Five books that had an impact on me in 2013

I don’t have as much time as I would like to read things unrelated to my job, so I tend to ‘binge read’ on vacations and plane trips, finishing a few books in a week and then not finishing more than one chapter in the following month!

I wanted to share with you some books that had a profound impact on me in 2013. By ‘impact’, I mean that I was still thinking about them days, weeks, or even months later. If you haven’t picked these up yet, I highly recommend them! Please share your own reading lists with me also.

1. Radioactive, by Lauren Redniss. This book hit my sweet spot—science, romance, rebellion, philandering, feminism—it’s all in there! Anyone who thinks that science is boring stuff done by old white dudes in lab coats should take a look at this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel about Marie and Pierre Curie. Marie Curie has been one of my heroes since childhood, and after reading this book I had even more admiration for both her and her husband Pierre, who formed a completely equal scientific and life partnership back in the days when women weren’t even admitted to graduate programs. Also, the author dug into historical archives and family papers and produced some love letters between the two and some journal entries Marie wrote shortly after the untimely death of her husband. Those wrecked me, I will admit (there were tears). A great choice for Valentines’ Day!
2. Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo. I’m going to be honest here—a lot of the books on poverty and poor people written by the non-poor leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes they romanticize poor people (“they have nothing, but they’re so happy!” I always have to grit my teeth when I hear people say that. If you had to live in a house on top of a garbage dump and see your young children die of preventable diseases, trust me, you would not be happy). Or, they portray poor people as tragic victims without agency. Katherine Boo does neither. She weaves such a nuanced, sensitive and unflinching picture of life in a Mumbai slum that it left me thinking about the various characters long after I put down the book. She is also a masterful storyteller. This is a great example of how anthropological research could, and should, be done.
3. Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Forget ‘African novelist’, Adichie is one of the best novelists living today, IMHO. This book had some flaws, but overall it was an extremely insightful commentary on race and class in the modern U.S., mixed with a touching love story and a compelling narrative of the immigrant experience. I’d say it’s my favorite ‘coming to America’ story, together with Carlos Bulosan’s America is in the Heart and Lost in Translation by Eva Hoffman. Also, check out Adichie’s TED talks, ‘The Danger of a Single Story’, and ‘We Should all be Feminists’. Yes, I know we have all reached peak TED-talk, but trust me—she’s a great oral storyteller in addition to being a talented writer.
4. Tenth of December, by George Saunders. I found out about George Saunders when I took a creative writing course in college with people who were much cooler than me, and one of our assigned readings was his short story collection, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline. Apparently knowing about him makes me hip, because he is referred to as a ‘writers’ writer’. Whatever that means. Anyway, I love his work. I’m not big on the anti-hero as central character embraced by much of modern fiction, but I absolutely love Saunders’ main characters. They are deeply flawed people, trapped in a dystopic future, who somehow are inspired and empowered to be braver, more kind, and more selfless than they ever thought they could be. Often, they pay a high price as a result. I wasn’t surprised when I read Saunders’ speech to Syracuse University graduates advising them to, above all, be kind, because only a man with such a heart could write as he does. Bonus: these are short stories, so you can finish one in between putting the kid(s) to bed and nodding off yourself!
5. Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg. What could I write about this book that hasn’t already been written? Whether you loved it, or loved to hate it, no one can deny that it started a national conversation that was long overdue. Namely, where my ladies at (in positions of leadership)?

…And one book I’ve enjoyed so far in 2014:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. This was a recommendation from my aunt (thanks, Aunt Linda!). As a strong introvert, this book was so validating for me. One of the things I really loved about it is that, while acknowledging that American society is often unfriendly to introverts while promoting extroversion, Cain doesn’t flip the tables and bash extroverts. She points out that society, institutions, and families benefit when people with both personality types respect one another and are able to work together, as they have different strengths and weaknesses. I especially liked the tips for extroverted parents of introverted children, and pointers for how bosses and teachers can encourage contributions from both extroverts and introverts in the classroom or job setting. If you are an introvert, or have one in your life (which is highly likely, given that we are one-third to one-half of the population), you should pick up this entertaining and readable book.