and his unique voice will live forever in his many novels and stories. Here are a few things that Vonnegut said better than anybody else ever has and ever will. I often ask myself (and promise to adore anybody who may ever ask me) if I could be any famous author who would I want to be? I usually say Kerouac for his exuberance and celebration of life but in reality I would do just about anything to see the world through Vonnegut’s eyes.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to read any of his works I strongly recommend that you do.

Here is a recent video interview of Vonnegut. He is wonderful — sharp, witty, outrageously funny and overly ironic. Unfortunately, this all seems to go right over the interviewer’s head. Classic example of Vonnegut in many ways.