The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq by Steve Coll
This book delves into the intricate dynamics between Saddam Hussein and the U.S. leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion. Coll argues that American policymakers failed to grasp Saddam’s mindset, contributing to catastrophic miscalculations. The book explores Saddam’s rise to power, Iraq’s covert nuclear ambitions, and critical episodes like the Gulf War and post-9/11 tensions. Coll highlights the CIA’s struggles to understand Saddam’s erratic leadership, shaped by paranoia and a distorted sense of invincibility. Using newly declassified documents and interviews, Coll provides an intimate portrait of Saddam’s personality and decision-making. He also critiques how successive U.S. administrations, misled by flawed intelligence and cultural ignorance, reinforced the dictator’s delusions. The narrative emphasizes how these mutual misunderstandings escalated to a costly conflict with profound global consequences.
Dylan Potter, CFA, CFP®, Vice President, Senior Wealth Manager
Angle of Attack: Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon by Mike Gray
This is the most inspiring book I have read in many years. It recounts the story of North American Aviation (NAA) engineer Harrison Storms and his pivotal role in the Apollo program, focusing on the intense and complex effort to land a man on the Moon. The book highlights Storms’ leadership in developing the Apollo Command Module, facing immense technical and organizational challenges. It delves into the competitive environment of the 1960s space race, the pressures of delivering groundbreaking technology, and the tragic Apollo 1 fire, which resulted in the deaths of three astronauts. This disaster marked a turning point, sparking major reforms in NASA and the aerospace industry.
Dylan Potter, CFA, CFP®, Vice President, Senior Wealth Manager
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
A book I’ve forced *everyone* in my life to read in hopes of getting them on board with Haidt’s thesis. I think it’s best summarized by saying Haidt makes a very strong argument that we are giving kids too little independence in the physical world and unbridled independence in the much more dangerous digital world, and the effects are devastating and far reaching—but there’s hope for how to fix it pragmatically.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
I just didn’t want it to end—and I highly recommend the audio version read by Garten herself. Impressive, interesting, and authentic, and yet as simple and approachable as the Ina we all know and love.
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
Very inspirational and moving life story about overcoming obstacles both real and imagined. Very applicable messaging for goal achievement.
A Colonel & A Cowboy Strategies of the Elite by J. Craig Flowers and Stran T. Smith
When my best friend since forever, COL Craig Flowers, writes a great book and I make a brief appearance in it, the book has to be on the list of my favorite reads of 2024. A Colonel & A Cowboy is a book on leadership and developing great processes and guides the reader on how to become elite business leaders, athletes and even parents. Written by Craig and his good friend Stran Smith, a rodeo superstar, the book is full of stories and experiences from their lives developed from a lifetime of both being elite and being around the elite and is both entertaining and instructional. There are a lot of great quotes in A Colonel & A Cowboy and one of my favorites is “Ego is a distraction and a sense of humor is a competitive edge.”
Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shanahan, M.D.
Beautifully answering the question: what is the proper human diet? If you are physically, mentally, and emotionally thriving, don’t change a thing. If you are not, it is vital to think about the role nutrition is playing in your life and how maybe it’s time to ditch the conventional wisdom and go back to our roots.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
I listened to the Audiobook version and thought the delivery was captivating. Spanning generations of the main character’s life, we learn a lot about the impacts of family, friends, poverty, and drugs on a young child.
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Thoroughly researched, this is an engrossing story about the five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War. It is suspenseful even though you know the ending.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck has always been one of my favorite authors, so I decided to reread this classic this year. It’s an epic family saga that dives into the messy, beautiful, and heartbreaking parts of being human, packed with unforgettable characters and big questions about good and evil.
Emily Lambert, IACCP®, Vice President, Operations and Chief Compliance Officer
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
A mix of travelogue, psychology, and humor, this book investigates happiness across different cultures, exploring how geography influences well-being. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so happy?
Emily Lambert, IACCP®, Vice President, Operations and Chief Compliance Officer
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
A refreshing memoir from a unique “road-less-travelled” type of guy. McConaughey has an endearing wild-man quirk about him, and yet his straight-shooting lessons were grounding and thought-provoking. Another book in which I think the audio version pays off.
Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones
Didn’t really appreciate this period of history until reading through this book. “Nasty, brutish and short” indeed!
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
With complex characters and exceptional research, Brooks intertwines the thrilling story of a legendary 19th-century racehorse with the lives of those connected to it across different eras–from an enslaved groom to a modern-day art historian.
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
A stunning and moving memoir. Through lyrical prose, Sinclair shares her story of breaking free from her repressive Rastafarian upbringing in Jamaica and finding her own voice as a woman and poet.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
I’ve never before cried while reading a book. This is a devastating and beautiful look into traditional Haenyeo culture and how wartime can ravage everything and everyone around it.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
A candid, vulnerable, and sometimes humorous look into therapy, that blends the stories of Lori Gottlieb’s patients with her own experiences as a therapist seeking help.
Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall by Zeke Faux
This book is a deep dive into the cryptocurrency and digital asset rise and eventual mania of the late 2010s and early 2020s, primarily following Sam Bankman-Fried through his rise as a purported genius visionary to the implosion of FTX and Alameda Research. It examines both the potential of digital assets as well as the framework which lends itself to abuse and scams. Although I read this in January 2024, it is a worthwhile read at a time when Bitcoin is pushing through the USD$100,000 price point. There are differing opinions on digital assets in the finance world, but it’s good to be reminded of the outcome of wild speculation last time.
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell revisits concepts first explored in his bestseller 25 years ago and never ceases to blow my mind with his fascinating insights about society.
Same As Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel
A favorite author and thinker of mine—Housel never ceases to disappoint with his remarkably straight forward and yet profoundly insightful conclusions about the psychology of money.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Powerful and gut-wrenching, a true story of human endurance and the power of hope that needed to be told.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
A novel about forging new friendships, rediscovering old loves, and embracing the universal desire to leave a meaningful legacy.
Emily Lambert, IACCP®, Vice President, Operations and Chief Compliance Officer
Thinking, Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Good view on the decision making process and how conclusions are made – – both good and bad.
Unscripted by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams
I have a deep interest in wealthy families and the dysfunction that can come from raising kids with such wealth and the issues that come from vying for the wealth when comes time for the transfer to the next generation. In my annual category of favorite reads describing such families is this book about Sumner Redstone and his family. As self-made Sumner aged poorly without a clear plan on how to transfer his wealth while surrounding himself with people with less than his best interests at heart, everyone suffered.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
A light-hearted, funny, fantastical read about a man who comes into a financial windfall, uses his newfound wealth to back up his consciousness into a computer, and promptly gets hit by a car. He “wakes up” far in the future in a world where humanity is, by necessity, reaching for the stars. Unfortunately, he is not entirely in control of his destiny as the powers that be have decided his mind will be uploaded into a spaceship and he will be sent off alone (as a spaceship) to explore the universe. It only gets stranger from there. The storytelling, humor, and exploration of future technologies are reminiscent of Project Hail Mary and worth a read for anyone who is a fan of sci-fi that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Written by American zoologist Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age murder mystery that beautifully and heartbreakingly explores loneliness, resilience, and the intricate connections between humans and nature.
Disclosures: The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Howe & Rusling, Inc. or its affiliates. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice. Readers should consult their own professional advisors before making any decisions based on the content herein. Howe & Rusling, Inc. does not receive compensation for any of the books mentioned in this piece and does not endorse or recommend any specific products, services, or authors mentioned. References to specific books and their content are intended to share personal insights and perspectives and do not imply any guarantee of accuracy or future outcomes based on the material covered.
