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Josh's Reading List Josh’s reading list I started my sabbatical with the hope of finishing 12 books during my 12 weeks of rest and rejuvenation. Apparently, I went a little overboard with 37 books! In alphabetical order, here is everything I read with short commentary and links to Amazon for more information. Alone on the Wall (Expanded edition) by Alex Honnold Alex Honnold recently climbed the 3,000 foot El Capitan wall in Yosemite without any rope or safety devices. This book describes his life and famous climbs. If you haven’t seen the movie “Free Solo,” in theaters now, skip the book and head straight for the theater. Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E. P. Seligman I’ve been a big fan of Dr. Seligman’s work since studying him in my Political Psychology course in college. This work details how to find your “significant strengths” in life and use them to live a meaningful life. Bokotola by Millard Fuller Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity International alongside his wife Linda, details their work in Africa building housing before Habitat even began. A very interesting read about the roots of our beloved organization. Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah This book pleasantly surprised me. I expected to be reading a tell-all of how Trevor Noah became the star and host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central, but instead it’s a moving portrait of growing up in South Africa during Apartheid with an abusive father. Well worth the read. Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day by Peter Zuckerman A riveting account of one of the deadliest days on K2, the second highest mountain in the world. A moving tribute to the Sherpa people. Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar An incredible story of the mystery behind a group of climbers lost on Dyatlov Pass in the Russian Ural Mountains. Eat and Run My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek Over the last couple of years I’ve been progressively running longer and longer. Scott Jurek is one of the most successful ultra-runners in the world. He tells stories of his successes and failures as an athlete – but also provides practical tips for those getting into ultramarathons. Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men And Mountains by Jon Krakauer Jon is one of my favorite authors (and will show up a few times on this list). Eiger Dreams is a series of short storys about climbers and the mountains that allure them around the world. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond I had the opportunity to hear Matthew Desmond speak at a Habitat conference and was blown away. His New York Times Best Seller is even more powerful. Desmond follows several families through getting evicted from their homes in Milwaukee Wisconsin. This book will make you completely rethink our housing policies. Forget Me Not: A Memoir by Jennifer Lowe-Anker Alex Lowe was perhaps the most famous climber in the world until his tragic death in 1999. His widow, Jennifer Lowe-Anker, details her struggles with overcoming grief, as well as finding life and new beginnings with Alex’s best friend and climbing partner, Conrad Anker. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz A classic book of wisdom on finding personal freedom and truth in life. An easy read – well worth the time. Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World by Annie Lowrey A very recent book that makes a compelling case for Universal Basic Income’s for all American citizens. I expect this is something we’ll hear more and more about in the next Presidential campaign – so it’s a good time to study up on how UBI’s have worked (or not) around the world. Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamott I’ve always been a big fan of Anne Lamott’s writing, especially “Bird by Bird.” This recent work continues with her storytelling and shares moments of finding grace and mercy. Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit Originally written during the George W. Bush administration, this work has been updated rereleased. Regardless of your political views or who you supported in the 2016 election, this book provides anecdotes of hope and optimism in our world. Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis As I trekked through Nepal and to Everest Base Camp, I read quite a few books about the mountain. Wade Davis goes back to the first half of the twentieth century for this work and details George Mallory’s expeditions to be the first person on top of the mountain. A great historical read. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer A classic work by Jon Krakauer, detailing the final year of life for Christopher McCandless. A must read for anybody on a journey and seeking to find meaning outside the craziness of our busy lives. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Jon Kraukauer account of the 1996 disaster at 29,000 feet on Mt Everest was an instant classic. Jon was on assignment from Outside Magazine, and had no idea that he would be a witness and participant in one of the deadliest days on Mt Everest. Left for Dead (Movie Tie-in Edition): My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers and Stephen G. Michaud A great companion work to “Into Thin Air,” Beck Weathers was on the mountain during the 1996 disaster and assumed dead. Only after a night alone and exposed at very high elevations, did he wander back to high camp. A riveting read. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Local Portlander and famed science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin passed away in 2018, so I knew I needed to revisit her writing. Using Sci-Fi to provide social commentary on life and culture, I’ve always enjoyed her work. The Left Hand of Darkness discusses gender roles and cultural norms in a highly engrossing story. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan A great read about an American volunteer who dedicates his life to reuniting victims of child trafficking in Nepal. The Magnolia Story (with Bonus Content) by Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m a big fan of the TV show, “Fixer Upper.” If you love Chip and Joanna too, this is a fun read about finding each other and starting off in the remodeling business. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh Traveling through Nepal, I wanted to spend time learning more about Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hanh, a famous Vietnamese author, provides practical tips on mindfulness and meditation in this short work. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail by Scott Jurek and Jenny Jurek Scott Jurek, the famous ultrarunner, published this piece in April 2018 after successful setting the fastest known time hiking (running) the Appalachian Trail. A great read for anybody interested in pushing your body beyond the limits. Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza Pete Souza was President Obama’s chief photographer for his entire Presidency. This is a touching book of photos and anecdotes from behind the scenes in the White House. On Mount Hood: A Biography of Oregon's Perilous Peak by Jon Bell Mount Hood continues to hold a complicated piece of my heart since the death of my brother in 2012. This work, by local author Jon Bell, details much of the mountain’s history over the last few hundred years. The Plague by Albert Camus Sometimes I just need to reread a classic and just enjoy my time within a story. Albert Camus stories all provide that for me. The Plague tells the story of a small community under quarantine dealing with death and dying and questioning if there’s any hope for a cure. The Push: A Climber's Search for the Path by Tommy Caldwell One of my favorite reads from my sabbatical. The Push is Tommy Caldwell’s autobiography, one of the best climbers in the world. Tommy’s movie “The Dawn Wall” recently hit theaters – this is an excellent companion. Not just for those interested in climbers – his stories deal with parenting, love, kidnapping, pushing beyond the limits, and more. A very interesting read. The River Why by David James Duncan I’ve been flyfishing since high school and somehow I had never heard of this classic book that takes place in Portland and the Oregon Coast! A story about coming of age, finding love, and the peace that the river brings us – this is perhaps my favorite work of fiction in this whole list. Second Suns: Two Trailblazing Doctors and Their Quest to Cure Blindness, One Pair of Eyes at a Time by David Oliver Relin An incredible work on Dr Sanduk Ruit, a Nepali doctor who is quite literally curing the world of blindness. Working with the poorest of the poor around the world, Dr. Ruit has pioneered an affordable and fast way to cure cataracts and is now training doctors in 3rd world countries all over the globe.
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