July was a productive reading month for my best books on Amazon list. Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America, The Confessor, A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload, and The Premonition: A Pandemic Story were the books that I read. You really can’t go wrong with any of these books.
For the sake of choosing the best one, it goes to The Premonition: A Pandemic Story. Michael Lewis, the author, is one of my favorite writers on the planet. I will read anything he writes. He can take any topic and make it interesting. The back cover’s quote by the New York Times Book Review sums up the book best by saying, “I would read an 800-page history of the stapler if he wrote it.” So, let’s get to this month’s books!
For more Points With Q articles delivered to your inbox, sign up for my travel newsletter.
Best Credit Cards to Use to Buy Books on Amazon
The Citi Double Cash Card and Amex Blue Business Plus are two cars I find myself using most often buy books on Amazon. Earning Citi ThankYou and Amex Membership Rewards points on these purchases help me to unlock value when booking award flights.
On the earning side, the Citi Double Cash CArd earns 2% cashback. 1% when you make a purchase plus 1% when you pay off your bill. You can convert cashback earned into Citi ThankYou points if you also hold the Citi Premier Card or the Citi Prestige Card (discontinued). Separately, the Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2x points on all transactions. This makes it one of the most valuable cards to use for books on Amazon purchases.
Best Books on Amazon
Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America
Organized crime in America is an endlessly fascinating topic. From the days of John Dillinger to the mafia, Killing the Mob covers legendary gangsters and mobsters throughout history. Two things that opened my eyes were how much power J. Edgar Hoover wielded as FBI director as well as how tied in with the Mafia the Kennedy family was. After reading this book, I’m convinced the Mafia was involved in JFK’s assassination. Other books in this series to check out include Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Patton, and Killing the SS.
Recommend: Yes
The Confessor
Gabriel Allon, Israeli assassin and art restorer finds himself investigating the murder of a colleague in Munich. As he uncovers the truth about this murder, Allon becomes embroiled in a cover-up by the Vatican. The coverup relates to the Holocaust so Allon entangles himself to the upper echelons of the Catholic Church. Allon must bring the truth to the surface while making it out alive. Other books in this series that are fun reads include The Kill Artist and The English Assassin.
Recommend: Yes
A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload
Like Michael Lewis, Cal Newport is one of my favorite authors. In A World Without Email, Newport makes the case that the modern knowledge worker is constantly distracted. Whether it’s email, social media, or messenger applications, someone is always vying for our attention. This inhibits our ability to go deep and actually get work done, and eventually disconnect at the end of each day. After reading this book, my use of email and communication platforms has changed. Gone are the days of constant distraction. Other Newport books to check out include Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, and So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love.
Recommend: Yes
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story
No one can tell a story better than Michael Lewis. The Premonition: A Pandemic Story tells the story of what went wrong during the pandemic. COVID-19 was a force that the highest levels of the US government didn’t take seriously until it was too late. The Premonition tells the story of the unsung heroes who were willing to figure out how to stop this deadly virus. Other Lewis books that I enjoyed were The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Liar’s Poker, and Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt.
Recommend: Yes
Conclusion on the Best Books on Amazon
Reading is a skill that I’ve continued to work on by focusing on books that pique my interest at the time. Hopefully, my best books on Amazon list include books you’ll find interesting and enjoy too.
Which books on Amazon did you read last month? What books do you recommend? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
Disclaimer: If you click and/or sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
