Original: How non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
The world had pretty high expectations for this book after Grant's incredible first book: Give and Take. This book was good, but I suppose that it did not live up to my impossible expectations. It had lots of interesting 'nuggets' but the basic message was something that felt pretty widely known. We need to encourage people to be creative and think outside the box because they have a huge impact. Grade: C+
Six Years by Harlan Coben
I've been reading lots of fiction lately (as you'll see in this list), and this was one of the better stories. It is a story that starts with a nice hook -- a guy has seen from or hear from a lost love for six years, but then the story grows into something bigger. Grade: B+
The Phoenix Descent by Chuck Grossart
Another good fiction book that includes everything from a fungus that wipes out 99.999% of the people on earth plus a general relativity phenomena that moves blasts some space travels forward in time. Not the very best of the science fiction genre, but really good. Grade: B+
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli
This book is basically a collection of newspaper columns that Dr. Rovelli wrote to help the general public better understand the most important developments in Physics, mostly post-Newton. Dr. Rovelli's a great writer, but I was hoping for more depth. Grade: C
The Kasari Nexas by Richard Phillips
Classic science-fiction book that includes good and bad aliens as well as super-hero-esque humans that interact with them. The book is part of a much larger series that I have not read. If you like science fiction series -- pick this book up. If you like stand-alone books -- skip it. Grade: B
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
I think this is Stedman's first book, and she's a greater writer. Unfortunately, I had emotional, character driven books that have way too much incredible sadness and emotion. Yuck. Grade: C-
Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather
Imagine a world in which the U.S. is hit by a debilitating cyber attack that takes out the power grid, communication, and some basic infrastructure (e.g., water, natural gas) for a few weeks. Then combine that with two massive blizzards hitting New York. The result is bad, really bad. I don't enjoy reading about so much pain, suffering, and death, but the book is well written and made me think. Grade: B
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Incredible long and detailed story about fight by the human race to survive after the moon is broken apart and moon rocks make it impossible to live on earth. A very good, very well researched story, but I wish the book had 75% less detail and 75% fewer words. Grade: B+
