Now that we’re heading into the fall, it’s a time of year we’ll all be spending more time indoors, the perfect time to curl up with a book. I happened to just finish one last night that may be the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read — Why Fish Don’t Exist, by Lulu Miller. (And yes, I realize how hard it may be to believe, but Miller is right: fish don’t really exist. Just trust me on this 😉)
I always love to know what’s on your minds, so I thought I’d ask a question I throw out there from time to time: what are you reading, especially if it’s something you’re loving? What has grabbed your attention, is something you can’t put down? (And it doesn’t have to be a book; it can be a great magazine article you’ve read lately, or a Substack newsletter you’re loving.)
I always love hearing what’s capturing your imagination. — Terrell
I am reading Samantha Shannon’s, “A Day of Fallen Night,” which is the prequel to “The Priory of the Orange Tree.” If you like sci-fi / fantasy genre books, this is lovely. She also wrote “The Bone Season” series, which was good. Next on my list is “Noise,” by Daniel Kahneman. This is his follow up to “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” which was very eye-opening for me. He writes about and analyzes the science of human decision-making and ethical choices. (It relates to my work, but it has a whole lot of application to life in general).
Not reading now. . . looking into trail racing on Cape Mountain. You caught my interest! More rain today--I guess the folks I know were right about Eugene. It rains all the time and is foggy! :)
Just back from the mountains where I finished James McBride's The Good Lord Bird, a kind of rollicking take on the abolitionist John Brown and his raid on Harper's Ferry.
I listened to that book a few years ago while running and finished uncertain whether it is true that fish don't exist. I need to read it to get a final conclusion. I just finished reading “the pediatrician” by a Brazilian author (in Portuguese) who hates children. Last week I finished Outlive by Dr. Petter Attia and recommend. Also, I've started listening to Blood Meridian, but I haven't been able to grasp the beginning and keep starting it over. I might have to drop it!
The last two books that I enjoyed so much I promptly recommended to my friends were: Permission to Feel - that I believe might actually solve bullying at school and even world hunger! Steal like an artist - that speaks to how to use the inspiration and do the work!
I loved this thread and all the great suggestions. I used to read all the time. Then I went back to school and had to read text books 🤯. Then I graduated and I have to read a lot of educational things, but I haven’t read for pleasure in years. Thanks for the reminder and suggestions. You guys are the best
Right back at you! I went through a similar cycle when I graduated from college and was in my first several years of working. Over time, I've come back to it, and have gone through many phases since then -- a John Grisham phase, a Stephen King phase, a Malcolm Gladwell phase, a Sarah Bakewell phase, etc. I try to just follow whatever I'm enthusiastic about in the moment 😃
Sedaris is hilarious. I listened to many of his books during the election period while running I would often be found laughing in the middle of the street. He saved me from going crazy then.
omg that's SO funny. I love the image of you laughing in the middle of the street during a run. You should write a post about that. Laughter is medicine 💯. I could read his stories over and over again - I pull the sentences apart looking for the key to magic castle of funny writing. So far it's still a mystery to me. xo
I believe I mentioned that in my annual “books I read” article on Linkedin. Need to check again! But that image must be odd, as I caught some people staring at me probably thinking I was just crazy.
Just finished reading Des Linden's memoir "Choosing to Run," and then learned that she just set the American master's record in Chicago this past weekend!
Wow that books sounds so interesting! I'll have to check it out. I've been enjoying memoirs lately. I recently finished "What My Bones Know" by Stephanie Foo and am reading "Stay True" by Hua Hsu
I am reading Floating Coast, an environmental history of the Bering Straight, by Bathsheba Demuth, a colleague from grad school. The book studies how Americans and Europeans arrived into the region, bringing rival visions of progress and economy to this part of the Artic. Fascinating and disturbing exploration of how capitalism and communism tried to exploit the ecology for productive means with gorgeous writing about the animals, oceans, and landscape.
Not being able to run due to surgery, I have reading a lot. Just finished in the last few weeks: American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin; The Six by Loren Grush; President Garfield by C.W. Goodyear; The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict; and currently reading George VI and Elizabeth by Sally Bedell Smith. An eclectic group! All fascinating and hard to put down.
It looks like I'm in the minority. I mostly listen to audio books I purchase on Chirp. They're inexpensive and when done, I send them to other friends or members of my family. I love audio books because I can be doing something else at the same time, like running. Listening now to the last two Clive Cussler books.
When I'm not listening, I'm either working on my new novel and since I belong to two critique groups, reading what thery are working on. Most of the authors are female so I get a dose of what I'd never usually read. One thing I never do, even if I HATE the story. I never give negative critism. You may not like the topic, like historic woman's fiction, because you're looking at the quality of the writing and trying to help a budding author improve. When I first started, someone suggested I take a writing course. With a smile, I said in college I did. "I got a "D" in the class becausse my instructor gave a 200 word spelling test which I flunked. I'm still a horrible speller but I thank my lucky starts for Grammarly. My comment to everyone, is that if you have a story in you, write it. You'll learn a ton about yourself if you do.
I’m a cozy mystery junkie but stumbled across A Sweet Separate Intimacy, by Susan Cummins Miller. It’s about women writers of the American Frontier from 1800-1922. Miller writes mysteries too, that’s how I heard about this book. Being from the west and having ancestors who settled out here in the 1800’s, I’m just fascinated by the history. We don’t usually think of women writers when we think about the American Frontier, but there were women writing!
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, historical fiction about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula, long but worth it. Holding the Line by Barbara Kingsolver, non fiction about 1983 copper mine strike in Arizona, and the role women played. Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, fun read, a "whimsical novel".
I just finished Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Super fascinating non fiction about the Osage Indian murders. Sad and sobering part of history. I think maybe there is a movie coming out about it? Grann adds all the details of police reports and eyewitness accounts but makes it surprisingly engaging. I say that cause it’s not my usual cup of tea but I found myself eager to keep opening the book again and hear more of the story.
I adore David Grann -- have you read his 'The Lost City of Z'? It's SO good. And I have 'Killers of the Flower Moon' on my bookshelf, just haven't had the right time to read it yet. But I really want to! What's your usual cup of tea when it comes to books?
Are we related? I love these. Marko Kloos is one of my favorites, or Piers Platt. Piers got a real job in NYC and gave up writing. I connected to him on LinkedIn, and periodically beg him for another book. I will add your recommendation to my TBR.
You know what's weird, I follow him (used to on Twitter, now on Bluesky or Threads, I think) and I've never read any of his books, but for some reason I find his tweets fun to follow. I'll have to check out 'Old Man's War'
Us Floridians are wondering why you'd stay indoors in such beautiful weather...
Time and Again by Jack Finney, A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. My wife keeps trying to get me to read Fast Over Fifty by Joe Friel, but why would a 60+ year old guy read that book?
I had a Goodreads goal of 45 books this year, and with audio books for my runs, I am well past 60 at this point.
It's considered one of the better sci-fi time travel books. A guy from the 1970s travels back to the late 1800s NYC. It's been a slow read, but a friend recommended it. I'm not usually a time travel reader, since it's hard to think it is possible since no one leaked it yet. Now or in the future.
I just finished re-reading Elmer Kelton's classic Texas novel, "The Time it Never Rained," set in the 1950s, when Texas really and truly experienced a 7-year drought. Historically and culturally accurate, and amazingly applicable to today (sadly).
Great title! Last year I started -- but still haven't finished -- 'Lonesome Dove.' I know it covers a different period, but I love novels set out west. I'll have to check this out!
I'll have to check this out, Joe! Have you heard of Katelyn Jetelina's newsletter? I believe she is a fan of that book also, and has patterned the way she writes after their style. Really interesting! What's your newsletter?
i just finished The Only One Left by Riley Sager. i could not put it down, a great thriller/mystery with lots of twists and turns. i just started The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller I love it so far.
i did also read a running novel called Once a Runner by John Parker Jr. it is well regarded but i found it to be rather disjointed and a little dull.
Okay I just Googled "The Only One Left" and it looks *really* good... I absolutely love thrillers like this one sounds. And I do have "Once a Runner" on my bookshelf too, though I haven't yet cracked it open. (I sometimes buy books only to read them years later... if ever!) That's disappointing to hear, though. Have you read any others by Riley Sager?
I am reading Samantha Shannon’s, “A Day of Fallen Night,” which is the prequel to “The Priory of the Orange Tree.” If you like sci-fi / fantasy genre books, this is lovely. She also wrote “The Bone Season” series, which was good. Next on my list is “Noise,” by Daniel Kahneman. This is his follow up to “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” which was very eye-opening for me. He writes about and analyzes the science of human decision-making and ethical choices. (It relates to my work, but it has a whole lot of application to life in general).
I love Thinking Fast and Slow, I'll have to look into Noise!
Not reading now. . . looking into trail racing on Cape Mountain. You caught my interest! More rain today--I guess the folks I know were right about Eugene. It rains all the time and is foggy! :)
Just back from the mountains where I finished James McBride's The Good Lord Bird, a kind of rollicking take on the abolitionist John Brown and his raid on Harper's Ferry.
I listened to that book a few years ago while running and finished uncertain whether it is true that fish don't exist. I need to read it to get a final conclusion. I just finished reading “the pediatrician” by a Brazilian author (in Portuguese) who hates children. Last week I finished Outlive by Dr. Petter Attia and recommend. Also, I've started listening to Blood Meridian, but I haven't been able to grasp the beginning and keep starting it over. I might have to drop it!
The last two books that I enjoyed so much I promptly recommended to my friends were: Permission to Feel - that I believe might actually solve bullying at school and even world hunger! Steal like an artist - that speaks to how to use the inspiration and do the work!
Definitely a Stephen king fan. Daniel Silva. Paulo Coelho. Definitely depends on the mood. Thanks again.
I loved this thread and all the great suggestions. I used to read all the time. Then I went back to school and had to read text books 🤯. Then I graduated and I have to read a lot of educational things, but I haven’t read for pleasure in years. Thanks for the reminder and suggestions. You guys are the best
Right back at you! I went through a similar cycle when I graduated from college and was in my first several years of working. Over time, I've come back to it, and have gone through many phases since then -- a John Grisham phase, a Stephen King phase, a Malcolm Gladwell phase, a Sarah Bakewell phase, etc. I try to just follow whatever I'm enthusiastic about in the moment 😃
Noted is a new Substack that I found. She posts commentary and pictures of famous people’s notebooks.
I love Noted too!
I’m reading Happy Go Lucky by David Sedaris. Laugh out loud funny.
Sedaris is hilarious. I listened to many of his books during the election period while running I would often be found laughing in the middle of the street. He saved me from going crazy then.
omg that's SO funny. I love the image of you laughing in the middle of the street during a run. You should write a post about that. Laughter is medicine 💯. I could read his stories over and over again - I pull the sentences apart looking for the key to magic castle of funny writing. So far it's still a mystery to me. xo
I believe I mentioned that in my annual “books I read” article on Linkedin. Need to check again! But that image must be odd, as I caught some people staring at me probably thinking I was just crazy.
A laughing man on a run - what could go wrong?
In training for another marathon I started reading "The Champion's Mind" by Jim Afremow, focusing on the mental aspect of training.
Only a few chapters in but it has already changed my thinking on training.
Just finished reading Des Linden's memoir "Choosing to Run," and then learned that she just set the American master's record in Chicago this past weekend!
Wow that books sounds so interesting! I'll have to check it out. I've been enjoying memoirs lately. I recently finished "What My Bones Know" by Stephanie Foo and am reading "Stay True" by Hua Hsu
I am reading Floating Coast, an environmental history of the Bering Straight, by Bathsheba Demuth, a colleague from grad school. The book studies how Americans and Europeans arrived into the region, bringing rival visions of progress and economy to this part of the Artic. Fascinating and disturbing exploration of how capitalism and communism tried to exploit the ecology for productive means with gorgeous writing about the animals, oceans, and landscape.
Not being able to run due to surgery, I have reading a lot. Just finished in the last few weeks: American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin; The Six by Loren Grush; President Garfield by C.W. Goodyear; The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict; and currently reading George VI and Elizabeth by Sally Bedell Smith. An eclectic group! All fascinating and hard to put down.
It looks like I'm in the minority. I mostly listen to audio books I purchase on Chirp. They're inexpensive and when done, I send them to other friends or members of my family. I love audio books because I can be doing something else at the same time, like running. Listening now to the last two Clive Cussler books.
When I'm not listening, I'm either working on my new novel and since I belong to two critique groups, reading what thery are working on. Most of the authors are female so I get a dose of what I'd never usually read. One thing I never do, even if I HATE the story. I never give negative critism. You may not like the topic, like historic woman's fiction, because you're looking at the quality of the writing and trying to help a budding author improve. When I first started, someone suggested I take a writing course. With a smile, I said in college I did. "I got a "D" in the class becausse my instructor gave a 200 word spelling test which I flunked. I'm still a horrible speller but I thank my lucky starts for Grammarly. My comment to everyone, is that if you have a story in you, write it. You'll learn a ton about yourself if you do.
I’m currently listening to BLACK By Ted Dekker. Love audio books and running.
I'm a nonfiction nerd. Currently, I'm reading Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Tetlock and Gardner. I've enjoyed it so far.
I’m a cozy mystery junkie but stumbled across A Sweet Separate Intimacy, by Susan Cummins Miller. It’s about women writers of the American Frontier from 1800-1922. Miller writes mysteries too, that’s how I heard about this book. Being from the west and having ancestors who settled out here in the 1800’s, I’m just fascinated by the history. We don’t usually think of women writers when we think about the American Frontier, but there were women writing!
I believe this was her first book when she was a journalist, intending just to write an article.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, historical fiction about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula, long but worth it. Holding the Line by Barbara Kingsolver, non fiction about 1983 copper mine strike in Arizona, and the role women played. Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, fun read, a "whimsical novel".
Kingsolver writes mostly fiction, right? Really interesting that she writes nonfiction too.
I just finished Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Super fascinating non fiction about the Osage Indian murders. Sad and sobering part of history. I think maybe there is a movie coming out about it? Grann adds all the details of police reports and eyewitness accounts but makes it surprisingly engaging. I say that cause it’s not my usual cup of tea but I found myself eager to keep opening the book again and hear more of the story.
I adore David Grann -- have you read his 'The Lost City of Z'? It's SO good. And I have 'Killers of the Flower Moon' on my bookshelf, just haven't had the right time to read it yet. But I really want to! What's your usual cup of tea when it comes to books?
these days i pretty much read exactly one genre: space military fiction
i recommend “Old Man’s War”
Are we related? I love these. Marko Kloos is one of my favorites, or Piers Platt. Piers got a real job in NYC and gave up writing. I connected to him on LinkedIn, and periodically beg him for another book. I will add your recommendation to my TBR.
That's another one I have to check out!
piers platt is great!! did not know about the real job, and i’m really glad to hear you’re carrying the torch of begging for new books on our behalf 🫡
I just sent him a note letting him know we're all waiting for the next book.
my hero!
Really? Interesting! (And great to see you here, btw! 👋 ) Who's the author?
glad to be here! the author is John Scalzi... it was nominated for a Hugo Award so i promise it’s not an insane suggestion lol
I just read his latest, Startup Villain, and it was quite fun
ooo i haven’t yet! thanks for the rec!
You know what's weird, I follow him (used to on Twitter, now on Bluesky or Threads, I think) and I've never read any of his books, but for some reason I find his tweets fun to follow. I'll have to check out 'Old Man's War'
holy toledo that’s serendipitous! we can trade - i’ve read his books but don’t follow him, so we can each become bigger fans lol
Us Floridians are wondering why you'd stay indoors in such beautiful weather...
Time and Again by Jack Finney, A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane. My wife keeps trying to get me to read Fast Over Fifty by Joe Friel, but why would a 60+ year old guy read that book?
I had a Goodreads goal of 45 books this year, and with audio books for my runs, I am well past 60 at this point.
HA!! So true! 🤣🤣🤣 (What's 'Time and Again' about, btw?)
It's considered one of the better sci-fi time travel books. A guy from the 1970s travels back to the late 1800s NYC. It's been a slow read, but a friend recommended it. I'm not usually a time travel reader, since it's hard to think it is possible since no one leaked it yet. Now or in the future.
I just finished re-reading Elmer Kelton's classic Texas novel, "The Time it Never Rained," set in the 1950s, when Texas really and truly experienced a 7-year drought. Historically and culturally accurate, and amazingly applicable to today (sadly).
Great title! Last year I started -- but still haven't finished -- 'Lonesome Dove.' I know it covers a different period, but I love novels set out west. I'll have to check this out!
Spoiler alert--there are no runners in this novel except for ranch animals....
Yep, Alex Hutchinson is the author.
Endurance and How Bad Do You Want it. It is interesting how they are cross referencing research studies on different theories of endurance/running.
Is 'Endurance' the book by Alex Hutchinson?
I'm loving Smart Brevity, https://amzn.to/3ZYl1yD. It's changing the way I write for my newsletter and for clients.
I'll have to check this out, Joe! Have you heard of Katelyn Jetelina's newsletter? I believe she is a fan of that book also, and has patterned the way she writes after their style. Really interesting! What's your newsletter?
My Home Office Hacks. It's a virtual water cooler/newsletter for people who work from home, https://iworkfromhome.substack.com/
i just finished The Only One Left by Riley Sager. i could not put it down, a great thriller/mystery with lots of twists and turns. i just started The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller I love it so far.
i did also read a running novel called Once a Runner by John Parker Jr. it is well regarded but i found it to be rather disjointed and a little dull.
Okay I just Googled "The Only One Left" and it looks *really* good... I absolutely love thrillers like this one sounds. And I do have "Once a Runner" on my bookshelf too, though I haven't yet cracked it open. (I sometimes buy books only to read them years later... if ever!) That's disappointing to hear, though. Have you read any others by Riley Sager?
no but they are on my list!