It’s been a big few months of reading!

8 books down. Like I mentioned last quarter, if I couldn’t switch between audiobooks and Kindle, I probably wouldn’t finish anything.

I keep a few paperbacks around the house and at my desk, but I make real progress in two windows: audiobooks during my commute and Kindle after everyone’s asleep.

Here’s what I read:

The Brothers Karamazov – Fyodor Dostoevsky
I quit this book back in Q1. One night, after helping my son back to sleep, I was wide awake and picked it up again. I was about 40% through when I finally got into it. The payoff was tremendous. The climax is a court scene with one of the brothers on trial. The book stands out for its character development and philosophical depth. Even 160 years later, I related to many of the characters (Father Zossima’s death scene reminded me of the Astronomer CEO reaction, for example). The book has a famous chapter where one of the brothers entertains a thought experiment about what would happen if Jesus returned during the Spanish Inquisition (spoiler: the church rejects him, as he undermines their authority). As the reader, you can’t help but think about what would happen today…

Slow Productivity – Cal Newport
My favorite non-fiction this quarter. Perfect for parents who want to stay ambitious while living a deep, balanced life. If you want a preview before committing, check out Cal’s newsletter or podcast, Deep Questions.

How To Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
This was required reading before my first job. Now I revisit the audiobook every 18 months. Great reminders. My 3-year-old is in a “go away” phase. Like all phases, it’ll pass, but it felt like the right time to review this book and focus on leading by example.

One Sentence Persuasion – Blair Warren
A short ebook on persuasion. His one sentence explains a lot about tribal politics: People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.

Savage Son & True Believer – Jack Carr
Fast-paced thrillers from The Terminal List series. Pure entertainment.

Lying – Sam Harris
A sharp case for why you shouldn’t lie, even in small ways. I thought his book on free will was bogus, but this one hit home. I wish I’d read it earlier. Caution: you’ll second-guess lying to your kids about Santa.

Quick & The Dead – Pavel Tsatsouline
A minimalist program for explosive training. I paired it with StrongFirst’s Speed Metal course to clean up my snatch while prepping for their certification this December. Expect more kettlebell content soon.