5 Books I’m Reading (or Rereading) in 2021
By: Lion S Story
Tags: Books, Leadership, Book Review, Nonprofit, Diversity

by Charles Barrett Adams

Anyone who knows me will tell you: Books are my friends.

As an educator and non-profit leader, I am constantly looking for ways to challenge my thinking, materials to add to my own self-growth curriculum, and for timely relevant information that I can offer to my village of peers, colleagues and friends taking their own journeys towards racial literacy.

And let’s face it: there is no better excuse to add a few more books to my shelves than a new year.

That said, here are five books I’ll study or revisit in early 2021 as I seek to become a more empathetic, organized and courageous leader.

Book Cover: Dangerous Love by Chad Ford

Dangerous Love: Transforming Fear and Conflict at Home, at Work and in the World by Chad Ford. Ford, whose name may be recognized by NBA fans, is a conflict mediator who just so happens to have spent some time as a sportswriter and analyst for ESPN. In his mediation work, Ford has worked internationally with governments, NGOs and businesses.

Why I’m looking forward to reading it: Dangerous Love is about working to address conflict in our relationships, examining why they elicit fearfulness for so many of us. At Lion’s Story, we engage in similar work, so I’m excited to learn more about how Ford addresses complex topics of conflict to allow us to “no longer see enemies or others in conflict,” but rather, a reflection of our own selves and humanity. In simpler language, he’s talking about love amidst dislike — and I want to see how he untangles the two.

Book Cover: Essentialism by Greg McKeown

2. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Full disclosure: I’ve read Essentialism before, but it’s too easy to slip back into the message that McKeown is working against — doing it all, saying “Yes” to everything, and believing that success comes from doing those things. Leading a thriving not-for-profit start-up at a time when Black Lives Matter statements are ubiquitous, if not also fashionable, remembering to choose “no” is key. We can’t — nor should we — be everything to everybody.

Why I’m looking forward to rereading it: Because I need the reminder — and I think most leaders and human beings could use the reminder — that spreading yourself too thin is working against you, your goals, your family, and your organization. Recalibrating your “Why” on a regular basis is essential and helps you focus on what really matters and that’s exactly why I’ll be revisiting McKeown’s text again.

Book Cover: Race, Work and Leadership — Roberts, Mayo & Thomas

3. Race, Work and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience is a compilation of essays edited by Laura Morgan Roberts, Tony Mayo, and David A. Thomas, all of whom are thought leaders in business, organizational behavior, and diversity and inclusion.

Why I’m looking forward to reading it: “What does it mean to be black in corporate America today?” It’s a question that is likely answered very differently by POC than it would be answered by others. Race, Work and Leadership editors and essayists point out that it’s everyone’s responsibility to lead conversations on inclusion and offer ways that all people are responsible for contributing.

Book Cover: Humanocracy by G. Hamel and M. Zanini

4. Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them, by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini, respected international business leaders who argue that by dismantling bureaucracy, organizations can become more innovative, nimble, and create a culture that employees will want to work for.

Why I’m looking forward to reading it: Humanocracy promises a framework that organizational leaders need to create this kind of enviable culture — and, personally, as Lion’s Story continues to grow, I, along with my partners, want to ensure everyone across our Village feels welcomed, heard, has ownership, thrives in any economic environment — and holds onto our evolving people-first values.

Book Cover: White Lies by Maurice Berger

5. White Lies: Race and the Myths of Whiteness, by Maurice Berger. I bumped into this book through his 2020 obituary. Sadly, or luckily, this has led me to writers, artists and thinkers. I feel like I’ve met or was reintroduced to so many beautiful and talented people that way. He was an art historian and a white man who grew up in one of Lower Manhattan’s public housing projects with two parents who approached life, money and, especially, race in different ways.

Why I’m looking forward to rereading it: This is a quick read with long lasting implications. Berger uses short vignettes, questions and, informally, third-party research and quotes to make clear-eyed, relevant, deeply honest assessments of race in America. My copy has notes and questions marked throughout. I need to lean on this a bit more to leverage his voice as an example of how white participants in our trainings can, humanely, explore how race and racism benefits and harms them.

What about you? What will be on your bookshelf this upcoming year? What are you hoping to learn more about?

If you’ve read any of my top five picks, let me know how you liked them!

Charles B. Adams is a Founder and Managing Partner for Lion’s Story — a non-profit that teaches racial literacy as a tool to fuel empowerment and fight injustice. For over twenty years, Charles worked on behalf of children as a school leader and in not-for-profit settings in New York, Washington, DC and Philadelphia.