The 2024 Page Turn: A small book recap
There is much to be thankful for as I look back at 2024: family, business, friends - the Côté clan is blessed with a lot of positives in our lives. If I did have a complaint, it would only be that time seems to be moving a little too quickly these days - this is less of a complaint, more of a recognition that I should probably spend a little more time taking it all in. I have no idea where the last year has gone. As I read the 2023 book recap, the books feel so fresh in my mind that it can’t possibly be that more than a year has passed since consuming those titles?
In last year’s recap, I claimed that writing a quick recap of a few of the titles I enjoyed during the year had two major benefits: 1. Reflecting on the lessons learned; and 2. Creating an environment of sharing within the network to ensure more titles continue to be recommended. To that end, many of the books on this list were specific recommendations from those that knew about the 2023 list. Four of those recommendations fall onto my all time greatest reads list. For the sharing aspect alone, I’m pumped to publish a list of a few titles I enjoyed this year - and I look forward to reading your lists/recommendations, too!
Below is the list of many of the books consumed from January to December 2024, in the order they were originally completed. As usual, most were done via Audible and even though the links provided for each title is to Audible or Amazon, I encourage frequenting your local bookstore. The folks working in these stores are a wealth of knowledge and ideas. I’ll be leveraging the 2023 change that integrated a simplistic question set for each book, in the hopes of leaving my biased opinions out of the document: I’ll answer why I selected the title in the first place and why I think you might enjoy it. I continue to believe that there are target audiences for all arts and sciences, thus if I don’t like something, I’m either not the target or not open minded enough to recognize the beauty: I’ll avoid any intentional negativity towards these titles because I learned from each and every one.
In 2024, there were still books I went back and re-read for context, reference, and re-alignment. I’m going to skip writing about them below, but they’re listed on the 2021, 2022, and 2023 lists.
Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock
Why I selected the title: Merriem-Webster defines a person as “religious” if they are “scrupulously and conscientiously faithful”; it defines the "scientific method” as “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.” Graham certainly tests hypotheses that we take for granted on the history of humanity.
Why you might enjoy it: Aside from the fact that Graham is an immensely curious individual that looks at history and the evolution of societies and humanity itself, it’s fun questioning authority and thinking for ourselves. By no means do I believe he’s right on everything (in fact, I don’t think he claims that), but I believe readers will appreciate that he’s not concerned with upsetting the establishment in his hunt for understanding the human species - he’ll make you think.
Surviving to Drive by Guenther Steiner
Why I selected the title: As an F1 fan, I was interested in learning more about the mindset of the team principals throughout the year. I knew I was going to the race at Spa-Francorchamps in the Summer and wanted to learn more before going. The book was released around the time that Guenther ended his tenure with Haas, so the timing was interesting. Plus, like everyone who’s seen “Drive to Survive”, I thought Guenther was a hilariously witty character.
Why you might enjoy it: The book was written as a journal of sorts: Guenther would seemingly send emails with his thoughts/feelings on a daily or weekly basis throughout the 2022 season, adding some stories from his past along the way, and it was compiled at the end. I thought it created an interesting view into the ever changing mindset of a leader in that world. The behind-the-scenes detail provided and in-the-moment thinking was like nothing I’ve read before.
Titan by Roy Chernow
Why I selected the title: A friend came up to me at my sister’s 30th birthday party and was adamant that I needed to read this book. Adamant that it would change my view of business by creating a better understanding of the genesis of many of the laws and structures in North America through the story of JD Rockefeller. I bought the audio book in the cab home after the party and was not disappointed.
Why you might enjoy it: Anything I had read on Rockefeller in the past had been very biased for or against him - nothing that felt was even remotely akin to a full story. Roy Chernow studied all sides and presented the findings, in shockingly unbiased terms. The good, bad, and ugly came through, but so did thousands of reference points on the industrial revolution and the Civil War and charity structures and political gaming - allowing the reader to make their own judgments. It felt like I took a fantastic course on the history of modern business with this title.
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
Why I selected the title: A friend gave me a book called “Red Notice” by Bill Browder, which was Bill’s account of leveraging his finance skills with the former Soviet Union (with many missteps along the way). Ever since, content that includes real life spy stories has captivated me. Another friend and I had been swapping book recommendations and naturally Ben Macintyre’s work made it to the top of my interest (he’s on the list twice this year).
Why you might enjoy it: This real life story of one of a high level KGB agent providing details to MI6 to give the British leverage in the Cold War the 1970s and 1980s is wildly engaging. It also gives some perspective on certain political battles currently being waged in the world today. If you’re interested in learning just a little bit more about how the government spends those tax dollars “for your safety”, this is worth a read. Plus, the writing is on point and the story is fascinating.
Chaos by Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring
Why I selected the title: I realized I knew absolutely nothing about the Manson murders and associated happenings of the 1960s. The book has been mentioned multiple times by folks that tend to ask difficult questions about how the world really works, including Joe Rogan. “Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties”: what more could you ask for?!
Why you might enjoy it: Tom is a journalist (this is a theme of the 2024 book list) and he digs DEEP to understand the government backed programs that tested various drugs and mind control on the hippie movement during the 1960s and how that intertwined with the Manson murders. He delves into the people surrounding those murdered and some of the interesting aspects of their lives. All is not as it seems. And researching the book seems to have almost ended Tom’s career a number of times, given some powerful people didn’t want certain things to be uncovered. It was electric.
12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
Why I selected the title: I had heard this book referenced many times in conversations, media, and podcasts - of course, the source of the reference would always determine if that reference was positive or negative, given the divisive nature of Jordan Peterson. As I had not read the title, it was difficult for me to comment or have any opinion on the matter and I decided I needed to change that. Plus, the cliffhanger in the description hooked me: “[...] what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.”
Why you might enjoy it: It seems prudent to get to know someone before either glorifying or vilifying them. That task is made easier when the subject has published books, articles, and podcasts. Prior to reading the book, I found Jordan Peterson to be divisive and sometimes seemingly intentionally bombastic, but I didn’t have any sense about the person. After reading the book, I think I have a better understanding of how he’s thinking about the world and certainly a better understanding of the comments that have a deeper set of questions - questions that made me look in the mirror about how I operate. Maybe it’ll do something similar for you?
Chasing Boaz Manor by Leah McLaren
Why I selected the title: I had never heard of this book until the Audible algorithm recommended it to me based on my past books. Leah is a journalist, so she fit my general interest from an author perspective and the headline for the book was “A masterclass of manipulation—dive deep into the true story of a cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement that spans the globe and help piece together the clues in a race against time.”
Why you might enjoy it: It was quite an interesting true story about financial and personal deception, with Bay Street mixed in quite heavily (I’m a sucker for any content that dives into the seemingly forgotten Toronto capital markets). It’s a quick Audible Original and the reading is well done. I came out of it feeling like I had learned something but also reminded that there are bad people in this world.
The Phelan Feud by Stephen Kimber
Why I selected the title: One of the people I respect most had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this title and told me I would enjoy it. It’s estimated that almost half of businesses fail in the first five years after inception; only 25% of businesses will make it past year 15. Imagine how hard it is to make it well past 100 years and three, four, and five generations of family members looking to have inputs (and take the gains)? This story covers an overview of much of the 20th century Canadian business history, given how many lines of business it touches.
Why you might enjoy it: It’s “Succession” meets “Yellowstone” meets “Titan” (above): the true story of an originally Canadian food services empire, Cara Foods, and the struggle to keep the legacy going through the generations. With two of the main characters having provided extensive documentation of family board meetings along the way, so the sourcing is quoted. I could not put this book down and I will absolutely be referencing it many times in the future.
A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre
Why I selected the title: The author. And it was recommended by the same friend that recommended “The Spy and the Traitor”. And the main character’s swagger and style of this real life spy story while working for MI6 may have influenced the persona of the fictional character created by Ian Flemming: James Bond. Note: since Kim Philby was found out as a traitor to MI6, all comments about his influence over the character development of James Bond were seemingly retracted - but that makes it even more interesting for me!
Why you might enjoy it: It’s like watching a James Bond film but suspecting the whole time James is going to throw his friends, family, and country under the bus after decades of loyalty. The detail is incredible and the intensity of emotions from all sides is palpable, especially after the background Ben provides on each character at the start of the book. This title is a Cold War history book and a real life spy novel crammed into 11 hours of listening.
The Fourth Turning is Here by Neil Howe
Why I selected the title: It was quite simple really: I had never heard of the book and my neighbour/friend stopped me while I was cutting the lawn to tell me I needed to add it to this year’s list. He’s never given bad recommendations in the past, but I think this one might be the best he’s offered yet. My only wish is that I had read it sooner.
Why you might enjoy it: I have never read such a rich examination on the human condition and on how the experiences we amass at various stages of our lives impacts the way we operate. And this examination was done by looking at major world events over hundreds of years and how that shaped each generation of decision makers, with a focus on generational life cycles. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Blitzed by Norman Ohler
Why I selected the title: I got in trouble in Grade 10 History class for questioning my teacher on how it was possible that the Nazi army could move through France faster than any army in history had advanced? It didn’t make sense that “tanks” was the only answer. They didn’t stop moving for almost a week. Like anyone with kids, I can confirm that after a couple days without sleep, I’m not conquering any countries on the third day. And then I heard about Norman Ohler’s journalistic work on uncovering the experimentation of pharmaceuticals on Nazi soldiers during World War II. The answer to their unwavering, short lived speed, was likely not “tanks”, but “meth, coke, AND tanks”.
Why you might enjoy it: Very few books have made me question everything I believed to be true in life like this title. It is a spectacularly written journalistic review of World War II with extreme details on the doctor that profited from the experimentation of narcotics on Nazi soldiers, on prisoners, and on Hitler himself in the late 1930s through to the end of the war. With this detail comes a better understanding of the decisions made and how the war efforts moved through time and space. NOTE: The book and the findings do not in any way excuse, or attempt to excuse, the atrocities performed by the Nazi army, but it gives more context for the reader to learn from.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Why I selected the title: I had read parts of this book in the past but it always spread over longish periods of time and never really gave it the appropriate appreciation it deserved. So I decided to pull it to the top of the list and give it a go. I knew going in that there were a number of popular culture and political references tied to the book that I would better understand after consuming it fully, but I didn’t realize just how many references there would be.
Why you might enjoy it: In so many ways, this book is on par with 1984 in trying to predict the government control in the future, but taking a totally different avenue to project the prediction. It should be noted that Aldous was creating his (hopefully) fictitious future based on information from after World War I while George Orwell wrote 1984 through the lens of Cold War post World War II Britain. I believe classics like these influence, either directly or indirectly, much of the content we consume in the present day and I believe that consuming more of this foundational writing will help improve decision making in the future.
The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and Jeff Cox
Why I selected the title: Like many, I read “The Goal” in school so we could all chat about Herbie and bottle necks in a wildly simplistic and theoretical fashion. The discussion was theoretical and focused on bottle necks because most of us in the conversation, aside from the professor, had any meaningful real life experiences to relate to the novel’s main character, since we were 20 years old. Reading it in my 30s brought a wildly different perspective.
Why you might enjoy it: Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. Reading an old book can help you get back to basics and ensure you haven’t forgotten too many of those basic lessons. Like any management book, The Goal is not perfect and don’t expect it to be. But unlike most management books, it’s written in a novel form so Eli can put his management theories through in a more digestible way - not too dissimilar to how David Chilton put “The Wealthy Barber” together. This novel approach is meant to show how external factors weigh on a manager. Many of the aspects of the book are taken for granted or dated in 2024, but that doesn’t take away from the core messaging.
Fat Leonard by Craig Whitlock
Why I selected the title: Recommended by a friend and what a good one: the story of how a Malaysian defense contractor bribed and controlled US Navy officers for years, ensuring tens of millions of dollars flowed directly into his bank account. As someone that believes there is an atrocious level of grift happening at many levels of government, it was not hard for me to find interest in this title, but Craig’s reporting on the subject was extensive and riveting.
Why you might enjoy it: Government spending corruption at its finest, written with journalist level detail and background. It gives a view on how decisions are made in the military branches. Craig, maybe inadvertently, comes across as defending the unethical actions of high ranking Navy Officers as them having been duped by Fat Leonard and “oh poor them”. Let me be absolutely clear on something that I don’t think was highlighted enough in the book: If a grown ass man thinks he’s mature enough to sleep with contractor provided sex workers and take bribes ensuring tax dollars get paid to certain contractors, then that grown ass man (Military Officer) should be mature enough to take responsibility for his grossly unethical and highly illegal actions, not just blame it on the person providing the bribes. Thank you for attending my TED Talk.
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Why I selected the title: I had the realization that I was 34 years old and had never read “The Lord of the Flies” - how is that possible? There’s a reason this book is taught in schools and frankly, I wish I had read it in a book club or at school because there are so many aspects of the human condition that are examined throughout the boys’ time on the island. These aspects need to be contemplated and discussed.
Why you might enjoy it: A title that is referenced incredibly often in popular culture and business alike, likely because it is so widely taught in schools (I think my class read “The Chrysalids” that year, which I haven’t once heard mentioned anywhere outside of that classroom in the last 20 years… telepathy on The Rock isn’t as relatable as society collapsing? Surprising). This book made me attempt to think how I would react to being on that plane and crashing onto the island? What character would I be in the story? It also made me think about society and rules and how those can fall apart in days, without proper care. It was an incredibly reflective read.
The Caesars Palace Coup by Max Frumes and Sujeet Indap
Why I selected the title: I had a conference coming up in Vegas and realized a couple of things: 1. I had been to Vegas a few times and knew nothing about its history (some WILD stories on this for another time, but the Hoover Dam is wicked and I think everyone in the world should go see what humanity was capable of 95 years ago, before we all got lost in our phone screens); and 2. I knew nothing about the ownership structures of the casinos on the strip - this seemed like a fun way of learning. And it certainly was.
Why you might enjoy it: Think of this as “Too Big to Fail” meets “When Genius Failed” meets “Liars Poker” meets “Barbarians at the Gate” - many of the same characters, too! I wouldn’t say it’s as well written as those legendary titles, but it’s well sourced and very detailed on the negotiations throughout the coup. There is more financial level detail than in many other corporate raider titles I’ve enjoyed in the past and that made the story feel even more real.
Variable Valve Timings by Chris Harris
Why I selected the title: I’ve watched Chris Harris throw cars around tracks and backroads on YouTube and the BBC for years and never knew anything more about him other than that he was a phenomenal driver who had a massive passion for the motor vehicle. So sitting in the airport coming home from that Vegas conference mentioned above, I started it. I only took my headphones out when at Customs in Toronto. I finished the title as I parked my car at home - what an incredibly engaging writer he is.
Why you might enjoy it: If you like cars or car shows (Top Gear?) or journalism or understanding how content is brought to life on your screen/in a magazine, this will be an interesting read. If not, you likely won’t like it. But I have now listened to it four times in a month, so I clearly enjoyed it.
American Kingpin by Nick Bilton
Why I selected the title: My mother-in-law sent me a note that her book club was reading this book and she was certain I would enjoy learning more about the main character and could relate to the story (this book club sounds like a blast and I’m holding out hope that one day I’ll be invited to join). After looking up the title (and then reminding her again that I can’t “relate” to the Silk Road), I was immediately hooked - she was right, as usual: absolute banger of a book.
Why you might enjoy it: Have you ever watched “Narcos” or “CSI” or the similar? Yeah, this isn’t really like those but the themes run through. Nick, a journalist, gained access to many of the messages on the server used by Ross Ulbricht to create the Silk Road: how a 20-something guy with no computer science background created the Ebay for illegal drugs and weapons. And then how the various US government agencies tripped over themselves trying to solve the case. Stunning journalism and written in a way that the reader could love/hate/both each of the characters involved, but the reader gets to decide - this is an art.
Thanks for reading.
David Côté