Book Reviews
Books are one of the sacred tomes where we can journey through the life of another person from the past. You obtain a glimpse of what they learned to build this creation. Join Kevin on his own path of reading these books as we discuss some of the highlights and lessons from the teachings of others.
New book reviews come out every other Monday.
Running with Purpose
Discover Jim Weber's inspiring journey in "Running with Purpose: How Brooks Outpaced Competitors" as he leads Brooks Sports, Inc. through challenges and changes. This biography offers valuable lessons in leadership and entrepreneurship, with personal and business insights. Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
We Are Here
Discover the inspiring stories of 30 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have shaped the history of the United States in "We Are Here" by Naomi Hirahara. Written in collaboration with Smithsonian Enterprises and illustrated by Illianette Ferandez, this book highlights the diversity and impact of the AAPI community across various industries. While the stories may be short, they offer a glimpse into the upbringing and motivation of each leader. Learn how individuals like Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist for sexual assault survivors, and Carissa Moore, the first woman to win gold in the first-ever surfing event in the Olympics, have made a difference despite their backgrounds. Get your copy of "We Are Here" today.
How to American
Jimmy Yang is a Chinese American actor, stand-up comedian, and writer known for starring in HBO’s Silicon Valley, Netflix’s Space Force, and the movie Crazy Rich Asians. In his memoir, How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents, we walk through Jimmy’s immigrant story from Hong Kong to America and how he pursued became his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor.
We Were Dreamers
Simu Liu is a Canadian Asian American actor known for playing the role of Shang-Chi in Marvel’s 2021 film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Through his memoir, We Were Dreamers, Simu walks us through the path of how he eventually reached that role. From the start of his parent’s journey from China to Canada followed by a retelling of Simu’s childhood, the reader has a glimpse of two generations worth of upbringings to paint the story behind the Shang-Chi actor.
Finding Ultra
Rich Roll is a revelating and inspiring athlete who broke all odds of middle-aged alcohol addiction to complete the EPIC5. The EPIC5 is a challenge where competitors cover 250 kilometers in five consecutive days while running a 50-kilometer course on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island. Rich’s book, Finding Ultra, walks us through his story from childhood to the end of the EPIC5 journey with a conclusion of tips and methodologies for the reader.
Making a Scene
Making a Scene is a memoir by Constance Wu, an actor in the TV show Fresh Off the Boat and the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Constance dives into snippets of her life discussing topics such as family dynamics, sexual harassment, dating, and Hollywood. The stories take place from when she was a child to her time acting in Los Angeles.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl retells his experience of surviving in a World War II concentration camp. The book dives into Frankl’s horrific prisoner experience at Auschwitz, Dachau and other camps, where he explores the meaning in life. This leads to a section surrounding logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy that Frankl created after his experiences in the camp.