Eater's Manifeto

"EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSTLY PLANTS." Folks who have seen me speak know that I often invoke these lines, written by Micheal Pollan, as an example of a "sticky message": A message that quickly summarizes a complex topic in a memorable way. I first read that message in the opening to Pollan's NY Times Magazine article about food, and he's recently posted a manifesto about the same topic at ChangeThis. Very worth reading, and you may do so here.

Also, I've recently finished Pollan's The Omnivore's Dillema. Also very much worth reading, and if you do, you will likely make lasting changes in your eating and purchasing habits.

Finally, Pollan has a site on the Web here.

JUST FINISHED: Bram Stoker's Dracula. Fantastic.

RECENTLY FINISHED: The Bear and the Dragon, as an audio book (albeit abridged). I've taken to listening to  audio books while in hotel rooms and running. I don't like to take in business books this way, or memoirs or anything else where I want to make marginalia, but for novels it's great. File this one under "mind candy."

JUST FINISHED: Don't Think of an Elephant by George Lakoff. Lakoff is a linguist, and his expertise is metaphors and their roles in cognitive processing. His personal web site is here. An academic at Berkley, his Metaphors We Live By is a central text in most organizational communication reading lists, and one we refer to at the office quite often. He's also become a progressive political activist of late--sort of a Frank Luntz for the left--taking his knowledge of cognitive framing and applying it to the conservative / progressive debate. DTOAE is part of his political work, and is a user manual of sorts for progressives looking to reframe their issues and agenda.

If you're a progressive or liberal, the book is a must read. If you're interested in how we frame (and in framing, constrain the discourse regarding) issues, the first chapter, "Framing 101", is a must read. If you're a conservative, read the whole thing because you'll feel like you've grabbed battle plans from behind enemy lines. If you're neither a progressive or liberal nor a conservative, but decide to read past the first chapter (as did I), you'll find many of the points and arguments repetitive, and ultimately, a bit tiring. Read chapter one and then buy Metaphors We Live By.

JUST FINISHED: Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike (thanks, Mer!). When I mention this book most people who have read it talk of it as an inspiration. I wasn't particularly inspired (and candidly, the book's many statements of devotion to the wife with whom Armstrong has now split tempered my inspiration a bit) as much as I was informed and impressed. Informed by the very candid and personal account of a person with cancer and all the illness and its treatment involve, and impressed by Armstrong's general ethic: Work hard, and don't quit.

This wasn't inspirational for me as much as motivational. Reading the book I was motivated to live well (or Livestrong, I suppose) and to continue on with work that is often hard and at times painful, be it running 10 miles at the park last Sunday or traveling the country throughout the week. I liked the book, and recommend it to others.

PS: The prose in the book is wonderfully direct, active, and candid. It reinforces his obviously straightforward personality while springing upon you the occasionally beautiful line. Testament to Armstrong and his co-writer, Sally Jenkins.

PPS: I dig Livestrong. I have a bracelet, and wear it only when in training for a race. It's my talisman.

JUST FINISHED: The Survivor, by John Harris. The first thing to understand: Harris is a Washington Post reporter and was a member of the White House press corps from 1995-2001. The second thing to understand: He does a sound job of bringing a journalistic ethic to this book, which while at times seems reads as just a hair fawning, focuses acutely on history and interpretation rather than appreciation. Harris' Clinton is a huge man, if not a huge president in his historical context. The greatest contribution of this book is the detail of its narrative: By the time you're done, Clinton's eight years feel like a journey, one you've experienced through a rich texture of sourcing and asides.

I read presidential histories as a habit. Of those I've read about Clinton this is one of the most detailed and ... professional. Worth reading, and if you some interesting points of contrast, read Woodward's The Agenda and Morris'  Behind the Oval Office.

Some nice lines from the book:

"Robinson was confronting the paradox of the Clinton leadership style, in which his activist intentions were coiled around a curiously passive streak."

[Referring to Clinton and Dick Morris] "Their collaboration carried an aroma almost of prostitution--a relationship that was thoroughly transactional, at once intimate and impersonal, driving by mutual need with an overlay of shame."

"The task of a leader is to perceive the character of one's times, describe it in vivid terms, and summon people to meet the challenges." [Perhaps the best line in the book]

JUST FINISHED: The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. I'm a big fan of Lewis--anyone who wants insight into Wall Street should read Liar's Poker, anyone who wants to understand baseball and market economics should read Moneyball (we ask new hires at the firm to read it, in fact), and anyone who wants to understand the new economy should read Next and The New New Thing.

The Blind Side tells two stories: That of a future NFL left tackle high school student from poor, black Memphis who is adopted by a family in rich, white Memphis; and that of how football has evolved in response to the west coast offense and defensive ends like LT. There's a healthy dose of market economics in the book as well, in addition to Lewis' marvelous journalistic style. Worth reading if you like sports, economics, or a good story, and essential if you love football.

JUST FINISHED How Soccer Explains the World, by Franklin Foer. It was a gift from Kate during the World Cup, and I enjoyed it very much. Don't know that I agree with Foer's take on globalization, but he uses soccer as a backdrop for describing the effects of globalization across a host of cultures, and it's good reading. It's also rich in information about the beautiful game, and I'd put it on the shelf of anybody interested in the sport.

Zombie Economics

I'M READING BOSSIDY AND CHARAN'S Confronting Reality, and on page 39 they introduce a new term that I found fitting and wonderful all at the same time: Zombie Economics. From the text:

Then there's zombie economics. Who hasn't heard about the virtues of capitalism's "creative destruction"? Economist Joseph Schumpeter coined the term to describe the replacement of uncompetitive or obsolete businesses with fresh, vigorous new players. But a strange thing happened over the past decade or so: companies such as US Airways, United Airlines, Kmart, and MCI, which should be dead, manage to walk around on life-support systems. They may go bankrupt, but they are rarely liquidated: there are plenty of lenders who will take their assets as collateral. Consolidations may shrink capacity, but rarely enough.

It captures the sentiment I've felt for years flying US Airways: "How long are we going to prolong the life support?" In the meantime, Southwest keeps adding gates ...

An interesting book, by the way, especially for people who have "improve strategic thinking" on their performance reviews. The follow-up to Execution, it suggests a method of business model  planning that integrates external realities, internal activities, and financial targets. Very much worth reading.

Tags: charan, bossidy, confronting reality

Book Review: Descartes' Secret Notebook

LAST NIGHT ON THE PLANE I finished reading Descartes’ Secret Notebook, mathematician-author Amir Aczel's account of the life of Renes Descartes, and in particular, the mystery behind a notebook he kept secret from the world. I won’t reveal the mystery, but I will recommend the book. Enjoyable, well-written, Aczel tells a nice story, and I came away with an appreciation of Descartes as a historical figure, and a better understanding of the evolution of mathematics and metaphysics post-Middle Ages.

It’s never dry, but don’t expect a Da Vinci Code pace or level of intrigue: this is a book of fact, not fiction. (And Gwen, thanks for the book!)

Technorati Tags: descartes, amir aczel

* Scheduled post, written earlier.

Reviews of Books Read in 2005

I’M GOING TO TAKE SOME INSPIRATION from Rebecca Blood, who recently offered a brief review of the books she’d read in 2005. I managed to read 19 books in 2005, with a few others that I started but did not finish – here are thumbnail reviews of them all. Note that I tend not to finish books I don’t enjoy, so most of these reviews are favorable.

Blink: A compelling book that reviews the research related to “rapid cognition,” or how we make decisions in an instant. The bottom line: sometimes our snap decisions are spot on, and sometimes they’re not. It all depends on the context and your expertise. Some find Blink dry; I thought it was more dry than The Tipping Point, but still excellent.

The Da Vinci Code: Pulp, and fun pulp at that.

Squirrel Inc.: A wonderful book on narratives and how they work in organizations, structured as a narrative itself. I think Squirrel Inc. is required reading for any communication professional, and for most leaders.

Blog: Radio pundit, Con-Law professor, and blogger Hugh Hewitt’s treatise on weblogs. Disclosure: I met Hugh at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, and between that meeting, the RNC in New York, and a panel we shared for Campaigns & Elections, we became familiar acquaintances. At times it’s hard for some folks (including me) to divorce Hugh from his conservative and evangelical opinions, but I think he gets blogs spot on in Blog, and it’s worth reading … especially as a follow-up to The Cluetrain Manifesto, noted below.

The Likeability Factor: Tim Sanders' follow-up to Love is the Killer App, which I think is required reading for, well, about everyone. Unfortunately, The Likeability Factor isn’t. You can scan this book in a single sitting, and I passed over large sections. Review it in the bookstore and leave it at that.

Getting Things Done: Looking back over 2005, which was without a doubt my most productive and balanced year to date, I attribute nearly all of my effectiveness to the ideas I took from Getting Things Done. Here David Allen has written a very important book to those trying to manage life in our modern, information-driven world, and I was so enamored I ended up striking up a personal and professional relationship with David that’s been equally fulfilling. Get this book, read it, and apply it’s principles. You’ll be glad you did.

Management of the Absurd: Another must read. Richard Farson lays out a set of contradictions in modern organizations and management that are spot-on. I have a review here; read this book, especially if you’re in a leadership role.

Never Eat Alone: Keith Ferrazzi wrote this book primarily around personal stories, many of which I ended up skipping because they became redundant, and in some cases, sounded self-aggrandizing. That said, the book is likely of use to those thinking for the first time about how to build and manage relationships (I think “manage” is the appropriate word for Ferrazzi’s approach to relationship; I would prefer “cultivate”), and I took away a few ideas that I’m glad to have.

House of Lies: Wonderful reading for anyone who has worked in or with large consulting firms. Martin Kihn--who wrote the book while working in a large strategy firm--nails the large-firm culture with a compelling mix of wit, sarcasm, truth, and poignancy.

The Gift of Valor: Disclosure: I received Gift of Valor as a complementary review copy from the publisher. I wrote a full review here; short review – wonderful, fair, and moving; read the book.

The Cluetrain Manifesto: The manifesto for the effect of the Internet on organizations and society. Essential reading for anybody working in, leading, or trying to understand modern organizations, else you, too, miss the cluetrain. (You may also catch the cluetrain online.)

Coach: Michael Lewis' account of his relationship with his high school basketball coach. More broadly, a book about how society, and parenting, have changed in the last 30 years. A short read, and worth it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Pulp. Love it.

How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life: The first of several books I read on Reagan this year. HRRCML presents the 10 lessons Peter Robinson drew from working in the Reagan White House as a young speechwriter. If you’re not a fan of Reagan’s, you’ll find the book fawning. If you are, you’ve probably already read it. If you can be objective, you’ll read it as a set of sound principles for living one’s life.

Freakonomics: I was late to read this blockbuster. Enjoyed it, but didn’t find it as earth-shattering as have some. If you’ve not viewed the world with an empirical eye in the past, and if you didn’t take any econ in college, you’ll love it.

When Character Was King: Peggy Noonan’s account of her life with Ronald Reagan. Fawning to some; spot on for others. Passages are beautifully written, and it’s all very much in the Noonan style (for those who enjoy her Wall Street Journal op-eds). This is more of a history (and in some ways, a goodbye) than an account of lessons learned. I enjoyed it.

The Rule of Four: Slightly more intellectual pulp, and a story of friends coming of age as they strive to solve a literary mystery. I enjoyed the story, but was especially enamored with the writing, which is at times beautiful. Amazing that it’s a collaboration.

The Greatest Communicator: My final Regan book of the year, written by his chief strategist, Dick Wirthlin. A fascinating account of Reagan’s approach to politics, communication, and leadership, and not as fawning as some other Reagan recollections. I think every communication professional out there should read it, as should all senior leaders.

Desire of the Everlasting Hills: Tomas Cahill, who wrote How The Irish Saved Civilization and The Gift of the Jews offers his account of the life of Christ. His central question: Is the world different after Christ than it was before? A fascinating history, wonderfully written, and very thought provoking. This is not a religious book, although it is about religion. If you’re interested in antiquity, Christianity, Judaism, or Christ, it’s a wonderful read.

So there’s the list. I’ve started 2006 with Descartes’ Notebook, which I should finish shortly. I’ll toss up a short review when I do. Also, note that Rebecca has a book of her own, The Weblog Handbook, that we recommend to anyone interested in learning about or publishing blogs.

Technorati Tags: Book Reviews, Rebecca Blood

I JUST FINISHED READING THE RULE OF FOUR, one of the best "smart thrillers" I've read in years. One reviewer described it as "the DaVinci Code for smart people." I find that a bit snotty, but the story is rock solid and page-turner compelling. Even better than the story, though, is the writing, which is a collaboration of two twenty-something childhood friends (one of whom went to Princeton, where the story takes place; the other, Harvard). One example of the many great lines in The Rule of Four:

The delicious futility of impossible tasks is the catnip of overachievers.

Indeed. Highly recommended.

The Gift Of Valor

Because of my role at Command Post, I'm occasionally sent a book to read, sometimes with a request for a review and sometimes not. Last week I was offered a review copy of Michael Phillip's new book, The Gift of Valor. It arrived Thursday; I read the bulk in two sittings (on the plane to and from Minneapolis on Friday), and the remainder this morning.

My main comments on the book are tangential to the core facts of a review, so I'll get the core facts out of the way first:

• The book is about Corporal Jason Dunham, U.S.M.C., who died from injuries suffered in Iraq when he covered an insurgent grenade with his battle helmet in an attempt to blunt the blow and minimize injuries to his troops.
• The book is extremely well-researched, well-written, and engaging. Difficult to put down, the accounts of battle are riveting, and the accounts of family and character are vivid and personal.
• Phillip's account is (thankfully) apolitical ... he presents events through the eyes of a reporter who treats matters factually. It's a story of people, not a screed on the war.
• It's an extraordinary book, one I enthusiastically recommend to others.

Now to my main comments. I first leaned of Corporal Dunham when I read Phillip's first Wall Street Journal article about the Marine on 25 May 2004 (link via Blackfive). I remember being touched by the story; my feelings after finishing The Gift of Valor are deeper, stronger ... more moving and substantive.

I finished the book just an hour ago, reading the final chapters on our back deck, warmed by the Sunday Pennsylvania sun as it rose through the white pines of our back yard. The air was warm but not hot, a soft breeze coming from the South, a trio of male cardinals chasing each other from tree to tree in the yard.

Kate by my side. Warm and freshly-ground coffee in my mug. The dog in the yard, happily munching on a stick, on the lookout for squirrels.

When I finished the book, I was moved.

Some of my reaction was a function of contrast: the obvious juxtaposition between my life in reading the book, and the lives of Corporal Dunham and his peers in living it. This book gives you a very clear window into the reality of the war in Iraq, the reality of war in general, and the people who shape and are shaped by that reality day in a day out.

It makes a Sunday morning on the deck with your wife seem a rich blessing, which frankly, it is.

Some of my reaction was melancholy at the death of Corporal Dunham. Some will call his death a waste, others a sacrifice, others still (including me) an act of courage and honor. History will apply that final lens, but regardless of that judgment, he was clearly a fine and good young man, and Phillip's descriptions of his life, his family, and his character struck deep chords.

And finally, and perhaps most of all, my reaction was humble awe not just of Corporal Dunham, but of the support of those around him through his journey: the Corpsmen, his fellow Marines, the nurses and doctors, the administrators ... the infrastructure of the US military and the U.S.M.C, which brought humanity and caring to every step.

This is where we find the real story of The Gift of Valor: in the valor of not just those who serve, but of those who serve those who serve. This is a book about not one, but hundreds of heroes.

Of the Major who waits hours for his men to receive medical attention before revealing that he, too, has been shot.

Of the neurosurgeons who leave wealthy practice in the States to make a gritty practice in the sands of Iraq.

Of the nurses who refuse to leave an injured Marine alone for even a moment, hour upon hour.

Of the administrators at Bethesda who drain their personal savings throwing barbecues for the families of the injured, weekend after weekend.

Of the people of Scio who drain their rainy day funds to send Corporal Dunham's family to Germany, if needed.

There are two passages in this book that, for me, eloquently struck this chord of systemic caring. Both are in the book's final pages, as Corporal Dunham's family struggles with the decision of whether or not to honor the Corporal's living will request to not receive life support if in a vegetative state.

The first:

When the Dunhams stood up, one of the Marines took their place at Jason's side and held his hand.

The second -- too long to recreate here -- describes how General Michael Hagee, the Marine corps commandant, skipped a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to present Corporal Dunham's Purple Heart in person, and to be at his parent's side to tell them what kind of a Marine their son was.

Perhaps I'm naïve. But I've never held the view of the Marine corps, or of our military in general, as an infrastructure that would provide such humane caring for its people: to ensure a wounded soldier, even one in a deep coma, is not left without a hand to hold; to demonstrate that parents facing the most difficult choice they can make are a greater priority than the planning of our military's highest council.

Time and again The Gift of Valor tells these tales: people, caring for each other, loving each other, in the eye of a storm of pain and risk and death. It's terribly moving.

One of my favorite films is Love Actually. It's one of those movies that, if I catch a glimpse of it on TV, I'm committed to see the rest of the thing out. The film opens with a narrative by Hugh Grant, in which he says:

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.

And so it is with valor. The dictionary tells us valor is "courage and boldness, as in battle; bravery". The message Michael Phillips brings us is that, yes, Corporal Dunham had the gift of valor. But the bigger message is that people all around us ... doctors, nurses, administrators, the school principal down the street ... they also carry that gift, for they have the courage and boldness and bravery to love.

And in that, valor is all around.

(You may see the Fallen Heros Memorial page for Corporal Dunham here, and the Marine Corps News story of his death here. Cross posted at Command Post.)