Reading Right Now: November 2022
Usually, I read one book at a time. This month - and right before the holidays - I’m reading four books simultaneously. They are all in a deadline of sorts, which is why I find myself in this particular pickle.
I’ve decided to test a ‘time management’ theory of mine. I will set a timer each evening and read each book for 30 minutes. I started this last night and was fascinated by how effective it was. My brain was buzzing with new information and, interestingly, all the subjects worked well in tandem. Here are the books:
1) Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life of Neuroscience by Michael S. Gazzaniga. Author Michael S. Gazzaniga has been called “the father of cognitive neuroscience”. In this book, he gives us a first-hand look at his seminal work on the split-brain theory, which is that the right and left hemispheres of the brain have different strengths and act independently from one another. As I am so intrigued by the workings of the brain, this is proving a fascinating read.
2) Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone by Adrienne Bankert. This is the month’s selection from my online book club, Paging Creatives, and I’m finding it interesting. It’s about how kindness will help you achieve your professional goals. I’m ALL for that! I’ve just started diving in and will report more when finished.
3) The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver. This one is a novel. The synopsis was so intriguing that I had to add it to my list: a missing woman in Silicon Valley is tracked by a reward seeker, the son of a prominent survivalist family. This is the first novel featuring the protagonist, Colter Shaw, and it is a planned series of books as well as a possible television show.
4) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. In addition to brain-centric books, I like to read about time and project management. This one was highly recommended, and I am investigating further research and appreciating the author’s viewpoints. The title refers to the number of weeks each of us have in an average lifetime. I very much appreciate taking into account a finite viewpoint of time, meaning how we can look at time management as the management of priorities (both personal and business) in relation to practical time. I will undoubtedly expand on this book more once I’ve finished.
As you can see, I love supporting my local library and have checked out these books from there. [Once I know I love a book, I add it to my library via Bookshop.org, which supports small local bookstores.] Spoiler alert: I also love audio books and read them from my devices, too. I’d love to hear what you’re reading as I always look for recommendations. (Hint, hint.) Chat soon, dear Readers!
