Deeper Dive - What I am listening to this Summer - June 21, 2022
Hours in the saddle means hours listening to audio books
Last year, I purchased a bicycle from a local independent retailer. I was looking for a mountain bike and found the Haro Flightline One. It’s a nice little ride, suitable for both the local mountain bike park and the hundreds of miles of paved trails here at home. So far this year, I have put in over 1,000 miles on the bicycle with a dream of hitting 2,000 by the end of the year.
I thoroughly enjoy each bicycle ride, not just for the exercise and getting out in the world, but also for the opportunity to listen to audio books. It is a great way to listen and learn while getting exercise.
With that backstory, I thought I would do something a little different and give you an idea of what are some of the audio books I plan on listening to this Summer as I hit the trails, with convenient links to learn more about the books!
Bridges Across Every Divide by Phil DeVol and Gene Krebs
If you are in the human service or public sector this should be required reading. I have read the physical copy of the book and am looking for a refresher by listening to the audio copy.
We are quickly trapped in a world where there are plenty of problems, but no clear solutions. Well, DeVol and Krebs argue that the solutions are there, but they are local and finely tuned to what is happening in each individual community. One size fits all rarely works in those programs to alleviate poverty and we need to create structures and opportunities for communities to forge their own path forward. DeVol and Krebs give us a blueprint on how to do just that.
Man of Tomorrow: The Relentless Life of Jerry Brown by Jim Newton
Jerry Brown was both the youngest and oldest Governor of the State of California. Sandwiched between his two terms he spent time studying Zen Buddhism, was Mayor of Oakland (CA) and also California’s Attorney General. Add to this, was his youthful desire to become a priest and you end up with someone that has quite a story to tell.
Mayor Rob Ford: Uncontrollable: How I Tried to Help the World’s Most Notorious Mayor by Johanna Schneller and Mark Towhey
There was a time about ten years ago when Rob Ford was the world’s most recognizable and notorious public official. The man who was the Mayor of Canada’s largest city was later found to be a known user of hard drugs. What happened? What went wrong? And how does a city function when the Mayor goes off the rails? These are the questions that get answered. In full disclosure, I have read this book and am looking forward to the audio version.
Also, Mark Towhey (who served as Mayor Ford’s Chief of Staff) not only wrote this book, but also writes a great substack publication, Issues and Insights. I highly recommend it.
Right Here, Right Now: Politics in the Age of Disruption by Stephen Harper.
Harper was elected Prime Minister of Canada in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and again 2011. Sure that is impressive, but what is even more impressive is that Harper is a trained economist. How does an economist win a federal election three straight times in Canada? More over, how does his worldview inform his policy decisions? This looks like a really interesting listen.
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Dr. Jordan Peterson
This is another book that I read before and want to listen to the audio version. It would not be an exaggeration to say this book changed the way I look at things; by the same token, there are plenty of people who have said this book as literally changed their life.
Peterson gives twelve simple rules to live your life (simple rules like, "Always tell the truth, or at least don’t lie”) and backs it up with sound reasoning on why those rules need to be followed.
While Peterson may be widely viewed as a controversial figure, his reasoning and approach are timeless.
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72 by Hunter S. Thompson
I have started this audio book and the narrator, Scott Sowers, does a wonderful job. His tone and inflection are perfect for this story. This audio book could also be described as a guilty pleasure. Thompson, embedded as a reporter for Rolling Stone spends a year plus tracking the eventual Democratic Party nominee George McGovern and goes through painstaking details of primary vote shenanigans, convention floor fights, campaign events gone awry and picking up the pieces of a campaign gone wrong.
I have had my say, what is yours? Let me know what you are listening to or reading this summer in the comment section!
Also, please feel free to share this with friends and colleagues. At the very least, “hit that heart” below! It would be much appreciated!
Stay Well,
Bill