Never Look an American in the Eye by Okey Ndibe

I have ordered a new memoir Never Look an American in the Eye by Okey Ndibe as a possible read for Senior Writers’ Seminar. Nbide is an award winning journalist who has written two novels and came to America as founding editor of African Commentary. He subtitles his work “Flying Turtles, Colonial Ghosts, and the Making of a Nigerian American.” This will be an eye-opening read for students as Ndibe, born in 1960, begins by describing his life in Africa as independence is gained and explains how Britain was called Obodo Oyibo, the land of the white people. He continues to share stories of his move to America and of cultural clashes and stereotypes held by both citizens and newly arrived immigrants. Interspersed are accounts of interactions with bureaucracy (attempts to get a visa, obtain citizenship and racial profiling), anecdotes involving family members, and his interactions with other writers (Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka) and Nigerian exiles, offering readers much to discuss and reflect upon.

Our writing classes are looking for texts to read.  Another new possibility is the very different Trying to Float by Nicolaia Rips, a high school senior whose writing is full of humor as she describes coming of age in New York City. Do you have a title of a memoir to suggest? Please let us know.   

Spending time in another time ....

It feels as though I spent a good part of this holiday weekend in another century.  First, I read News of the World by Paulette Jiles which is set in 1870 Texas and I was absolutely immersed in the travels of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and Johanna Leonberger.  Captain Kidd, a veteran of three wars and an honorable and trustworthy man who took pride in entertaining and educating others, was asked to transport a young Kiowa captive back to her family. News of the World tells the story of their 400 mile sometimes harrowing adventure and of the growing affection between the Kep-dun and his 10 year-old charge. A former printer, Kidd supports himself as an itinerant reader of the news – a fascinating thought and profession in itself. Author Jiles clearly conveys the times through small details; referring briefly, for example, to the first professional baseball team (Cincinnati Red Stockings), the first female law college graduate and the construction of a new bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn. She excels, however, in deftly describing life and characters on the trail. Add this title to your reading list: News of the World received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus and was nominated for the National Book Award for Fiction.

Turning to non-fiction and the 1899 kidnapping of two brothers, I began Truevine by Beth Macy, a true story of the Jim Crow South.  Truevine tells of the exploitation of two African American albinos, George and Willie Muse, in the “freak” show at Ringling Brothers Circus, offering a look at segregation and at circus life in the 1920’s. Similarly to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Truevine also describes the author’s search for facts about the brothers and their mother’s attempts to find them. A non-fiction narrative, Truevine received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, is appearing on several “best books” lists and may have appeal across the curriculum. Macy’s first full-length investigative work, Factory Man (2014), was a New York Times bestseller.     

Moving forward through the 20th century was a key theme in Fannie Flagg’s new feel good novel, The Whole Town’s Talking.  This story recounts the life of Elmwood Springs, Missouri from 1889 to present day through the many happenings involving several generations of its inhabitants.  First, there is Lordor Nordstrom who finds a mail order bride, Katrina. Later, his grandson, Gene, goes off to fight in WWII; there’s even a murder or two to investigate.  Award-winning author Fannie Flagg refers to numerous events and popular culture from 20th century America as she chronicles the ways in which many colorful characters impact the Sweet Clover Dairy, the town, and the cemetery called Still Meadows.  Here’s a favorite quote: “a cute, red-haired boy who looked just like someone had picked up a large bucket of freckles and thrown them at him.”  The Whole Town’s Talking, filled with Flagg’s vivid, homespun descriptions, will certainly make you smile.  Enjoy!

More Business Book Ideas

I periodically post reviews of new business books and have read several recently. People First Leadership by Eduardo Braun was interesting to me because he talks at length about how past measures dealt with hard variables and the importance of strategy (e.g., BCG Growth-Share Matrix), certainly echoing the importance placed upon them when I was getting my MBA.  Braun argues for more focus on “people, values and differentiation” and provides numerous examples of successful executives and organizations who strive to “attract the best people, help that talent become better each day, and inspire them to passionately give their collective best.”

Imagine That! by James Mapes is a new book which explores “igniting your brain for creativity and peak performance.”  Mapes, who founded Quantum Leap Thinking, explains that he wrote this book to share insights and understandings gained in his “thirty-plus years as a researcher, speaker, and personal coach.”  Chapters have action-oriented titles like “Manage your thinking,” “Become an artist of possibility,” or “Create a stretch goal.” Imagine That! is an innovative and engaging book with links to numerous video clips, exercises on visualization and other activities like the twenty-five squares game. I will be spending more time with it as a print copy to better record and annotate my own efforts to reframe thinking patterns. Pick this up and experience a change in perspective.

I have also been perusing Gerald Davis’ The Vanishing American Corporation.  This is a fascinating read which points out a potential relationship between the decrease in the number of corporations (he says stock market listings dropped by half between 1996 and 2012) and increasing income inequality and social instability due in part to less lifetime employment, lower health insurance and fewer pensions. Davis, a professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, provides a historical perspective, writes at length about the middle class and declining upward mobility, and offers thoughts on a postcorporate economy. This book is very accessible and students will find much to discuss and to contrast with newly created businesses such as those profiled by The Wall Street Journal’s Unicorn Tool: http://graphics.wsj.com/billion-dollar-club/

I have been looking for other new business books to share with our faculty and students and welcome your suggestions, particularly if you have a favorite read that has to do with entrepreneurship. Several years ago Ben Casnocha wrote My Start-up Life and Tina Seelig crafted InGenius; a few more recent titles could be Originals by Adam Grant, A Truck Full of Money by Tracy Kidder, Not Impossible by Mick Ebeling, or How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson. Please share your recommendations, too.

The Survivor’s Guide to Family Happiness by Maddie Dawson

It has taken me longer to read The Survivor’s Guide to Family Happiness by Maddie Dawson that I originally anticipated, but then there was quite a bit of excitement over the Cubs in Chicago this past week. And that feat of finally beating the odds actually fits very well with Dawson’s main character, Nina Popkin.  She’s 35 and facing life changes due to a recent divorce and her adoptive mother’s death.  Nina, ever optimistic (just like those Cubs!), decides to find her birth mother and try to connect with her. 

While adult book groups will be be interested in this charming, heartfelt and multi-generational story, teen readers may also relate to rebellious Kayla (call me Indigo), the high school daughter of Nina's new romantic interest.  This story centers on belonging, building affection and finding a role in a family.  The Survivor’s Guide to Family Happiness has a beautiful, colorful cover and was on the October Best Book of the Month list for amazon.

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

Don’t you love the cover of the new science fiction novel, The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid? It is beautiful and actually a fairly accurate reflection of the young adult novel where the main characters transform in the midst of assassinations, impersonation, intrigue, and … romance.

S. J. Kincaid (author of the Insignia series) has crafted a futuristic story in which Diabolics are essentially genetically engineered superhuman killing machines. At a young age, they are forced to learn to fight and kill and are then emotionally bonded to a single human that each will protect with his/her life. Such was the case for Nemesis and Sidonia, daughter of Senator Impyrean. The Senator is a foe of the Emperor and his daughter is summoned to the intergalactic court – essentially to become a hostage.  In order to protect her, Nemesis is disguised and goes instead.  That’s when the back-stabbing and dangers really begin.  A potential revolt occurs and several other surprising twists make The Diabolic a quick, addictive read with plot elements of science vs. religion, biotechnology ethics, and corrupt leadership exploiting class distinctions. Think of The Hunger Games meets The Selection and you will have a sense of this story which occurs deep in space.