I read four incredible books covering the U.S. Civil War, philosophy/stoicism, entrepreneurship, and sports in my October reading list. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It, Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, and Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. For all of the books I have read this year, check out my reading lists [HERE].
It is challenging to pick my favorite book from this list of four books from my October reading list. Battle Cry of Freedom and Creativity, Inc. are my top two books. However, I will give the nod to Creativity, Inc. Author Ed Catmull tells an engaging story about Pixar that has lessons any business owner can apply to their business. Now, it is time to dive into the October reading list.
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson is a beast of a read that I have been wanting to read for quite some time but have been scared to read due to the book’s length. At nearly 900 pages, I cringed at the thought of attempting to open the book. James McPherson’s book “fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox.” Battle Cry Freedom covers “episodes that preceded the Civil War–the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry–and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself–the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities.” McPherson’s book is your one-stop shop to learn everything you need to know about the Civil War.
On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It
On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It by Seneca offers “powerful insights into the art of living, the importance of reason and morality, and provides profound guidance to many through its eloquence, lucidity, and timeless wisdom.” Like Epictetus, I love the simplicity in Seneca’s writing. Every Seneca book I read makes me realize how short life can be if we are not focused on what’s important.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace may be the best book I read this year. Just wow! Catmull and Wallace’s book is a business book providing an “all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation—into the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made.” Creativity, Inc. dives deep into how its beloved films like the Toy Story trilogy, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, WALL-E, and Inside Out came to be and shares the “ideals and techniques that have made Pixar so widely admired—and so profitable.”
Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich
Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Kriegel is “the story of a boy transformed by his father’s dream—and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete—a basketball icon for baby boomers—all the Maraviches paid a price.” Maravich averaged an astounding 44.2 points per game at LSU without the three-point line. He was basketball’s great white hope eventually becoming a prisoner to his fame trying to please his father. Pete was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks. Next, Maravich traded to the New Orleans Jazz. He was then then transferred with the Jazz to Salt Lake City, and then was signed by the Boston Celtics. Along the way, his mother committed suicide, his brother became an alcoholic, and his father died of cancer. Pete eventually died of cardiac arrest post his NBA career during a pickup basketball game at the age of 40. Maravich left behind his two young sons with his wife. After his death, both of his sons tried to make their deceased father proud. However, both sons ended up having the same demons as their father Pete.
