Half Year Book Review
Before I begin, I must pay respect to the late Ennio Morricone. As a composer myself, I know working with film directors can be daunting. (Many times, both of us are too scared to admit to the other that we don’t know what we’re doing. (Or perhaps that’s just me.)) Anyway, Morricone’s book, In His Own Words — which completed my reading list of 2019 — gave invaluable examples of the synergies that are created from film director and composer. If you hadn’t met or worked with him, this read will be the closet you’ll get to Morricone who is likely your favorite film composer’s favorite film composer.
Man’s Search for Meaning,Viktor Frankl
Listed in this book, Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, teacher, and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, recalls the day to day life in numerous Nazi concentration camps. The first half of the book depicts his surroundings — sicknesses, crematoriums, lack of food, the separation of families — while the second half focuses on, not the elements of torture, but what internal elements he utilized to survive. He teaches all things in life can be taken away from us except our ability and power to decide how we respond to such events. The content of this book is worth owning a copy to be read and revisited from time to time.
This is Your Brain on Music, Daniel J. Levitin
Although most of this book’s examples spread from Chopin to The Beatles, it also breaks into psychology and neuroscience. Often compared to Oliver Sacks’s Musicophilia, Levitin — a musician and neuroscientist — displays the questions: What is music? and Why do songs get stuck in our heads? If you’re one to say you love music, go a step beyond and get to know why.
If you’ve seen Adam Grant’s TED Talks, you know how enthusiastic he can be when he gets to share new information. In Originals, his writing is no different. Praised by the likes of J.J. Abrams and Sir Richard Branson, the book follows the habits and specific circumstances that allow original ideas to formulate. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and plan on rereading it soon.
The Magic of Thinking Big, David J. Schwartz
With over 6 million copies sold and several recommendations directed my way, I was under a lot of pressure to read this. Though a classic book with vital information pertaining to how our thoughts shape our futures, I found this read to be a bit dry with too many similar examples conveying the same message. It reminded me of my trainer repeatedly telling me, “YOU CAN DO IT,” while I bench press 25 pounds. There are some pluses and it might be worth the read for a younger audience but this 228 page book is more or less summed up in Earl Nightingale’s popular 44 page speech, The Strangest Secret.
The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger
This is my favorite book this year! It’s nice to note how Bob Iger, with his achievements and successes, has remained an empathetic, kind, and respectful person as he leads one of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world, The Walt Disney Company. Iger started his journey as a studio assistant at ABC and worked his way up to CEO of Disney becoming the mind behind the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and 21st Century Fox. Some business people steer away from business books, (some admitting they’re not worth your time), but The Ride of a Lifetime is undoubtedly an exception for those in business and who wish to live out their lives as storytellers.
I Wrote This Book Because I Love You, Tim Kreider
I didn’t know Kreider’s work before reading this which rightfully allows me to ask, Why would I care about this author’s love life? Each chapter is an essay based on a courtship with a different person. Kredier, who has never been married or has lived with a significant other, gives a novel perspective on relationships — platonic, romantic, and the gray area that connects them. As I’m writing this, I’m halfway through the book and cannot deny that it is a brilliantly written, funny, albeit sad, witty, and altogether entertaining work in only 200 pages.
BONUS: The Art of Fiction № 78 from James Baldwin
Whether or not you’re a writer, you’ll enjoy Baldwin’s 1984 interview, published in The Paris Review, as he directly describes his experiences as a Black American author living in the 20th century. If you don’t know the name James Baldwin, or his significance, I’d recommend doing a bit of research first. This interview goes deep and is a goldmine making it worth your time even if only to read a portion of it.
This article was originally published July 9, 2020.
