Reading List: Update

On January 10^th, I posted a reading list. I have completed all of the books on the list and I am ready to give by book reports! I’ll begin with the books that were on my list and then I will share some others that I read along the way.

· Outraged by Dick Morris and Ellen McGann—This book was a good read. Morris exposed many of the scams/tricks of politicians and bureaucrats—enough to make any American outraged. Particularly interesting in light of the recent mortgage crisis was his discussion of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

· Frenchman, Desire, Good Children … And Other Streets of New Orleans by John Chase—I was eager to read this book, hoping it would provide an insightful history of New Orleans. It did not disappoint! Chase outlined the planning of the city and how land owners and developers chose the street names and why the route of the street may be awkward. Chase outlines some of the more prominent events in the history of the city; however, much more cleverly he demonstrates how the religious, ethnic, and cultural climate shaped the city of New Orleans as reflected in the street names. This book is a classic and a must read for all who move to New Orleans and those spending more than a couple of weeks in the city.

· Good to Great by Jim Collins—Collins used a very analytical approach to differentiate good companies from those which are great. Not only did he outline the process by which the feature companies go from good to great—information he gathered through various objective sources and from the leaders who led the company through the transition—he also provided examples of other good companies in the same industry that remained good. The comparative study demonstrated that good companies are not always on the path to greatness. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all leaders regardless of discipline—business leaders, front line supervisors/managers, pastors, and leaders of non-profits.

· Purpose: The starting point of great companies by Nikos Mourkogiannis—This was one of the works I was most eager to read and the one which disappointed me the most. Mourkogiannis’ premise and points were excellent—primarily that great companies begin with purpose in one of three areas: discover, excellence, and altruism. Though Mourkogiannis made excellent arguments to explain how these platforms aide in the development of a great company, he linked them to the philosophies of Kierkegaard, Aristotle, and Hume, respectively. These links, with my limited background in Christian ethics, were the most challenging to overcome, as these philosophers often conflicts with Christian ethicists. Because of the philosophical challenges, it made the work difficult for me to read. However, Mourkogiannis did do an excellent job of using relatively well known companies to exemplify how great American and international companies were built (or developed) according to these principles. Interesting read, but it disappointed me.

· The FIVE Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni—Lencioni used narrative in this book to demonstrate the challenges that face each team and how leaders can work to overcome these difficulties. The narrative focused on an executive leadership team; however, the principles demonstrated could be implemented by a department’s management team, a divisional leadership group, or an executive leadership team. It was probably my favorite of all these leadership books because the principles were practical instantly applicable.

· The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell—This was one of the books used for a book club at work and I also saw it listed somewhere else as a good read. It was. Gladwell demonstrated through interviews and testimonials how fads become epidemics. The sociology Gladwell explored was very revealing and should benefit all, including business leaders, marketing professionals, and even pastors.

· The Times-Picayune—I still have a subscription and I still do not read the paper all that much, but I have been reading it more than I was at the beginning of the year.

Other books:

· Life is so Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman—This book was loaned to me by my friend Rick, who shares an office with me, as a good read he was willing to pass along. George Dawson, aided by Richard Glaubman, presents the inspirational story of his life throughout the books pages. His life, spanning the 20^th century, has taken him on international travels and to many of the great cities of America. His perspective is both historical and insightful. My favorite lines are: “For a few years I had been on my own and could do as I pleased, but that didn’t mean much until I came to New Orleans. I soon found out that New Orleans was just like the preacher warned against. It was great. I had never seen anything like it.” (p. 164, 2001 paper back edition).

· Ishmael by Daniel Quinn—A very interesting read again recommended by my office mate Rick. I don’t know if I would recommend it to anyone else, but it was at least different from what I was reading.

· How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie—I found this book in my dad’s library when we were exploring some of the public speaking books he has. My dad showed me this book and a couple of other Dale Carnegie books that belonged to my grandfather. Besides being an excellent text it also provided a little insight into my grandfather’s life through the notes that he scribbled in the margins and inside the covers. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading others by Carnegie.

· Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert—I have wanted to read Russert’s works and his recent death encouraged me to go ahead and begin reading them. I read this one first, though it was written in response to his first book Big Russ and Me, which I also want to read. His editorial comments before the letters from readers were insightful. It is a good read that demonstrates the importance of positive paternal influence in the lives of children.

· Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling—I have had some very serious objections to the Harry Potter series for a long time. I have read the first two books (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) and still have many objections. I think the books have very simple plots (I know they are children’s books, but these are very simple) and that they portray witchcraft and sorcery in a very positive light—even in glaring inconsistencies. I am enjoying the books and glad that I have had the opportunity, though many of my objections remain the same.