Book Eighteen: The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us

Forget about the elephant in the room.  Did anyone see the gorilla?!  Based upon their study of the same name, authors (and Nobel-prize winners) Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons explore how our brain deceives us.  Not to infer our brains are out to betray us; but rather, examine how society has come to think our memories are infallible.

Under the illusion of attention, I am scared enough to minimize the time I spent driving and talking.  In short, we simply cannot 'multi-task'--our brains won't let us, but we think we can.

Under the illusion of memory, I'm not sure I can ever retell another story.  Why?!  I don't know if it's my story anymore.  Has my brain highjacked and distorted it based upon what I know today?

While I am sure it is not the authors intention, I was indeed fascinated when they 'called people out'.  Again, it was not confrontational.  It was simply to show that while Malcolm Gladwell can infer from his examination of the Hush Puppies company in The Tipping Point that the result of there success was from trendy subculture, the authors call Gladwell's hand in saying 'you didn't prove anything, you just read the results to mean this'.  Don't get me wrong, Gladwell's books are certainly counted as some of my most favorite reads; it was just interesting to see them from another point of view.  As polarizing a topic of autism and Jenny McCarthy's fight against vaccination--again, it's a fascinating look at how data can be skewed to any one's favor.

And on a personally self-righteous note, I am glad to see them take to task authors of such business texts like 'Good to Great'.  Again not for blatant lies--only for not disproving their theories.  You can infer anything from the data gathered; but you haven't proved anything until you examine the companies that have failed.

For my fellow cinephiles, Chabris and Simons goes to Trudy Ramirez a long time Hollywood script supervisor to examine why continuity errors can appear so glaring to the cinema-obessives.  It's not so much that Spielberg doesn't care it could just be the shot is just too good to leave on the cutting room floor.

After reading The Invisible Gorilla, there is only one thing that I am sure of--I don't  know anything.  Herein lies the success.  Self-awareness of over-confidence or memory distortion allows you and I, dear readers, to observe human nature in a new light.  It allows us to question our intuitions thoughtfully and as the authors conclude, "before you jump to a harsher conclusion."

Book Seventeen: Be the Best at What Matters Most

The spring book club selection from my employer challenges conventional business adages with this new way of thinking...  that the way to create return on investment is to be so good at the basics that you are cutting edge.  It works for Nick Saban.  Why couldn't it work for you?

'Be the best at what matters most' although simple at first glance, this essential strategy is more difficult to put into action that you'd expect.  It's an incredible idea if you take the time to think about it.  Even more so, if you take the time to act upon it.  Author Joe Calloway uses several companies as as examples of those who has successfully executed this kind of intense focus but my favorite is really an interview with Marty Grunder of Grunder Landscaping Company.  His intensity and willingness to 'be mocked' for his passionate focus clearly illustrates Calloway's point. 

As business books go, this one is easily approachable and a quick read.  It's the questions found at the end of each chapter that stick with you.  If you're willing to do the work, results will follow.  For this reader, I found myself applying and asking several of Joe's questions.  Not only about my daily job functions but to that of my team.  Do I have the audacity it takes to question and demand the same type of focus that it would take to be successful not only of myself but of my teammates?!  For those who find themselves in positions of informal leadership, application of these concepts could be difficult.  Challenging the mediocrity found within your company is not a fun task no matter your function.

As I see it, Calloway inspires with Be the Best at What Matters Most.  As he so eloquently puts it, "Being the best at what matters most means that we create alignment between out objectives and out activities.  It means that we must work with intention, not just reacting to what comes during the day but proactively managing our activities according to predetermined priorities."

Book Sixteen: Me & Mr. Darcy: A Novel

Emily Albright, bookstore manager and Mr. Darcy obsessed, swears off men after a series of disastrous encounters.  Cue the book illiterate friend who thinks Darcy is the newest H&M model.  Cue the split-second decision to take a 'literary tour' instead of a debauched trip to Mexico with said book illiterate friend.  Cue the predictable hilarity.

Me & Mr. Darcy never quite reaches beyond mediocre; however, it's saving grace for me, dear reader, is our heroine's diatribe on the idea of Mr. Darcy and why we love him for it.  Author Alexandra Potter's intentional usage of 'snogging' and other 'British-isms' is a bit pandering.  Potter is not a strong writer.  She doesn't nearly resolve some of the plot angles satisfactorily enough for this reader.  Instead we are supposed to be so enamored of Albright's relationship resolution that we to suspend our questions as to whether our heroine is a bit of a cracked pot.

As I see it, Mr & Mr. Darcy is a cute piece of fluff that's not quite a cheap bodice ripper, but not good enough to be consider decent fan fiction for most Austen-ites.

Book Fifteen: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I hate Dobby.  The cursed little house-elf plays on my nerves much like Rita Skeeter does on Hermione's.  Alas, the second in J.K. Rowling's now classic series has too much of Dobby.  As I re-read this books alongside my nine-year-old niece, it's fun to pepper our conversations with questions.  Her insights are familiar.  And while her little sister can't quite get out of Diagon Alley, Sweet Mia is clearly enjoying the magic world of Hogwarts.

Rowling continues to build a world of intriguing places and unique characters.  I had forgotten about Nearly Headless Nick's dead day party.  Her descriptions of 'maggoty haggis' and silver platters of cakes, burned charcoal-black turn the dear reader's stomach as much as Harry's.  The Chamber of Secrets seems heavy in annoying characters now that I think of it.  Between Colin Creevy, Gilderoy Lockhart and Dobby, the reader sees no peace and quickly sympathizes with Harry. 

As I see it, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to be the weakest of the seven book series.  It serves solely as the vehicle for advancing the youth of our brave trio in preparation for the adult adventures to come.