On books I finished reading in January 2018:
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
by Cary Elwes, Joe Layden
Filled with amusing anecdotes and pull-quotes from other cast and crew. Elwes is generous, highlighting the talents and accomplishments of his peers. I’m left with admiration for everyone involved, and happily with many new books and films for my backlog.
Solaris
by Stanislaw Lem
Having never seen either movie, I picked up this book hoping for more like The Futurological Congress and was once again impressed by Lem’s writing. This is more psychological horror and creeping dread, reminding me of Lovecraft in several places. A solid mystery with a satisfying ending, even though it doesn’t tie up all the loose ends.
The Truth about Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-Of-The-Matter Facts You Need to Know
by James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
Leadership principles presented in bite-sized chapters, backed up by decades of research. An easy read that I’d recommend to anyone with an interest in leading well. It’s definitely “leadership” more than “management” – principles over mechanisms or practices.
We’ll Always Have Paris: Stories
by Ray Bradbury
A quick read. Ray Bradbury is still writing short stories that are compelling and surprising in his distinctive style. This didn’t surpass The Illustrated Man as my favorite collection, but a few of the stories will definitely stick with me.