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Book Recommendations from the Ivey Book Club

Nov 3, 2020

Book Collage (1)

About book club:

Ivey Book Club aims to enhance the educational experience at Ivey by supplementing learning with thought-provoking reading, enriching discussion, and connecting like-minded people. We hope to spark discussion on pressing topics in our daily lives through literature. As one of Ivey's first interest-based club, IBC is a place for all who are interested.

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Jonathan Ng (HBA/JD Combined Degree)

  1. Elon Musk, by Ashlee Vance: As someone pursuing a career in business, it illustrates what sacrifices are necessary to make it to the top.
  2. A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins: A brilliant prequel to the Hunger Games, it adds so much depth to President Snow's evil psyche and how he became who he is.

Harrison Thomas (HBA2)

  1. Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, by Willian Finnegan: The autobiography of a lifelong surfer on a never-ending search for the perfect wave, Barbarian Days will make you yearn for adventure.
  2. Winners Take All, by Anand Giridharadas: Winners Take All argues that efforts by the rich and powerful to solve societies problems are ineffective and only reinforce those individuals’ positions in the world.
  3. When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi: Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, a young neurosurgeon is forced to ask himself the question: What makes life worth living? Inspiring and emotional, When Breath Becomes Air will make you reflect on your own life and values.

Sarah Wang (HBA1)

  1. The Myth of Sisyphus, by Albert Camus: We too often strive to attach meanings to life, but actually life is still worth living without a dedicated purpose.
  2. Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro: With rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, humanity should be redefined and go beyond the definition of having logics and emotions

Turner Tobin (HBA2)

  1. Foundation, by Isaac Asimov: Science fiction novel from the 50's touching on themes of AI-like prediction, causality and space macro-economics.
  2. The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray offended the moral sensibilities of British book reviewers, some of whom said that Oscar Wilde merited prosecution for violating the laws guarding public morality. Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and records every sin.
  3. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson: It is about a London legal practitioner named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde. The novella's impact is such that it has become a part of the language, with the vernacular phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" referring to persons with an unpredictably dual nature: outwardly good, but sometimes shockingly evil.

Ben Heck (HBA2)

  1. The Operator, by Robert O'Neill: The autobiography of a navy seal who was part of the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden. Very entertaining and lots of lessons about leadership/being in a high-performance team.
  2. The Outsiders, by William Thorndike: Case studies of 8 CEOs who outperformed their peers by a lot, and insights into how they did it.

Henry McMann (HBA1)

  1. Days by Moonlight, by Andre Alexis: After the death of his parents, botanist Alfred Homer and family friend Professor Morgan Bruno embark on a road trip across Southern Ontario in search of a lost poet, coming across strange towns and stranger people on the way. This book takes the saying, “it’s about the journey, not the destination” to heart. It is a well-written, poetic, and engaging read.
  2. Millionaire Teacher, by Andrew Hallam: Hallam efficiently covers nine rules for building wealth and investing in the long-term with simple investment and budgeting principles.

Olivia Boucher (HBA/MIT Combined Degree)

  1. Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown: Brené Brown is a New York Times bestselling author who has been studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy for the past two years. In this playbook, she shares all of her learnings about how to be vulnerable and show up as a leader at work and in life.
  2. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson: A short but invaluable read about how to best view change and adapt to it.
  3. Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman: This book looks at the two systems that drive how we think (one fast and one slow), and how they work together to shape our decisions.

Yanyan Law (HBA/Psych Combined Degree)

  1. Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah: Autobiography of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist.
  2. Atomic Habits by James Clear: This book talks about habit formation and reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.