If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here is my book list:
- “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, Dale Carnegie, 1936.
- “Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East”, Scott Anderson, 2014.
- “Jane Eyre: An Autobiography”, Charlotte Bronte, 1847.
As to whether I am a man of rare intellect I will let you decide.
1. “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie, 1936. This book is full of inspiration. It was my father whom I credit with introducing me to ‘self help’ books. As a teenager my dad offered to pay me a small reward for reading a book like Carnegie’s and then writing a short report. I spent my twenties trying to avoid them. But now I appreciate what can be gleaned and applied to my own life. I have found that Carnegie offers very practical suggestions for how one can interact more positively with his fellow man. He gives you the essential and sometimes overlooked keys to human interaction.
Here a few of his suggestions:
- Don’t criticize so readily. Be willing to see things from someone else’s perspective.
- Be willing to genuinely make other people feel important.
- Smile when working with others. Reflect an attitude to others that you want reflected back to you.
- Make an honest effort to remember names. “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
2. “Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East”, Scott Anderson, 2014. I have a hunger for history and “Lawrence of Arabia” is one of my favorite movies. Every time I watch the movie I find myself intrigued by the primary character, Lawrence, played by Peter O’Toole. Anderson’s book is a true account of the real Lawrence of Arabia set in the Middle East in the early 1900’s, immediately before and after World War I. It captures my attention with its descriptions of the young British soldiers who held Teddy Roosevelt in high regard. This book is hard to put down!
3. “Jane Eyre: An Autobiography”, Charlotte Bronte, 1847. As I was perusing our bookshelf for something novel and enlightening to read I watched my wife pull this book off the shelf and confidently explain that this book would fit the bill. I took one look at the title and concluded this was not a manly book, “Am I really going to enjoy reading this?” but then I remembered that I live with three women and work with five. “I can give this a try”. Bronte’s book is an exceptional piece of writing, full of intense emotion, and a broad vocabulary. As I dig through this novel, I see life through the eyes of a young girl, Jane, as she deals with a very tumultuous childhood. Jane Eyre had to grow in her patience with others as she was constantly ridiculed and demeaned by her companions and even her family. Jane’s desire to maintain her integrity and character no matter her circumstances is an inspiration to me.
Maybe you, like me, have found that a little quiet reading every morning is a great way to start the day. And if you aren’t sure what to read…..find a man of rare intellect and ask him.
Dr. C
