top of page

Book List

Here are some favorite books of mine. Some are business books and some are just for fun.

Let me know what you think and what you're reading.

- Pam

The Monster of Florence

The Monster of Florence

Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi 

Real life search for serial killer in Florence – nice details of the history of Florence and Italy.  Makes “Locked Up Abroad” very real and makes me very happy to live under our penal code system.

Lost City of the Monkey God

Lost City of the Monkey God

Douglas Preston

Douglas Preston, one of my favorite non-fiction authors, brings to life the reality of archeological expeditions using LIDAR technology while brilliantly exposing the dangers of the governments and criminals as well as the scary parts of dense jungles with insects, diseases.

The Soul of an Octopus - Book List

The Soul of an Octopus

Sy Montgomery

A surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness.

Neurofitness by Rahul Jandial M.D., Ph.D.

Neurofitness: A Brain Surgeon’s Secrets to Boost Performance & Unleash Creativity

Rahul Jandial M.D., Ph.D.

An incredible look into the real science of peak performance from a college dropout turned brain surgeon.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight

Shoe Dog is one of the best memoir’s I’ve read by a business person. Knight bares his soul throughout and tells a fantastic story filled with grit, passion and drama.

Out of the Gobi My Story of China and America

Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America

Weijian Shan

“Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America” is Weijian Shan’s deeply affecting memoir. It is also a story that mirrors China’s dizzying recent history: the Cultural Revolution, with all its madness; the opening to the United States, with all the promise it held; and Deng Xiaoping’s decision to unleash a market-based system, with all the changes it wrought. Mr. Shan has lived this history, suffered from its excesses and thrived thanks to the opening. Today he is one of the more respected and successful financiers in the “new China.”

Becoming Dr. Seuss.jpg

Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination

Brian Jay Jones

While it is a standard biography in general terms, Jones goes above and beyond to contextualize Geisel in the larger picture at every moment of his life. This makes Becoming Dr. Seuss a fascinating read that discusses the origin of the humorous, simple rhymes, bizarre creatures, and magic that characterized Geisel's books while also showing the author's more radical side as an unemployed wanderer who abandoned his doctoral studies, a successful advertising man, and a political cartoonist.

The_Husband%E2%80%99s_Secret_%E2%80%93_L

The Husband’s Secret

Liane Moriarty

A beautifully written book outlining how secrets can hurt and be devastating and can change one’s life if not fully understood. Dickinsonian in the twists. Written by the woman who wrote Big Little Lies.

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

Moneyball

Michael Lewis

I will read any of this man’s books.  Wonderful research and great reads.

Half the Sky

Half the Sky

Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

“Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” is an eye-opening view of our world and how people deal with the horrors of various societies.

Same Kind of Difference as Me

Same Kind of Different as Me

Ron Hall

“A modern-day slave, an international art dealer and the unlikely woman who bound them together.”

Just Mercy

Just Mercy

Bryan Stevenson

James Clear summarizes this book with the following words: “The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.  Simply punishing the broken only ensures that they remain broken and we do, too.”

The Devil's Casino

The Devil’s Casino: Friendship, Betrayal and the High Stakes Games played inside Lehman Brothers

Vicky Ward

The title says it all! Hubris and greed.

The Match King

The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, the financial genius behind a century of Wall Street Scandals 

Frank Partnoy

Genius in the title is the wrong word.  Slimy thief is a more apt description. I read about these financial bad boys to continually remind myself of why the perception of the financial world is what it is.

Delivering Happiness

Delivering Happiness

Tony Hsieh

Tony Hsieh is the CEO of Zappos. He made many many millions earlier and after investing in Zappos realized it needed more than just money. A great example of how important it is to create something that is not easily replicable.

The Art of Possibility

The Art of Possibility

Zander and Zander

A wonderful outlook on bringing creativity and inspiration into one’s personal and business lives.

The Checklist Manifesto

The Checklist Manifesto

Atul Gawande

Everyone needs to read this book. It was recommended to me on the very same day by two people whom I admire. They were right! Dr. Gawande gives us insight on how to deal with our world of rapid data and information. 

bottom of page