Nikhil’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2016)

Nikhil’s comments from the FEMBA Bruin Brain Trust group.

Thanks Claudia! I'll check it out. Hope the summer is treating you well!

I was thinking, it would be cool if we could make a list of books that have been interesting or valuable as kind of a "members' choice" resource for other MBAs. I'm adding a few titles to the group bookshelf that I've found helpful in my career so far. Some are theory-heavy, others are more practical. Feel free to add your own.

I haven't read any other Palahniuk other than a short called "Guts," and I definitely think he goes for the gruesome shock factor stuff. There was nothing redeeming about that short story. Fight Club was cool because of the social commentary.

Thanks for the tips, I'm putting "The End of Average" on my list. I think I already have a few Krakauer books on my list but I'll definitely look into "Missoula."

So, to kick things off, what are some of your favorite books you've read this year so far?

Fight Club
I finally got around to reading "Fight Club" more than a decade after seeing the movie, and it blew my mind.

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
If you like WWII books, I highly recommend "With The Old Breed" and "Unbroken." The first is a marine's account of two grueling land battles in the Pacific Theater. The second is the story of an army air corpsman who went down over the Pacific, survived on a raft for 47 days, and then became a POW through the end of the war. Neither are for the faint-hearted or weak-stomached.

The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
"The Emerald Mile" is an adventure story about a boat ride through the Grand Canyon, but also an exploration of the politics surrounding the operation of the Glen Canyon dam.

The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
The best leadership book I've read this year is "The Obstacle is the Way." It's basically an overview of Stoic philosophy with instructions on how to get your mindset right to do what's necessary. I listen to it on repeat when I have a big slog or deadline coming up.

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
"In the Kingdom of Ice" is another real-life adventure tale of polar exploration at the turn of the 19th century. It has some steampunk charm and the author paces the story very nicely. A real page-turner.

The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business
I'll round out with a more typical business book, "The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton Christensen. This one is a classic, the theory is sound and backed by a lot of data, and it popularized the term "disruptive innovation." I've read some of Prof. Christensen's other stuff but this is the foundation for the rest.

What have you enjoyed reading recently?