The basics: Thomas Friedman is a New York Times columnist whose latest book is about how to survive - and thrive - in what he calls the “age of accelerations.” He does a great job of articulating large, complex cultural shifts in the U.S. (and globally), and how those changes have affected the way we relate to one another, from informal interactions to geopolitics. This is not my typical non-fiction choice, but was recommended by a brilliant woman I know, so I decided to give it a try. I found his writing style academic but accessible; he unites complex industries and events with anecdotes that make them, to someone like me, more interesting. It was slow-going at times, but the payoff was worth it - in particular, the last two chapters, where he uses his hometown as a case study for what successful communities might look like. Also, the man is a massive advocate for empathy as an antidote to a lot of the world’s challenges, and I am on that train.
Read if you’re into: Rachel Maddow (again), NPR; the Midwest; finding meaning during these…interesting times; other people
Avoid if: Your eyes gloss over when asked to contemplate artificial intelligence or globalization
Favorite excerpt: “The more the world demands that we branch out, the more we each need to be anchored in a topsoil of trust that is the foundation of all healthy communities.”
If you liked this, try: David Brooks’ columns; Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (so my partner says)