Read 12 Non-Fiction Books (Part I)

One of the joys of life after law firm is having enough time to read for pleasure. This year, I plan to read at least 12 non-fiction books and 12 novels. I've made significant progress.

Here are six non-fiction books that I read during the first half of 2019:

• Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco. A detailed account of the RJR Nabisco LBO. A bit tedious, even for this former M&A attorney.

• The Boys in the Boat. An account of the American rowing team that won gold at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics. While not a central theme of this book, the author spends considerable time discussing the role of flow state in competitive athletics (a concept I wrote about in my undergrad application!).

• The Truth About Animals: Stoned Sloths, Lovelorn Hippos, and Other Tales from the Wild Side of Wildlife. If you've loved learning about animals since you were a kid, you will love this book full of quirky facts ripe for discussion at your next cocktail party.

• Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things are Better than you Think. I came across this book on a list of must-reads compiled by Bill Gates and picked it up because of the upbeat and hopeful message.

• Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth. Like Hillbilly Elegy, but set in Kansas.

• Origin Story: A Big History of Everything. Another book from a list of must-reads compiled by Bill Gates. To be frank, it read like a 368 page LSAT reading comprehension passage.