2007 Summer Reading List

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy. A noted military historian, Goldsworthy details the complexity of Caesar’s character and extraordinary reign, explaining why his political and military leadership continues to resonate 2,000 years later. During his 56 years, the Roman emperor took on myriad personas—from political savant to army leader, from public orator to legal advocate, from prisoner to fugitive. Goldsworthy uncovers them all, adding historical insight about the life of one of the ancient world’s most fascinating rulers.

Chocolates on the Pillow Aren’t Enough: Reinventing the Customer Experience by Jonathan M. Tisch with Karl Weber. Cementing customer loyalty is a strategic imperative for business leaders today. Yet, for many it remains an elusive endeavor. Learn from a range of businesses with initiatives that exceed customers’ expectations, create more meaningful experiences and drive measurable market share.

The Immortal Game: A History Of Chess or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain by David Shenk. Chess is not a game for nerds. This entertaining book goes beyond diagrams to showcase the larger role chess has played in history and the significance of the game in shaping the competitive thinking of some of the world’s great leaders. Audio book available.

Industria Argentina: Contemporary Art in the Making by Cristina Civale, et al. A celebration of 35 emerging artists from Argentina serves as the springboard for this contemporary art compendium. This “who’s who” of Argentine art is the result of input from the country’s most noted collectors, curators, critics, gallery owners and museum professionals, and offers a rare look at the country’s flourishing art world.

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children by John Wood. What would you do to save the world? Former Microsoft marketing executive John Wood takes us on his journey of personal development as he applies his business savvy to start the non-profit Room to Read. After seeing first-hand the need for books in remote villages in the Himalayas, Wood redirected his passion, giving millions of children the gift of education. Audio book available.

Milton Friedman: A Biography by Lanny Ebenstein. Meet the economist, advisor and public figure Milton Friedman and then learn about what shaped his thinking, how his relationship with his wife, Rose, influenced his work, and why presidents and other leaders relied on his ideas. Completed just before Friedman’s death in November 2006, Ebenstein’s research and interviews with Friedman, Rose and close friends of the couple provide illuminating insights into the mind of this great economist.

Planet India: How the Fastest Growing Democracy Is Transforming America and the World by Mira Kamdar. The statistics are as staggering as India’s potential power in tomorrow’s marketplace. It is the world’s fourth largest economy, home to the biggest youth population on earth with 600 million citizens under the age of 25, and is set to become the most populous country by the year 2034. Kamar provides timely insights into the history and the present-day rise of the world’s fastest-growing democracy, and what the country’s phenomenal market demographics mean to the country’s growth prospects and the global economy. Audio book available.

Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province by Fuchsia Dunlop with Georgia Glynn Smith (Photographer). Recipient of the British Guild of Food Writers’ Jeremy Round Award, Fuchsia Dunlop introduces the delicious and complex tastes of Hunanese cuisine. Food is just part of the journey with Dunlop, as she brings Chinese cooking to life with anecdotes, history and photographs that will have you asking for seconds.

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin. Music is an experience that spans all cultures and time. Levitin, who directs the laboratory for musical perception, cognition and expertise at McGill University, explores the concepts of music and emotion and considers what makes music universal. He takes us inside the mind to understand why some tunes are so memorable (or forgettable), and what makes some musicians worthy of worldwide acclaim. Audio book available.

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson. Acclaimed Devil in the White City author takes readers into another “dual track” thriller, this time plotting scientific controversy and murder aboard a 20th century luxury ship. Unravel the mystery that brings the world’s attention to the work of Guglielmo Marconi, the man who invented radio communication. Audio book available.