Favorite Books of 2023 - Non-Fiction Edition

OK, I read and / or listened to 55 books last year.  This could be a new record and exceeds my goal of one book per week on average.  I do love to read!!

Here were some of my favorites in the non-fiction category:

Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg. As a big fan of RBG, I found this memoir by her best friend very appealing, providing a unique view of the legendary justice.  Totenberg has had a very full and interesting life in her own right, and she shared some great stories. 

Resilience That Works:  Eight Practices for Leadership and Life by Marian N. Ruderman, Cathleen Clerkin and Katya C Fernandez of the Center for Creative Leadership. Since resilience is one of my key operating themes, and something I teach about, I’m always learning more.  As with everything CCL, this book provides cutting-edge solutions backed by extensive research and experience.

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace:  Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People by Gary Chapman and Paul White. Based on the best-selling 5 Love Languages, this is a version for leaders and organizations seeking to better understand what motivates people. I’m constantly avowing the perspective that there is nowhere near enough appreciation in the workplace, and this book provides an understanding of how to make that personal and unique to individual needs. 

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Magazine, et al. “A dramatic expansion of groundbreaking work of journalism, this book offers a profoundly revealing vision of the American past and present. Named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and NPR. This is not an easy book to read or listen to, but it’s an important perspective on American History.  

Rising Together: How We Can bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace by Sally Helgesen. As a follow up to How Women Rise, that Helgesen co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith, this book answers the question “how?” It is the best book on creating an inclusive workplace that I have read in years and I am a big fan of Helgesen’s insights, having personally experienced much of what she shares. 

Killers of the Flower Moon:  The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann.  I read this book in anticipation of the movie coming out last year.  It is a difficult read, as the movie was difficult for me to watch, as it chronicles a shameful period in American history.  That said, it’s important that we know and reflect on these atrocities, and vow to do better and be better. 

Zero Fail:  The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service by Carol Leonnig. This book provides a unique perspective on presidential history from the Kennedy era to current time. This period of time encompasses the growth of the secret service and recounts some serious errors and mistakes, as well as some behind-the-scenes heroics that many of us don’t fully appreciate. 

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi.  This is the story of a bold and fearless professor of literature in the Islamic Republic of Iran who gathered a handful of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics in her home on a weekly basis. It is a story of determination and resilience in the face of tyranny, relating unbelievably difficult circumstances that most of us never have to consider. 

I love what I learned from my non-fiction choices. Many were challenging, but important. Next, I will share my fiction favorites - mostly pure enjoyment!  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, do share the list with other readers in your circle.  And let me know what I should read next!