As Good As Gone by Larry Watson
A critically acclaimed book that is set in Montana is pretty much a must read for me. The book is set in Eastern Montana in middle of the previous century. The characters are interesting and, in my mind, a shockingly good portrayal of people that I knew from the region and time period. The book is well written, but also slow and uneventful. If you like character driven novels and you like Eastern Montana, this is a must read, but for everyone else, meh. Grade: C+
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
I put off reading this book because I didn't think I would enjoy it. It was so successful and so well reviewed, however, that I eventually had to read it, and I'm glad I did. It is exceptionally well written, exciting, and interesting. I learned a lot about France in World War 2. Definitely read this if you have the time, but it is pretty long. Grade: B+
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Extraordinarily interesting book about the history of humans over the past 100,000 years or so. The book focuses on the 3 major revolutions that impacted humans over that time: the cognitive revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the industrial revolution. I learned so much reading this book and I love it. My only warning is that the author really does not like religion. I read this book on Bill Gate's recommendation. Thanks, Bill! Grade: A-
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
I read this book after watching Erin speak at the Global Leadership Summit. I thought her presentation was the highlight of the Summit, and this book did not disappoint. If you work or interact with people from different countries/cultures, this book is a must read. Incredibly interesting. Grade: A
Into the Black: Book 1 in The Odyssey One Series by Evan Currie
Probably my all-time favorite science fiction book. This book was incredibly exciting, interesting, and well written. My guess is that it was inspired somewhat by Star Trek, and later books have elements of Star Wars, but it is still fantastic. An absolute must read if you like science fiction. Grade A
The Heart of Matter: Book 2 in The Odyssey One Series by Evan Currie
Not as good as the first book in the series, but still well written. My guess, after reading this second book in the series, is that the series is going to address many major questions faced by humans, including when to fight and when to walk away, honor, pacifism, and racism, etc. Grade: B+
