This week: Secret theme
Three “totally unrelated” books.
Hey. EELS here. I had trouble figuring out how I could possibly connect these books, and in the end realized there IS a theme, but I can’t reveal it or it would seriously spoil one of them. Are themes even cool anyway?
You tell me:
🎢 The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Robert Iger, 2019, back when he thought he was almost done being CEO of the Walt Disney Company
My friend and colleague
brought this book to me in person. He knows I make it a mission to read any book given or lent to me, and skillfully used it to his advantage. Just like Disney CEO Bob Iger would have!Here’s the thing, though. Would I recommend a book just because someone made me read it? Of course not. And could I put this book down? Only because I had to constantly put it down so as to interrupt my husband from his own reading and tell him facts about ABC, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm… you know the deal—Disney owns a ton of stuff. But it didn’t use to!1 And, though this is totally written in Generic CEO Ghostwriter Tone, the stories about how it got to that point are fascinating.
I talked about it in the car! I talked about it at dinner! I talked about it on Slack at work! I thought at least twice that possibly I should restructure my entire career and become a reporter on the Disney beat! And at least thrice I worried I have an actual parasocial crush on Bob Iger!
Recommended to: Those who like a good business book, you know who you are (Kira). I typically don’t, and still refuse to read the Ben Bernanke tome Shivank’s always on about. Don’t you dare lend it to me.
Please note: Since this book has been published, Disney has had at least two more rides of a lifetime—the pandemic and Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Bob, if you’re reading… I eagerly await your sequel.
🌒 Endless Night
Agatha Christie, 1967
If you clicked through the links to
's favorite Agatha Christie books a couple of weeks ago, you may consider this a duplicate rec. Too bad, I make the rules, and I had to talk about this book, which I picked up after she mentioned it.This is not your average Agatha Christie book—nearly all of them are brilliant, but this one does what it does so perfectly well, and not just the plot but the very tone of it feels unique to AC’s canon. Even if you predict it all, which I sort of did, the journey is something else. I finished it on my back porch during a storm. Readers, my blood ran cold. Also, you can read this in a couple of days, and you’ll want to.
Recommended to: Those who like a mystery that gives you a little something extra to think about. Sort of a warm “at least there’s genius in the world” feeling as your internal temperature drops to dangerous levels.
Recommended format: Audiobook is acted beautifully, but don’t hold out for it if it’s not readily available. I’m sure the print edition is just fine.
☠️ Ninth House
Leigh Bardugo, 2020
I feel conflicted about recommending this, because a lot of it hurt my eyes due to their extended roll. It’s a cool premise—Yale University’s famed secret societies are supernaturally creepy and sinister instead of just run-of-the-mill creepy and sinister. And I liked the protagonist, who has kind of an updated film noir grizzled detective vibe. Like me, she seems like she wants to run around going “Not everybody went to Yale!”
The problem with this book is that it leans way too hard into Yale nostalgia, and I’m amazed an editor didn’t say, “Leigh, we’re all very impressed but you don’t need to describe every walk through campus in intricate detail.” I couldn’t remember which society was which half the time, and the whole thing could have been reduced by 50%.
That said, I ran out of time on my library e-book loan and could not wait for it to become available again to see how it ended, so I had an actual physical copy transferred to my library and walked there to get it. Interpret that how you will.
Recommended to: Those who maybe did go to Yale (and like occult-themed novels).
And now, a bonus recommendation
👟 Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike — Phil Knight, 2016
Recommended to: "Fans of business memoirs who also enjoy visual storytelling of backpacking around the world, people who are trying to embrace the nonlinear nature of life, and CEOs in the making."
Recommended by: Shivank, of course, who has a really sweet newsletter you might like, too. He works with me at Quartz (lately our big project has been this podcast), is lately into this TikTok we can’t stop quoting, and recently loved The Light We Carry, 21st Century Monetary Policy (told you), and How to Love.
That was the fifth EELS! Fun fact: In the book I’m reading currently, someone just ate an eel. Send any and all questions, feedback, and shouted book recommendations to me by hitting reply!
– Susan
Don’t blame me if I got this wrong. My boss didn’t know either.
