Mature businessman reading book at desk in office
Red hot books tend to show up on our social media feeds constantly.
I should know, since I’m constantly seeing posts about the books below. One of them, by an editor and podcaster named Jason Feifer, has dominated my LinkedIn feed lately. Poking around on Twitter, I’ve seen chatter about a book called Forgive by Tim Keller and another about the birth of YouTube.
If you’re a fan of these authors and have read (or plan to read) these titles, join the discussion online or on my Twitter feed.
1. The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World
Science can help us understand what is happening with social media, especially when it comes to our addictive tendencies. In his book, author Max Fisher delves into the deep mechanics, the algorithms that determine what happens when you post and who sees your musings (and why).
2. Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career
Jason Feifer is a magazine editor and podcast host. This book about the challenges of growing an enterprise and overcoming obstacles is rife with keen insight. I especially liked his examples of things that were once frowned upon (like reading novels) and then exploded in popularity. (Personal disclosure: Feifer was an editor of mine a while back; we still exchange emails on occasion and he endorsed my own book.)
3. Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?
People in all walks of life can find value in this book about spiritual forgiveness. Keller is a well-known pastor and author, and his insights into the true meaning of living in forgiveness will spark discussions and motivate action. My takeaway: forgiveness requires hard work. Stay tuned for a full column about my chat with the author.
4. Spark: How Genius Ignites, From Child Prodigies to Late Bloomer
This anthology of genius is also a page-turner. The author profiles luminaries like Sara Blakely and Bill Gates, decoding their greatness and what makes them tick. The detailed stories about Gates in his formative years were particularly astute.
5. Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune
Reading the book Born to Be Hanged by Keith Thomson, you might feel like you are on an island storming the beach and plundering villages. The author makes these pirate stories come alive, right down to the ale they drank and the stormy seas they roamed.
6. Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube's Chaotic Rise to World Domination
One of my favorite genres in nonfiction involves the birth stories of famous tech companies like Google or Facebook. This time, it’s YouTube.com in all of its sordid and alluring detail. I love the inside baseball chats between top execs, the viral video moments that grew the platform, and everything in between.
7. American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America's Jack the Ripper
Hang on for the ride with the book American Demon. It’s told in a way that places you right on the scene, describing the ghastly horrors of Jack the Ripper while also recounting how crime fighter Eliot Ness started piecing the investigation together, one puzzle piece at a time.
