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A Winter Wonderland of Books to Warm Your Soul and Inspire Creativity!

December 6, 2023 |
3 minute read
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Commonfund Institute is excited to share our staff-curated reading list this winter, filled with stories that warm the heart and spark imagination. We extend our warmest wishes for a season filled with joy. Happy reading, and we hope you enjoy!

All About Love: New Visions | bell hooks

“The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet we would all love better if we used it as a verb,” writes bell hooks as she comes out fighting and on fire in All About Love. Here, at her most provocative and intensely personal, renowned scholar, cultural critic and feminist bell hooks offers a proactive new ethic for a society bereft with lovelessness–not the lack of romance, but the lack of care, compassion, and unity. People are divided, she declares, by society’s failure to provide a model for learning to love.”1

Black Cake: A Novel | Charmaine Wilkerson

“Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.”2

Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District | Hannibal B. Johnson

“Early in the twentieth century, the black community in Tulsa- the "Greenwood District"- became a nationally renowned entrepreneurial center. Frequently referred to as "The Black Wall Street of America," the Greenwood District attracted pioneers from all over America who sought new opportunities and fresh challenges.”3

Crook Manifesto: A Novel | Colson Whitehead

“Crook Manifesto is a darkly funny tale of a city under siege, but also a sneakily searching portrait of the meaning of family.  Colson Whitehead’s kaleidoscopic portrait of Harlem is sure to stand as one of the all-time great evocations of a place and a time.”4

Humanizing Robots: How Making Humanoids Can Make Us More Human | Dr. David Hanson

“By diverse collaboration with many researchers in numerous scientific and arts disciplines, Hanson seeks to participate in an integrated “superdiscipline”, of robotic artificial life and sentience, and pursue insights into the deepest nature of mind, meaning, of humanity and beyond.”5

The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table | Minda Harts

“Most business books provide a one-size-fits-all approach to career advice that overlooks the unique barriers that women of color face. In The Memo, Minda Harts offers a much-needed career guide tailored specifically for women of color.”6

Non-Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future | Rohit Bhargava

“You don’t need to be a futurist or innovator to learn to think like one. The key to growing your business or propelling your career into the next decade lies in better understanding the present. The future belongs to non-obvious thinkers and this book is your guide to becoming one.”7

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity | Peter Attia, MD

“Wouldn’t you like to live longer? And better? In this operating manual for longevity, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health.”8

The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World | Ian Bremmer

“In this revelatory, unnerving, and ultimately hopeful book, Bremmer details how domestic and international conflicts leave us unprepared for a trio of looming crises—global health emergencies, transformative climate change, and the AI revolution. Today, Americans cannot reach consensus on any significant political issue, and US and Chinese leaders behave as if they’re locked in a new Cold War. We are squandering opportunities to meet the challenges that will soon confront us all.”9

The Power of Remote: Building High-Performing Organizations That Thrive in the Virtual Workplace | Cynthia Watson & Shane Spraggs

“… Many companies either see the shift to remote work as a threat to their culture and management style, or they just don’t know how to make the transition. It’s time to take advantage of the many opportunities remote work presents. Stop saying “we’re not there yet,” and start saying “we’ve arrived!” This book will show you how.”10

 The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness | Morgan Housel

“In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.”11

Upstream: Selected Essays | Mary Oliver

“Upstream follows Oliver as she contemplates the pleasure of artistic labor, her boundless curiosity for the flora and fauna that surround her, and the responsibility she has inherited from Shelley, Wordsworth, Emerson, Poe, and Frost, the great thinkers and writers of the past, to live thoughtfully, intelligently, and to observe with passion. Throughout this collection, Oliver positions not just herself upstream but us as well as she encourages us all to keep moving, to lose ourselves in the awe of the unknown, and to give power and time to the creative and whimsical urges that live within us.”12

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?  WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR REVIEWS. EMAIL US AND LET US KNOW YOUR FAVORITES.

  1. All About Love: New Visions
  2. Black Cake: A Novel
  3. Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District
  4. Crook Manifesto: A Novel
  5. Humanizing Robots: How Making Humanoids Can Make Us More Human
  6. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
  7. Non-Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future
  8. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
  9. The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World
  10. The Power of Remote: Building High-Performing Organizations That Thrive in the Virtual Workplace
  11. The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
  12. Upstream: Selected Essays

 
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Disclaimer

Certain information contained herein has been obtained from or is based on third-party sources and, although believed to be reliable, has not been independently verified. Such information is as of the date indicated, if indicated, may not be complete, is subject to change and has not necessarily been updated. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations, any of its affiliates or any of its or their affiliates, trustees, directors, officers, employees or advisers (collectively referred to herein as “Commonfund”) or any other person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in any third-party materials. Accordingly, Commonfund shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any statement in, or omission from, such third-party materials, and any such liability is expressly disclaimed.

All rights to the trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property listed herein belong to their respective owners and the use of such logos hereof does not imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owners of such trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property.

To the extent views presented forecast market activity, they may be based on many factors in addition to those explicitly stated herein. Forecasts of experts inevitably differ. Views attributed to third-parties are presented to demonstrate the existence of points of view, not as a basis for recommendations or as investment advice. Market and investment views of third-parties presented herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Commonfund, any manager retained by Commonfund to manage any investments for Commonfund (each, a “Manager”) or any fund managed by any Commonfund entity (each, a “Fund”). Accordingly, the views presented herein may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of Commonfund, any Manager or any Fund.

Statements concerning Commonfund’s views of possible future outcomes in any investment asset class or market, or of possible future economic developments, are not intended, and should not be construed, as forecasts or predictions of the future investment performance of any Fund. Such statements are also not intended as recommendations by any Commonfund entity or any Commonfund employee to the recipient of the presentation. It is Commonfund’s policy that investment recommendations to its clients must be based on the investment objectives and risk tolerances of each individual client. All market outlook and similar statements are based upon information reasonably available as of the date of this presentation (unless an earlier date is stated with regard to particular information), and reasonably believed to be accurate by Commonfund. Commonfund disclaims any responsibility to provide the recipient of this presentation with updated or corrected information or statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For more information please refer to Important Disclosures.