The Reading List

The September Reading List

Many people still ask me why I love reading; the question flows from a culture that didn't have a rich culture of textual records. Oral learning is still popular here. I read because I am curious, and I hate the feeling of ignorance. For instance, America is the most powerful nation in the world, but why is America the most powerful nation in the world? How did it become the most powerful nation in the world? It is questions like these that fuel my reading. I am sure we all have these curiosities. My advice to you is that you should use your curiosity to guide your reading. What fascinates you?

Do you wonder why football is more profitable in the West than in other countries? There is a history. Dig it.

So, before you do that, here are ten books for the reading list of September.

Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar

Finishing Strong was that book that forced me to raise my standards. It made me see my responsibility to myself, my family, and my family. To finish strong is a daunting task. It is a challenge. A beautiful challenge. I highly recommend this book to others.

Becoming Nigerian by El Nathan John

Humor in writing is rare. El Nathan was gifted with this talent. His book Becoming is a parody of everything Nigerian. He has advice for how to be a Nigerian Writer;

“You do not need to read a lot to be a Nigerian writer. In fact, as a Nigerian writer you can make shameless statements like “I don’t really read much”, “I don’t want to be tainted by other people’s words jamming my own” in public. All you need is a burning desire to write. It is sufficient to have read Shakespeare and Achebe, and maybe a little of Chimamanda Adichie for contemporary reading. The only thing you need to really study is a dictionary or thesaurus. Please, note that all Nigerian characters are Africans who act the same: children are respectful of elders; parents are always responsible, wise individuals teaching children valuable lessons of life. Characters do not use cuss words or talk about sex, even when in the company of peers. Nobody’s mother smokes and we have no homosexuals in Nigeria.

Use big words instead of small words; “discombobulate” instead of “confuse”. How can you write like a layperson when you are a Nigerian writer? It doesn’t matter how many people read or understand you. What matters is that you impress those who do.

Use many words. It is always better to err on the side of verbosity than to err on the side of brevity.”

Oil, Politics, and Violence by Max Siollun

Most so-called books that set out to write Nigerian history are besieged with half-truths, innuendos, rumors, and sentiments. Max Siollun rises above the norm. His book Oil Politics and Violence is a sweeping history of Nigerian political history. He writes with a rare clarity. He does his homework of research very well. You will enjoy this book if you want to understand the roots of Nigerian politics.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

The average human being has an average lifespan of 4,000 weeks! Yes. 4,000 weeks. Slow down and think about that. If you are 20 years old, you’ve spent more than 1,000 weeks already. You have just 3,000 weeks. If you are 40, you’ve spent more than 2,000 weeks. The real question of your life is, what will you do with your 4,000 weeks? Will you spend it doing frivolous things, or will you spend it doing the things that genuinely matter to you? One good way to spend your 4,000 weeks is to read this book.

Being Nixon: A Man Divided by Evan Thomas

Richard Nixon could have become one of the greatest presidents in American History. Unfortunately, the very things that made him successful as a politician led to his downfall. Nixon was a maverick. He had a profound way of judging human character, something he lacked. Smart, hardworking, and a master politician. He got a lot done and even got himself done. His manic obsession with power led to his downfall. He became the first United States President to resign. There he remains for the rest of history. His story is a caution to the rest of us who have been given positions of leadership.

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

Robert Greene has a pessimistic view of humanity. I dislike that, but unfortunately, he is correct. You look at humans and wonder how can a person with flesh and blood be so stupid, so drunk with power, and so foolish. Robert Greene has some explanation for all this. I use his work as a measurement against myself, I use his words to search for myself and see how I am failing to live better. You can disagree with Robert Greene, but don’t miss his books if you want to see why some humans are assholes, often times, “some humans” is you.

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

The story of John Nash is a powerful story for anyone interested in mental health. John Nash was brilliant, a groundbreaker, and a thinker. He was a trailblazer for many years until he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. What is amazing about John is how he, supported by especially his wife, fought back. Eventually, he won the Nobel Prize. That was one of the most controversial Nobel Prizes ever awarded. It was controversial not because John didn’t deserve it but because of the arguments that preceded it.

American Sketches by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is a wonderful writer. There are few alive today who match his excellence. He knows how to tell a good story. This is the story of many lives. As with his previous works, he is looking for innovation, creativity, change, and how it happened.

A People's History of America by Howard Zinn

This book is the kind that draws disagreement from opposite extremes. It is worth reading if you are interested in American history. Howard Zinn wrote history from the perspective of the losers, and there were many. He is important because he helps you piece history from a perspective you never thought about.

The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel

When Lee Strobel's wife announced that she had become a Christian, Lee decided to investigate this "thing" for himself. The search led him to become a Christian too. He was an investigative journalist, so he brought all this expertise to the question of Jesus. The final result was this book. His book is worth reading because it is personal and he has skin in the game.

You can support this newsletter by purchasing this book via any of these links above. Thank you for reading.