If you are like me, then you enjoy picking up a book and being completely captivated by it. Some of these books elevate your level of thinking by connecting dots resulting in that aha! moment, while others transport you to a time and place with their beautifully crafted stories. Over the last few couples, I came across three books that really resonated with me -
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac
We all know what Climate Change is. Everyone on some level or the other is aware of what greenhouse gases (GHG) are and how they impact the environment, how the airline and the livestock industries contribute to GHG emissions, how there is no future in fossil fuel, and how the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 is designed to be a unified response to all these issues. Even if you are not a climate skeptic, the sheer magnitude of this global problem is sometimes numbing to the individual. We cannot help but feel hopeless when we dive too deep into the problem as our feelings become muted.
The Future We Choose is a very impactful book. Not only does it get rid of all the clutter and confusion surrounding climate action, but it makes you think in a way to be more mindful of your own footprint and be more hopeful towards the future. The authors of the book, Christiana and Tom both played pivotal roles at the UN in the Paris Climate Agreement which resulted in 195 countries agreeing to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Christiana and Tom also have their own podcast called Outrage + Optimism where they explore various topics relating to climate action with notable guests. I would highly recommend both the book and the podcast if you want to brush up on your knowledge of solving global problems or if you want to hear Christiana talk about how amazing her home country of Costa Rica is.
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman by Richard P. Feynman, Jeffrey Robbins (Editor), Freeman Dyson (foreword)
Richard Feynman needs no introduction. A google search of his name will result in over 8,000,000 hits. Most researchers nowadays are specialists in very niche fields, but Feynman was the pioneer of many — quantum physics, particle physics, quantum computing, and nanotechnology. If you are only learning about Feynman for the first time, Surely You are Joking Mr. Feynman would be a great place to start with. The Pleasure of Finding Things Out is a great follow up, and an easy-to-read book that will transport you to the mind of Feynman and his rational and playful way of thinking. The book comprises short stories throughout Feynman’s career including his view on science and how it should be taught, his love for solving puzzles using cryptography, his fascination with locks, and how his first-principle thinking methodology gave rise to the fields of quantum computing and nanotechnology. If you have a curious mind and you enjoy a good laugh, then this book would be a great new addition.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This historical fiction will take you on a journey back to 1920s Moscow after the Bolshevik Revolution. The central character, Count Alexander Rostov who was once an aristocrat when the Tsars were in power, is now forced to live within the confinement of the Metropol Hotel. The book jumps from decade to decade touching on how the subtle behaviors of the Count change over the years and how the relationships he makes within the hotel give him a sense of purpose and meaning. The underlying references to the different political powers in-play show how the promise of revolution to solve every problem so often fails and how things can change and yet remain the same. The lightheartedness in which the story is written makes it very and wholesome to read — a perfect read for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
