Play Book Tag discussion

Wow. So it was almost a tie between all three tags with leadership and zombies neck and neck and then writing close behind them. So those who chose writing as their first choice, ultimately got to decide the tag, and they overwhelmingly selected.

leadership

(Of course, because I took a zombie book out of the library, lol, in order to be prepared.)

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "leadership" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.

Technically, voting is open until noon, but I know people were anxious for the result, and I am 95% sure any change in the result is out of reach based on our normal voting patterns.

Happy Reading!!!

So which of the power triad isn’t reading this month? Joanne?

Looks like there will be a large buddy read for the winners! Shall we start collecting names?

1. Me

I haven't decided what I'm going to read but I recommend The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger, especially with him coming back to Disney. it does read like a memior but also has leadership lessons.

Amy wrote: "So which of the power triad isn’t reading this month? Joanne?"

only if it is something I already have plans to read and fits the bill, in my mind. Did not even vote. it has been an awful tag year for me

Joanne, the Samuel Adams book would fit the leadership tag.

I am breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't zombies.

There are lots of novels with great examples of leadership.

Thinking to finally read The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business to get ready for the new year.

Then I'm going to lean in on the Flurries fluff and catch up on Trim.

Joy D wrote: "Joanne, the Samuel Adams book would fit the leadership tag.

I am breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't zombies.

There are lots of novels with great examples of leadership."

Thanks Joy, but I am trying to wrap that up before the newf it the tag. Also very glad Zombies was not it! LoL, Team Zombie is getting stronger and stronger-YIKES! 🧟

Sorry to all the zombie lovers but I'm glad it wasn't zombies, zombies and Christmas just don't go together for me :-). It looks like I'll finally be finishing Becoming. I started it for poll tally and didn't finish it before it was due back at the library. I'm determined to finish it this time.

Ann - Eleanor Roosevelt sure would, and she is a character in the book! Great choice!

I am going to use fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, or mysteries where a character demonstrates leadership. I don't know which ones yet, I plan to be surprised!

Wow, I really thought writing would win, and it was 3rd.

I made a list of fiction books I already read that fit leadership, but I only have two definite choices for this month:

I will be reading
The Winners by Fredrik Backman (any books in the Beartown series will work)
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (she wrote The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry)

Can anyone recommend zombie books, space operas, mysteries, thrillers or others with someone who was a clear leader, or someone who exhibited interesting leadership skills? There are plenty of books with autocratic, destructive or evil leaders too.

Can anyone recommend some great biographies or historical fiction about famous leaders, thought leaders, founders, etc?
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz is fast paced and engaging. I can’t handle anything much heavier than this right now.

Whew! I am currently reading A Promised Land and The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams and I'm not sure I will finish this month, but either of them fits under leadership.

Which reminds me that Michelle Obama has a new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, which certainly qualifies.

Looking back at what I read this year, I was reminded that many of our favorite mystery series involve leadership and for me this year they were Louise Penny's, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache beginning with Still Life, Qiu Xiaolong's Chief Inspector Chen beginning with Death of a Red Heroine and Martin Walker's Bruno Chief of Police series beginning with Bruno, Chief of Police.

Other books which I have read this year which I think fits the tag are
The Diamond Eye
The Hidden Palace
The Night Watchman
A Fierce Radiance
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life
Haven

Rachel N. wrote: "Sorry to all the zombie lovers but I'm glad it wasn't zombies, zombies and Christmas just don't go together for me :-). It looks like I'll finally be finishing Becoming. I started i..."

Rachel, I recommend this on e-audio, with a faster playback speed. I heard the same advice for her husband’s book too. I think Amy said she has a new book out. If others are reading any of these, a buddy read about the Obama might work.

Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy by Jamie Raskin is surprisingly gentle and emotional for a political book. It’s about the January 6 attack and his son who died just days before.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln and the new Jimmy Carter book would interest me if I get a big energy surge next month.

Nancy, thrilled to be doing a buddy read with you. I bet we get a bunch of people who want to read this one. I might also read This Shall Not Pass. Will save the light we carry for my home book group.

Well darn, zombies would have been easier to find a masthead for.

Amy wrote: "Looks like there will be a large buddy read for the winners! Shall we start collecting names?

1. Me"

I've already read the book, but I will participate in the conversation

Both my first and second choices were leadership, so only my first one counted. I was happy with anything except zombies, and I am not surprised that those who chose writing mostly chose leadership second.

What does surprise me is how close the initial voting was between the three since I hadn't expected writing to do that well.

Booknblues wrote: "Whew! I am currently reading A Promised Land and The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams and I'm not sure I will finish this month, but either of them fits under leadership...."

Bruno is a great choice, I may read the next one in line for me

I've wanted to read Team of Rivals for years, but I have my doubts that I could tackle it in December. I do have the audio of Kearn's 2018 Leadership: In Turbulent Times checked out from the library. (18 listening hours vs. 42 hours for the older book)
That should do for me.

I was also thinking that it's time for a rereading of Watership Down. Sentient rabbits leading the way seems appropriate.

Joanne wrote: "Bruno is a great choice, I may read the next one in line for me..."

I am always waiting for the next book with his series.

I am sure there are many other mystery series in which leadership plays a good part.

Huge relief! Zombies would have been a total bust for me, lol.

I actually have to read “Women and Leadership” by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (so I can give it back to my leadership coach), so that works well. I’m sure several of my fiction books lined up for December will work for leadership too.

Amy wrote: "So which of the power triad isn’t reading this month? Joanne?"


Me. Unless a book I will be reading and finishing during December happens to fit. I have challenges to finish and none of the books I am already reading to finish them fit tag.

annapi wrote: "Well darn, zombies would have been easier to find a masthead for."

I did my best to make it Zombies, in part because I wanted to see what you would do for masthead!

Theresa wrote: "Amy wrote: "So which of the power triad isn’t reading this month? Joanne?"


Me. Unless a book I will be reading and finishing during December happens to fit. I have challenges to finish and none o..."

I wouldn't be surprised if something you were reading for Christmas or a cozy mystery doesn't say something about leadership.

Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Amy wrote: "So which of the power triad isn’t reading this month? Joanne?"


Me. Unless a book I will be reading and finishing during December happens to fit. I have challenges to f..."

The Feminerdy Book Club read for January is the last book in the Daevabad trilogy, which would fit. But it is a chunkster, and I am expecting to have a really busy work December.

However...I do have a couple Hunky Dog and Studly Men books in the TBR that I really want to get to...and should fit.

Here is the list I posted on the Archived thread:

Leadership - Fiction
A Town Like Alice
Beartown
*The Winners
*Watership Down
She Who Became the Sun
The Orphan Master's Son
*Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Under the Dome by Stephen King
The Night Watchman
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Middlemarch by George Elliot
Station Eleven
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Starship Troopers
Louise Penny mysteries would fit too - A World of Curiosities - 11/29 release
Shackleton
*Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - * perfect fit
Small Things Like These - less obvious fit.
*Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Non-fiction
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life- memoir of a disability activist
------------------------------------------
ADDED
nonfiction
Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy Jamie Raskin
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Doris Kearns Goodwin
A Promised Land Barack Obama
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times Michelle Obama
Leadership: In Turbulent Times Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz - narrative non-fiction, fast read

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Hack Your Bureaucracy: Get Things Done No Matter What Your Role on Any Team
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders

KateNZ wrote: "Huge relief! Zombies would have been a total bust for me, lol.

I actually have to read “Women and Leadership” by Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (so I can give it back to my leadership coac..."

That looks really good. Are you enjoying your coaching? I just spotted this on the giveaways list (both books have an MIT connection): The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

Thanks for the tip Nancy, that looks great!

I love the coaching, thanks Nancy - always great to bounce ideas off very smart people. I’m really looking forward to reading my book too - so many awesome women interviewed in it (including our current prime minister). I haven’t really come across Dr Okonjo-Iweala before so that will be fascinating but I’ve always had a huge amount of time for Julia Gillard. If you haven’t watched her ‘misogyny’ speech in the Australian Parliament, look it up - one of the most powerful political speeches that I’ve ever heard - boiling with genuine fury. Truly inspirational.

annapi wrote: "Well darn, zombies would have been easier to find a masthead for."

Haha! Yes, it would have!

Leadership would have been my last choice, but I don't get to vote, anyway!

In any case, I would have been able to find options for any of them.

So, for leadership, there are possibilities for me:
- The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz / Erik Larson
- An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth / Chris Hadfield
- Lady Knight / Tamora Pierce
- The Forgotten Sisters / Shannon Hale

Absolutely nothing from that list I want to read. Probably go back and do the November tag which I haven't had time for with 8 jobs (all but one of which come to an end 1st week of December).

I've thought about books that I've enjoyed and can recommend, which would fit the Leadership tag. They are:

Fiction

"Search" by Michele Huneven - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"Rodham" by Curtis Sittenfeld - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Memoir

"Dinners with Ruth (RBG): A Memoir on the Power of Friendships" by Nina Totenberg - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now, if I can only find a book for myself to read...

Holly R W wrote: "I've thought about books that I've enjoyed and can recommend, which would fit the Leadership tag. They are:

Fiction

"Search" by Michele Huneven - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4..."

I loved Search. As a Unitarian Universalist for over 40 years, I can assure you it was spot on (although the author admits she deliberately had the committee do some things against all protocol in order to make a better story.)

Holly R W wrote: "I've thought about books that I've enjoyed and can recommend, which would fit the Leadership tag. They are:

Fiction

"Search" by Michele Huneven - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4..."

Thanks for reminding me of Rodham, as it is one I was hoping to get to this month, but 2 nonfiction chunckers have slowed me down.

Rodham is great!!!!

Robin P wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "I've thought about books that I've enjoyed and can recommend, which would fit the Leadership tag. They are:

Fiction

"Search" by Michele Huneven - My Review https://www.goodreads..."

That sounds very interesting.

Holly R W wrote: "I've thought about books that I've enjoyed and can recommend, which would fit the Leadership tag. They are:

Fiction

"Search" by Michele Huneven - My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4..."

These sound great. I have Search and Rodham on my tbr but didn't think of them for this tag. I'm pretty sure Search is on the long list for the 2023 Tournament of Books, and it's on the NPR list.

For Small Business Saturday, I went to my local used bookstore and found a brand-new-looking copy of Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II for 6.98. I'm sure there is leadership in it!

I have a few options for this, depending on which holds come in this month.

Fiction:

The Winners
Rodham
All the King's Men

Non-Fiction:

March: Book Two
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
A Fighting Chance

Hannah, The Splendid is a fabulous read!

Hannah, I think my best shot at getting Winners is from the speed reads at the library. I will be there Tomorrow and am hoping to snag it there. They give you seven days or it’s a dollar a day fine.

Amy wrote: "Hannah, I think my best shot at getting Winners is from the speed reads at the library. I will be there Tomorrow and am hoping to snag it there. They give you seven days or it’s a dollar a day fine."

LOL, we use to have those and always ended paying at least $5

Joanne wrote: "Hannah, The Splendid is a fabulous read!"

I'm also waiting on it from the library, so we'll see if it comes in time or not.

This is a huge disappointment! 😂

Ann☕ wrote: "Question to anyone who has read The Diamond Eye, do you think Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko would be considered a leader?"

I'm finishing that one up now and YES, she was a leader, in many ways. Thanks for the heads up because I'm not likely to finish it in Nov, especially since its due to be returned to library.

You can probably find a book about zombies that also fits leadership - don't those zombie fighters have a leader? Or the zombies themselves?

Joy D wrote: "You can probably find a book about zombies that also fits leadership - don't those zombie fighters have a leader? Or the zombies themselves?"

😂😂😂of course they do, just like we have mods!

I have a copy of The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz so that will be my pick.

Wanted to add The Killer Angels to the list of possibles.