Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 18th Read Harder task.

Mentioned this in the unofficial topic for this task, so will post it again now that we have the official one, I'm going with Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne for this one.

I knew I wanted a woman world leader so I am going with Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

I have this on hold at the library; it may fit this task - American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson or possibly pair it with Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution, 1983-87 by Sankara himself.

A tough one! I also have an Ellen Johsnon Sirleaf book on my list, but a memoir: This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President

I've had The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney on my tbr for years. Excited to finally push myself to read it!

Mercedes wrote: "A world leader...I’m thinking that person could be in any field, not necessarily limited to the political arena. Right?"

I have never heard the phrase used on its own for anything other than political leaders. Of course the phrase "world leader in {area of accomplishment} is used, but when someone is referred to as a World Leader in common parlance it means something. But as always I certainly might be wrong, and it is your challenge to define.

Clarification needed does this mean Western Hemisphere leaders are a no, but Eastern leaders a yes. That leaves in African, Asian, Australian, maybe Europe . Could South America count!

Renee wrote: "Clarification needed does this mean Western Hemisphere leaders are a no, but Eastern leaders a yes. That leaves in African, Asian, Australian, maybe Europe . Could South America count!"

I understood it to mean that slightly wishy-washy term of the "Western world", not the Western hemisphere. According the Wikipedia page, the Western world is "various regions, nations and states, depending on the context, most often consisting of the majority of Europe, North America, and Australasia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western...

(So South America would count, but Europe and Australia wouldn't - but interpret as you will! I'm no decision-maker here)

I'm considering reading Phoolan Devi, Rebel Queen, but I'm not fully decided at this point.

I'm reading Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel.

Rebecca wrote: "I'm reading Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel."

That sounds great -- though 864 pages is slightly daunting

Mercedes wrote: "A world leader...I’m thinking that person could be in any field, not necessarily limited to the political arena. Right?"

I am choosing to interpret it that way and reading The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Bonnie G. wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I'm reading Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel."

That sounds great -- though 864 pages is slightly daunting"

LOL. Yes, it's pretty long. I may "double dip" and count it towards Task #1 - read a book that's intimidating.

A few on my radar:

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West by Benazir Bhutto

Gandhi: An autobiography by Mahatma Gandhi

This might be cheating but I'm thinking of reading The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God?, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, or The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.

Bonnie G. wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I'm reading Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel."

That sounds great -- though 864 pages is slightly daunting"

This might end up being an audio-book read for me.

Kassidy wrote: "I've had The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney on my tbr for years. Excited to finally push myself to read it!"
I'm reading a Kara Cooney book also: When Women Ruled the world: Six Egyptian Queens. I am not well versed in Egyptian history, so I'm rather thankful that this is short. ;)

I dunno if it strictly meets the criteria of the prompt but I'm thinking of reading Bolívar: American Liberator for this. I'm generally not a fan of political/historical biographies, but this one caught my eye a while back. I'd really like to know more about Simon Bolivar who had a huge impact on so many nations in South America.

Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War has been on my TBR for a while, and I think it could work for this.

Beth wrote: "I dunno if it strictly meets the criteria of the prompt but I'm thinking of reading Bolívar: American Liberator for this. I'm generally not a fan of political/historical biographies..."

I think this fits. Bolivar was so influential. Sounds interesting.

Secrets of a Sun King was something I had planned to read even before I looked into this challenge, luckily it fits.

Our recommendation post for this task is up now! Some of these leaders are fascinating and some are just the wooooorst. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

Book Riot wrote: "Our recommendation post for this task is up now! Some of these leaders are fascinating and some are just the wooooorst. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021..."

Ooh, thanks for the reccs! I was thinking I might read I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. But having just finished the Poppy War Trilogy, I may read Mao: The Unknown Story to learn more about the man that inspired Fang Runin.

I think I'm going to go for The Kumulipo by Queen Liliuokalani. It's a stretch because she didn't write it - she translated it and depending on your definitions of "Western," she might not have been a non-Western leader... but that's the direction I'm leaning.

A new one on my radar: Jan Morris - Sultan in Oman

Book Riot wrote: "Our recommendation post for this task is up now! Some of these leaders are fascinating and some are just the wooooorst. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021..."

There seems to be only men on this list. Any chance to see some women represented?

I’m reading The Great Successor: The Divinely Perfect Destiny of Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong Un by Anna Fifield. It’s my last book for the challenge!