March Reading List: 3 Good Books to Read This Month
Welcome to another edition of my reading list.
In addition to the books below, you’re welcome to browse my complete list of the best books I’ve read. As always, I only share books that I have finished myself.
With that said, here’s what I’ve been reading recently.
The Boys in the Boat
If you love books on history, sports, or biographies, then you’ll enjoy this one because it’s all three mashed together. The Boys in the Boat is the story of how a bunch of poor teenagers from the Pacific Northwest became one of the finest crews in the history of rowing and ended up competing in front of Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The central character, Joe Rantz, was a member of the team who somehow managed to make his way through a series of heartbreaking childhood events during the Great Depression and become an Olympian.
Nearly every review you’ll find about this book gushes over how fantastic it is and that is because of the remarkable research effort that Brown put into telling the story. One review that I read said, “I have never rowed. I have never read a rowing book that I can remember. If all stories about rowing were written like Daniel Brown’s fabulous multi-level biography, I would read every one of them.” I couldn’t agree more. The level of research and thought that go into each page of The Boys in the Boat is on par with other monumental research efforts like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Emperor of All Maladies. A remarkable story and a fantastic read.
Bossy Pants
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
RATING: 4/5
Tina Fey is a popular American actress and comedian known for her humor. She is largely known for her repeated appearances on Saturday Night Live and for her own show, 30 Rock. As you would expect, Bossy Pants is funny. I laughed out loud multiple times. If you want to read a funny book, read this.
That said, the book offers insightful commentary as well. Fey shares a variety of heavy-hitting thoughts on feminism, women in the workplace, and gender inequality. I found these topics particularly interesting in her case because comedy is a field that is traditionally dominated by males. I’m not a comedian nor a woman, so as I read about her experiences I felt like my eyes were being opened to a version of the world that I was blind to beforehand.
Who Moved My Cheese?
Who Moved My Cheese? is a classic self-help book from the 1990s.
Meh. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about the book. First, it is only 96 pages and the authors really had to stretch to make it that long. The central idea of this book could be delivered in a much shorter form. Second, there was way too much advice that fell into the “Go get ‘em and think positive!” category with no science to back it up. (I believe that positive thinking has benefits, I just want to see the science behind them.)
That said, you’ll see a lot of 1 star reviews for this book for the very reasons I mentioned above and I think that most of these people are making the mistake of grading the book on the way the content was delivered rather than on the ideas in the book itself. And I actually do like some of the ideas in the book.
For example, I would say the central theme of the book is that change is going to happen and you need to be willing to reinvent yourself over and over again rather than getting complacent with life and developing a sense of entitlement. I like that. In my experience, my life is better when I embrace that mentality.
If you’re willing to read books for the ideas they give you rather than getting wrapped up in how the author packages the idea, then this can still be a useful read. If, however, you’re looking for a strong scientific argument, skip this one.
Bonus Reading: This Old Man
This Old Man: Life in the Nineties by Roger Angell
It’s not a book, but I thought this long form article about growing old and living into your nineties was a particularly good read. Two points stuck with me after reading it.
First, the longer you live the more grief you have to endure. Most people never live to be 90 years old and, if you do, you will have naturally outlived most of your friends and family. As a result, nearly everyone that you hold dear will be dead.
Second, many Western societies (especially America) don’t revere the elderly for being wise and experienced. Instead, we ignore them. There comes a certain point where, despite your vast understanding of life, people just start to ignore you in conversation because you are old. As someone who is still fairly young, I found it to be an eye-opening read.
How to Get Free Audiobooks
Listening to audiobooks is another great way to finish more books. Right now, if you start a 30-day free trial with Audible, you can get your first 2 audiobooks free. Audible is a great service, but here’s the best part: You get to keep the 2 audiobooks, even if you cancel the trial. It’s a no-brainer. You can sign up here.
More Book Recommendations
Looking for more good books to read? Browse the full reading list, which lists the best books in each category. I’ll be back next month with more reading suggestions.
Happy reading!
