As much as I would like to write about all the books I read, I don’t have that much time. So, I’ve put together some books that I’ve read in the past month that I would recommend. Enjoy!
“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” – Leo Tolstoy
After reading this book I have one thing to say – I haven’t read nearly enough Tolstoy. This was the first book I’ve read by him, and it was so good. For those who don’t know, Leo Tolstoy is one of the most renown writers in the world. He was Russian and wrote a lot about hard topics: philosophy, religion, politics, love, etc. This book focuses on Ivan Ilyich who has focused his entire life on his career. He finds out he is dying which makes him question everything he has believed thus far.
This isn’t a long read, so if you have the time I would highly recommend picking this book up.
“Dreams From Bunker Hill” – John Fante
I read “Ask the Dust” by John Fante a few months back and loved it so much I went and bought every other book he wrote. “Dream From Bunker Hill” is the second book I read by John and it’s just as great as “Ask the Dust”. John has this writing style that makes you want to keep turning every single page. This book is about Arturo Bandini. It takes place in Los Angeles in the 1930’s. Arturo gets a job as a Hollywood screenwriter and the book goes through his struggles, successes, and various flings. It’s hilarious, but best of all it’s incredibly difficult to put down.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for something different to read that will make you appreciate great authors.
“Looking For Alaska” – John Green
Many claim this book as a young adult novel, but I think it is so much more than that. The story focuses on Miles, who goes to boarding school and gets introduced to a group of friends who show him what true friendship is. There’s a lot to learn from this book regardless of age, and the author does a great job of making the story relevant to growing up, regardless of when.
You won’t regret reading this book.
“Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace” – Nikil Saval
I’ll admit, this book is a bit dry. I plowed through it, but it wasn’t easy. The thing is I’ve always had a weird interest in workspaces and this book focuses on the history of the workplace. Starting in the 1850’s, Nikil works up to today’s modern office space. This book goes over the social trends, the influence those trends had on the workplace, and the shifts in trends over time.
If you’re into workspaces and don’t mind an academic read, go get this one.