When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm by Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe - I heard these authors interviewed on Fresh Air, and I ordered the book immediately. The book is predictably described as “explosive” and “devastating,” but, really, I wasn’t all that surprised by its findings– just another case in a long list of big-time businesses that lost their way while chasing the big bucks. What I gleaned from this book is not that McKinsey is a company full of scumbags– I have many friends who have worked there who are most definitely not bags of scum. Instead, the book offered me new insights into how and why many (most?) of the incentives of 21st-century mega-business are not aligned with behavior that has traditionally been accepted as respectable or values-driven. If you’re looking to be outraged by a few horror stories of McKinsey “turbo-charging” opioid sales, then listen to the podcast. But if you want to think a little more deeply about the incentive structures of American and global commerce, read the book. [This book reminded me of business school, which reminded me of The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff.] 

The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten - I read this book as part of a book discussion group that I was invited to join– a group that I quickly realized was made up of people who were all exponentially smarter than me. But despite my intellectual inability to contribute to the discussion, I gleaned quite a few valuable lessons from the book. Most notably, the need to frame all crises as opportunities– opportunities to learn, adjust, re-calibrate, or change course completely. Also, I appreciated the authors’ focus on the importance of seeking out opinions that clash with our own, so as to expose blind spots in our thinking. The book discussion also helped me to remember that many of my proudest personal and professional achievements grew out of some event that, at the time, I considered a crisis. A potent, quick read that adds value whether you lead a huge team or are a lone wolf like me. [Another guidebook for productively weathering life’s storms is When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron.]

I was a bit distracted over the past few months, thanks in part to a lot of fun-but-time-consuming work travel. Whenever I’m on the go and struggling to finish normal books, I turn to short story compilations to keep the reading momentum going (and to keep me off of my silly phone). One that was highly recommended by many friends was The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie. The few stories I read made me chuckle uncontrollably while simultaneously feeling very sad for many of the characters and their circumstances. The stories also further hammered home the point of how ridiculously destructive alcohol abuse can be to communities. First and Wildest: The Gila Wilderness at 100, edited by Elizabeth Hightower Allen, is a collection of stories and reflections related to America’s first wilderness area, New Mexico’s half-a-million-acre Gila Wilderness. There are essays from Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich, and Pam Houston, and I look forward to reading every one of them. But for now, I especially enjoyed past podcast guest Gabe Vasquez’s essay, in which he highlights the importance of exposing under-served youths to the marvels of wild places. [When it comes to compilations, it’s hard to beat John Branch’s Sidecountry: Tales of Life and Death from the Back Roads of Sports.]

And speaking of shorter, bite-sized reads, I recently teamed up with the social reading app Threadable to lead a reading Circle on the topic of Conservation in the American West. What makes Threadable unique is that the readings are short– 20-to-25-page chapters from specific books– so you don’t have to read an entire book to participate in the discussion. The first reading I’m featuring is Chapter 1 of past podcast guest Dr. Sara Dant's book Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West. This chapter provides an overview of the very early human migration into North America all the way up to just before Europeans descended on the continent. Two weeks from now, we’ll be reading Chapter 8: Indian Country from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous People's History of the United States. The app and readings are FREE, the founders are cool, McKinsey does not advise them, and I’d love to have a few of you join me to virtually discuss books and conservation in the West. Open this link on your phone to join the Circle! [Sorry Android amigos, this is for iOS only.]

Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering by Cameron Hanes - For those not familiar, Hanes is a renowned bowhunter and legit ultrarunner, having completed many difficult mountain trail races, including the Moab 240. I was feeling bored with my normal podcast rotation, so I downloaded this audiobook on a whim, hoping for a jolt of motivation to help me ramp up my exercise routine. The book delivered the jolt (which was followed by debilitating soreness), but what I most enjoyed was learning about the non-physical aspects of Hanes’ life– particularly the long and grinding process that he endured in order to finally become a published author. Over and over throughout the book, Hanes repeats that he is not talented or smart or special in any way, with one exception: He is world-class at working hard. Whether or not I agree with his politics or connect with his demeanor, I do appreciate and respect his commitment to embracing the long-term grind. As a non-talented dude myself, I'm always happy to be reminded that hard-hardheaded hard work can also produce results. [Another audiobook that is over-the-top but surprisingly motivating is Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins.]

15-Second Recipes: A Cookbook for Busy People by Brendan Leonard - Are you busy? Do you need to eat? Like to laugh? Looking to optimize your life far beyond anything Tim Ferriss can offer? This is your book. Hurry! Order it! Hurry!

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Ed

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