📖 "She Said", by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
This is an investigative masterpiece by the two NYT journalists who uncovered the Weinstein scandal and ignited the #metoo movement. It's fascinating to see the ethical standards these journalists and the whole team that was involved in the process strived to uphold so that there be no holes in their reporting. Remember, a few years ago To Vima, a leading Greek newspaper published a news piece about a meeting between the Greek and the Turkish PMs that had never actually taken place!
Equally fascinating is the length some people go to cover their crimes, intimidate and silence their victims. And the length some BoDs go to not see what's in plain sight in front of their eyes, as long as it doesn't hurt the balance sheet - until it does. No wonder so many victims prefer to remain silent and anonymous or take so long before they speak. And no wonder why this movement has been so tame here, where we have so many small and medium companies, whistleblowing procedures are quasi-non-existent in many, corporate governance is weak (with some notable exceptions) and the justice system is so slow.
📖 "Never split the difference”, by Chris Voss
Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator. His idea is that every conversation is a negotiation and that success hinges on understanding and influencing human behaviour. It’s a blend of thorough preparation, strategy, psychology, and empathy. Together, these elements can lead to better outcomes in both professional and personal interactions.
He also offers practical advice for specific but common life situations, such as sales and salary negotiations, but also an approach to following up that, he says, will almost always elicit a response (positive or negative), even from people who’ve been ignoring you up to now.
📖 “Une femme” and “La place”, by Annie Ernaux
Ernaux is one of my favourite writers - probably my favourite in French. These two books are about her mother and her father. Both were motivated to provide a better life for their daughter, but also very much aware of their own position within the country’s society. Indeed, the title "La Place" means "the place" and directly refers to the feeling the father had about his place in society.
Sadly, Ernaux’s parents weren't alive to see it when their daughter was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2022. At one point, the author writes, after she had finished her studies and became a successful professional making a living off her brain rather than her hands, she was almost what they would consider a class enemy to them.
Ernaux's writing is dry, without any literary frills. She carefully uses only the words necessary to describe the events, yet manages to create strong emotions in the reader. Her books are powerful, especially if one has lived through the same events - and many of her readers will have, as she always writes about the female experience of the world, particularly the woman who grew up in the 50s and 60s. France was a different country back then, much more conservative and closed to the world.
So, these are the books that I enjoyed most this summer. I hope you enjoy them too.
This is an investigative masterpiece by the two NYT journalists who uncovered the Weinstein scandal and ignited the #metoo movement. It's fascinating to see the ethical standards these journalists and the whole team that was involved in the process strived to uphold so that there be no holes in their reporting. Remember, a few years ago To Vima, a leading Greek newspaper published a news piece about a meeting between the Greek and the Turkish PMs that had never actually taken place!
Equally fascinating is the length some people go to cover their crimes, intimidate and silence their victims. And the length some BoDs go to not see what's in plain sight in front of their eyes, as long as it doesn't hurt the balance sheet - until it does. No wonder so many victims prefer to remain silent and anonymous or take so long before they speak. And no wonder why this movement has been so tame here, where we have so many small and medium companies, whistleblowing procedures are quasi-non-existent in many, corporate governance is weak (with some notable exceptions) and the justice system is so slow.
📖 "Never split the difference”, by Chris Voss
Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator. His idea is that every conversation is a negotiation and that success hinges on understanding and influencing human behaviour. It’s a blend of thorough preparation, strategy, psychology, and empathy. Together, these elements can lead to better outcomes in both professional and personal interactions.
He also offers practical advice for specific but common life situations, such as sales and salary negotiations, but also an approach to following up that, he says, will almost always elicit a response (positive or negative), even from people who’ve been ignoring you up to now.
📖 “Une femme” and “La place”, by Annie Ernaux
Ernaux is one of my favourite writers - probably my favourite in French. These two books are about her mother and her father. Both were motivated to provide a better life for their daughter, but also very much aware of their own position within the country’s society. Indeed, the title "La Place" means "the place" and directly refers to the feeling the father had about his place in society.
Sadly, Ernaux’s parents weren't alive to see it when their daughter was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2022. At one point, the author writes, after she had finished her studies and became a successful professional making a living off her brain rather than her hands, she was almost what they would consider a class enemy to them.
Ernaux's writing is dry, without any literary frills. She carefully uses only the words necessary to describe the events, yet manages to create strong emotions in the reader. Her books are powerful, especially if one has lived through the same events - and many of her readers will have, as she always writes about the female experience of the world, particularly the woman who grew up in the 50s and 60s. France was a different country back then, much more conservative and closed to the world.
So, these are the books that I enjoyed most this summer. I hope you enjoy them too.
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