Tiny book reviews, 2022
I would love you to purchase these books from an independent bookstore or borrow from your local library. However, if you prefer, here’s a link to this booklist on Amazon. I earn a small (tiny😉) commission when you purchase via my newsletter or website.
November & December 2022
Beginning November 2022, tiny book reviews have moved to a new and dedicated Tiny Book Reviews page. I hope you like it!
September & October 2022
★★★★★ Trust, Hernan Diaz
It’s hard to describe this novel without giving away the thing that makes it so great. But here are a few clues: 1920s, finance, marriage, mental illness, high society, writing, WTF, and seriously WTF. In some ways, this book is straightforward with simple narration—easy to read, even! Yet, all the while, you never know what is real or whom to trust. I loved Trust, and when you read it I would like to discuss, please. This one definitely deserves a book club.
★★★★ Chasing Utopia, Nikki Giovanni
I love the hybrid format of this collection (poems, essays, letters, etc.) and respect that Giovanni is an incredibly generative writer who will surprise you with the turn of every page. I also love how she transforms everyday items and experiences into rich and sensuous—and sensual—subject matter. These pieces are meant to be felt in body, mind, and soul. I dragged my feet in finishing it, though, and I’m not sure why. Most likely, the writing is demanding, and I needed to be in a particular headspace to pick it up—one that was hard for me to reach this fall. Or, perhaps I just never really caught the fever of this book. Whatever it was, it was slow going.
★★★★ The Galleons, Rick Barot
In The Galleons (poetry), Rick Barot explores the Filipino-American immigrant experience and histories of exploitation and colonizing that shape it. The Spanish galleon itself is symbolic of that exploitation. Barot returns to it in 10 distinct poems (The Galleons 1, The Galleons 2, etc.) throughout the book—a technique of repetition that highlights the recurrent and shapeshifting nature of exploitation. I can see why this collection was such a favorite with critics.
★★★★ The Swimmers, Julie Otsuka
The Swimmers begins with what could be a standalone and standout novella, and then it evolves into something very different and heart-wrenching. It is also, in certain scenes, quite funny! The short novel is a tale of routine, community, rumors, change, mothers, daughters, memory loss, and endings. I did enjoy the story, but I really loved the tight prose that reads like poetry. Incredible sentences and paragraphs.
★★★ Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Emily & Amelia Nagoski.
I first encountered this title on Brené Brown’s’ podcast during peak pandemic, and the reading experience didn’t quite live up to my memory. The Nagoski sisters’ framework for stress management is clarifying, and I have applied it in my work. (They emphasize distinguishing stressor from stress so both can be resolved, and tending to the biology of stress.) In addition, I appreciate Amelia Nagoski’s experience as a conductor, which helped her speak to the stress of accessing intense emotions within a creative pursuit. However, the book’s chapters on patriarchy feel dated, and I wish the whole thing was more intersectional. Also, it’s a little dry (like most self help, IMO).
August 2022
★★★★★ Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan
I loved this short novel, which recently made the 2022 Booker Prize longlist. With rich prose and an Irish lilt, Keegan tells the story of a gentle coal merchant and father confronted by a surprising situation that tests his mettle and reveals the character of his family and town. The book’s central questions—what good is within our power, and how will we summon it?—are timely, and Keegan asks them with quiet ferocity. Just beautiful.
★★★★ Listen Like You Mean It, Ximena Vengoechea
Listen Like You Mean It is a solid resource on communication. I was impressed by both how thorough and how accessible the book is…even skimming it will provide a good framework for the listening skillset. I’ve been through a lot of training on listening (it’s a core competency for both coaches and chaplains), so I didn’t find a lot of new-new information here. However, I did flag exercises for clients and took notes on how Vengoechea organizes and then demystifies a complicated “soft” skill. I’m glad to add this title to my professional quiver.
★★★ Caleb’s Crossing, Geraldine Brooks
Brooks tells engaging and sensitive stories, and Caleb’s Crossing is no exception. The story builds on what is known about the first Indigenous graduate from Harvard, who was a Wôpanâak native of what is now Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a strong premise, and I did enjoy reading it. However, I wish the book truly centered Caleb—or at least brought him on equal narrative footing with the narrator (Bethia, daughter of the English colony’s minister and granddaughter of its founder). Ultimately, for me, this book said all the right things but somehow missed the mark. To be fair, though, it suffered from comparison…my love for Brooks’s People of the Book and March is instense.
★★★ When Women Were Dragons, Kelly Barnhill
This book is the adult debut of Kelly Barnhill, Newberry medalist for the wonderful middle grade novel, The Girl Who Drank the Moon. When Women Were Dragons tells tale of a 1950s “mass dragoning” by women refusing to be contained—and the conspiracy of silence that ensued. (Yes, the women literally turn into dragons.) I love the premise, and, published just as Roe v. Wade fell, the book had lucky timing. However, the story seemed torn between fantasy and realism. Was that a brilliant move on the author’s part, to capture the surreal frustration of being a woman inside patriarchy? Was it a sign of narrative confusion? Or, did it just hit me too close to home? I’m honestly not sure—but I went back and forth for months, by turns gobbling the story up and then losing interest. Ultimately, I liked but didn’t love this book.
June & July 2022
★★★★★ Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown
I wish I could give more stars. Reading this book felt like coming home—as in, “Oh! This is a place where they understand me, and I can finally be myself.” brown’s ideas (which bloom from her reading of Octavia Butler and her work with notable teachers like Grace Lee Boggs) resonate strongly with my intuition and observations that we must fundamentally shift how we relate to one another and to the earth. It speaks to my ever-strengthening pacifism and honors humility, listening, gentleness, and joy as effective and necessary pathways to change. What’s more, the book is full of practical case studies and applications—to help readers make connections between the book’s ideas and their daily practices. I listened on audio and took so many clipped notes that I’m now in line for a library copy—but, eventually, I know I need to own this book. This one will advance my work; I’m excited to see what will (you guessed it) emerge.
★★★★★ Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel
I was thrilled to learn this time travel novel made the Booker long list for 2022. I was riveted from the first pages, and I love how St. John Mandel weaves three stories together with a consistency that somehow both arises organically and delivers a surprising twist. What’s more, the ending warmed me. In addition, it was satisfying to observe how St. John Mandel’s pandemic writing has matured through her/our experience of the real thing (compare Sea of Tranquility to her 2015 pandemic drama Station Eleven, which I also loved).
★★★★ Appalachian Elegy, bell hooks
This poetry collection broke my heart. I tend to find solace in nature, but these poems insist on turning the reader’s face to the destruction of those sacred spaces. Even the hopeful exceptions (#65, “all green goodness”) are quickly followed by loss (#66, “miles and miles of flames climbing hills and mountains”). This book bears honest witness to ecological and human suffering, which I admire. But it is not for the faint of heart.
★★★★ The End of Burnout, Jonathan Malesic
Full disclosure, this author was a grad school peer and, more recently, a teacher. I know and like Jon as a person. That being said, I also like his book. I learned a great deal about the cultural roots of burnout in the West, how we internalize the Protestant work ethic, why that’s a problem, and what it might look like to get free. The chapters on “work martyrs and work saints” and “how Benedictines tame the demons of work” are especially wonderful. One heads up: Despite the buzzy title, this is not a business or self-help book—and that’s important because it gives Malesic runway to explore root cultural problems. So, The End of Burnout requires some translation for practical application, but it does offer guardrails and a few role models. I would love to see a companion text that puts it in conversation with business literature and leadership practice.
★★★★ Inspired: Understanding Creativity, Matt Richtel
This survey of creativity research will help build knowledge for anyone who works in creativity—particularly coaches like me, managers and innovation pros, and creative professionals. I did not find the creator interviews to be as engaging as I had hoped, although they do help to illustrate the information that Richtel compiles in this text. I experienced Inspired more as textbook than engaging read, but I accept that. In this regard, it is very strong. For that reason, though, I don’t recommend the audio. It got a little dry and I had a hard time keeping track of my (many) clipped notes.
★★★ I’d Rather Be Reading, Anne Bogel
3.5 stars. This is a sweet little book about books. I listened on audio and felt like I had met a true friend. If you love to read and geek out about the experience of reading itself (not just books), you will enjoy this one. I also recommend Anne Bogel’s excellent podcast, What Should I Read Next?
★★ Apples Never Fall, Liane Moriarity
2.5 stars. I gave this book nearly 200 pages to hook me, which goes way beyond my standard grace read (50 pages). However, I know that Liane Moriarity writes a good hook, eventually—and this one did gain speed in the second half. Still, it never really grasped me, and I couldn’t muster sympathy for the characters. Moriarity fans may like this, but otherwise I’d steer clear.
May 2022
★★★★ Severance, Ling Ma
This apocalyptic pandemic novel was written in 2018, but it is is eerily accurate to the COVID experience. Its focus on human sociality is reminiscent of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, which I loved. However, Ling Ma has her own voice. Through office and factory settings, she conveys both empathy for managers and a critique of global capitalism. In addition, she weaves a seamless story across the pandemic’s before and after. So, chaos is more rising tide than tsunami. That, I believe, is what feels so real to recent experiences. (P.S. If Ling Ma and Emily St. John Mandel are correct, religious tyrants are inevitable when social orders break down. Be careful whom you follow!)
★★★★ Squeeze Me, Carl Hiaasen
Absurd, hilarious, riveting mystery/satire that brings the wackiest South Florida has to offer. If you like the kind of book that leaves you wondering, “How in the hell do they come up with this stuff?”, you will dig it. There’s a badass female lead. An ex-governor hermit. Ladies who lunch. A royal tanning bed. LSD. And, hoo boy, are there snakes!
★★★ The Widest Net, Pamela Slim
Solid marketing book for small businesses. I like Slim’s ecosystem model for outlining a stakeholder network, and I agree that small habits make an impact. One complaint: I wish it gave more pages to businesses that operate outside the traditional “see problem—sell solution” model. That approach has its place, but IMO it excludes a lot and can cause harm when it is distorted (hello, snake oil). For what it’s worth, I do trust Slim’s integrity and have a feeling that she would agree with me. I’m just aching to see this conundrum worked out more thoroughly in the small business lit.
★★ The Female Persuasion, Meg Wolitzer
The Female Persuasion is enjoyable, but bland. A story of the tensions between older and younger generations of feminists has such potential to be fiery and to illuminate possibilities—or at least to point somewhere. This one rehashed the same old generational differences. Except for a few gestures, it ignored the revolution of intersectionality that is actually changing feminism. (I recommend Rafia Zakaria’s Against White Feminism, if you want to learn more about that). Oddly, Cory, the protagonist’s boyfriend, had more complexity than either of the female leads. His (secondary) story was the real gem.
April 2022
★★★★★ Warmth, Daniel Sherrell
This was a library discovery, thanks to JMRL’s new-nonfiction shelf. Written as a letter to an imaginary descendant, Warmth is both activist memoir and psychological exploration into how we experience climate change (a.k.a. “the Problem”). The specific problem in this book is ecological, but it could easily be any of the messy, tangled, intractable, intersectional problems of our time. Sherrell’s writing is special because he emphasizes the emotional labor of activism, how we carry and process grief, and how loss influences the actions we take (or don’t take). The book is a challenging read, and I loved it. I took pages of notes. It will stick with me. It will influence my work.
★★★★ Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler
Oh my. This near-future dystopian novel imagines a siege of one of the last safe (middle class, gated) communities in America, followed by a northbound trek through a volatile California. Water is scarce, fires are frequent, and everyone is out for themselves. In this context, a tiny community is born, with some small hope for peace. I enjoyed this book, although I did not rush out to pick up the next title in the series. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home? Still, I can’t recommend Octavia Butler strongly enough. Her writing is tight, it hooks you fast, and she deftly weaves themes of gender, race, and justice into her highly white, highly male genre.
★★★ Help Thanks Wow, Anne Lamott🎧
Help Thanks Wow is a short little book about prayer. I vibed most with Lamott’s introductory reflection on what prayer is, but the Help, Thanks, and Wow reflections were also lovely. I have never been a very good pray-er myself, and Lamott’s humor and humility make her a gentle guide. I recommend this book to folks who like spiritual writing and Christian flavor. However, first I would point you to my Lamott favorites: Bird by Bird and Dusk Night Dawn.
March 2022
★★★★★ We Are Not Free, Traci Chee
This engaging YA novel tells the story of 14 Japanese American youths during World War II. Chee takes them from their thriving San Francisco neighborhood to various incarceration camps, far flung cities, and European trenches—and treats each one with individuality and care. The characters’ emotional complexity is impressive and insightful, especially when considered as a layered whole. We Are Not Free deepened my understanding of a part of American history that, sadly, I never encounterd in my formal education. I am grateful. (Special thanks to Jefferson Madison Regional Library for selecting it as their 2022 community read.)
★★★★ Radical Candor, Kim Scott
This was a re-read, in preparation for a training I delivered last month. I do like Scott’s framework for feedback: challenge directly and care personally. The book itself could be more more focused and sometimes feels random, but the upside of that is its many helpful ideas. I find myself revisiting Scott’s ideas with clients often, since she addresses common challenges. (You can tell that she has worked as a coach.) If your or your team struggles with getting or giving feedback, this book is a great place to start. I also recommend it for new managers.
★★★★ The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, Deesha Philyaw 🎧
I don’t know what I expected when I started this short story collection, but dang! The book is entertaining, steamy, and profound. Philyaw writes about relationships, life, family, grief, and God with tremendous humor and heart. I loved listening on audio as well; these stories read beautifully out loud.
★★★ The Art of Eric Carle, Eric Carle
I enjoyed perusing this art book, and Carle’s life was interesting—born American, moved to Germany as a youth (where he was conscripted as a child to dig trenches for the German army), and eventually finding his way back to the U.S. (where he began his career). Unfortunately, my library copy was missing a middle section, which included a photo essay on Carle’s technique with paper collage. An intact copy may have earned more stars.
★★★ Operating Instructions, Anne Lamott 🎧
This book was written in diary format, covering the first year of Anne Lamott’s son’s life (her first year of motherhood). It has her signature heart and wit, but it didn’t quite capture me like I hoped. I may be too far removed from infant rearing to fully appreciate this arc—but, should that really matter? This wasn’t my favorite Lamott title, but you can’t really go wrong. Even in a 3-star book, she reliably hits the sweet spot between righteous and irreverent.
February 2022
★★★★★ Letter From a Region in My Mind, James Baldwin
This is technically an essay, not a book, but it’s a long, challenging and important read—so I’m counting it on my 2022 booklist. It pushed me not only to think more critically about whiteness, but also to be more curious about my cultural inheritance(s). This is necessary, Baldwin teaches, because liberation for all requires all to “reexamine…release…and discard” many ideas and idols. At every turn, Baldwin’s prose is stunning. I created a sketchnote for this essay, but I hope you will read the whole thing.
★★★ The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett
3.5 stars. This sweet little book-about-books was a nice respite for me during a stressful winter. It is somewhat forgettable, but the premise (Queen Elizabeth II discovers that she loves to read) is fun. As you might imagine, Elizabeth’s sudden and voracious reading creates varying connections and tensions with her staff, other leaders, her family, and the people of England. I love this. It speaks to the power of reading to upend hierarchies and challenge the status quo. All in all, The Uncommon Reader merits a cozy afternoon on the couch.
★★★ Atomic Habits, James Clear 🎧
Honestly, I thought this book was a snooze. However, I do understand the appeal, and it had tons of good info for me as a coach. So, I powered through. This highly rational book will be a good fit for you if you are a strong “T” on the intuitive-thinker scale. If you’re more intuitive, these strategies can help you too, but you may need to work harder to connect with and apply them.
★★★ Golden Girl, Elin Hilderbrand
It seems like there is always a Hilderbrand book on my library’s bestseller shelf, and I wanted to know why. This book is entertaining and didn’t ask very much of me, which I needed at the time. I did guess the mystery, but the unfolding was enjoyable. I can see why Hilderbrand has been called “queen of beach reads.”
January 2022
★★★★★ Matrix, Lauren Groff
It took me a minute to vibe with Lauren Groff’s dense prose, but after ~20 pages I fully surrendered. Matrix has all the nuts and bolts: strong language, an engaging plot, expansive characters, and commanding imagery. Most of all, it brings it with themes—power, femininity, mysticism, heterodoxy, ambition, ego, legacy, creativity, sexuality, desire, suffering, and climate. Oh my. Highly recommend for lovers of literary fiction.
★★★★ Our Band Could Be Your Life, Michael Azerrad.
I knew very little about these bands before reading. So, I was surprised and excited by how much of the punk ethos I had internalized. (I was a child of the 80s and 90s.) From there, I picked up ideas on what it means to be indie and, more practically, how to promote my work. Importantly, the book also covers how the punk ethos sometimes failed. There were the substance abuse and soured relationships you might expect, but the worst offender was ideological purity. When purity was highly valued, punk defeated itself on its own terms—poisoning both the scene and the creative well. I appreciate Azerrad for addressing that head-on.
★★★★ Strength to Love, Martin Luther King, Jr.
This was a re-read from graduate school, and I continue to find a wealth of wisdom in its pages. I recommend this book strongly to anyone who wants to go deeper with King’s work and the theologies and philosophies behind it. I created a blog series on Strength to Love last month, so check that out for core ideas that inspired me.
★★★ Traction, Gino Wickman.
I know and respect several business owners who use the Traction EOS (“entrepreneurial operating system”), and I get the appeal. Business can be messy, and it helps to have a system that everyone understands. Specific to this one, I like the emphasis on role clarity, accountability, and core values. At the same time, human behavior is rarely precise or predictable, and that may cause friction in practice. I also wish the author addressed ethics, particularly the implications of “fit” for DEI. So, there’s good stuff in here—but proceed with caution.
I would love you to purchase these books from an independent bookstore or borrow from your local library. Bookshop is also a good option. However, if you prefer, here’s a link to this booklist on Amazon. I earn a small (tiny😉) commission when you purchase via my newsletter or website.
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