Jordan Mattox

1. Our Man in Havana Graham Greene 

This is my first Greene novel. My first exposure to him was the famous film adaptation of his novel The Third Man, which is considered one of the greatest British films of all time (I really enjoy it).  This novel is about a vacuum merchant who turns spy for MI6, and the trouble he manages to get himself into. The dialogue is punchy and witty and the plot clear, but intricate enough that it keeps you turning the pages. 

2. Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers Chip Heath and Karla Starr 

Most of us have to use numbers at work, whether teaching with them, using them to sell something, or tracking progress, but few of us know how to communicate well with them. This is a brief, but thoroughly practical, book about how to better communicate with numbers.

3. Chess Story Stefan Zweig 

I do not usually make it through a day without playing at least one game of chess on my phone. And the more I lose, the more I play. This is a novella about my favorite game by one of the great German writers of the 20th century. The story takes place on a cruise ship where the reigning world chess champion plays a self-trained chess amateur.  The story is psychological and there is little description of moves or strategy. It’s short enough and compelling enough that I read it in a sitting. 

4. Eternal Enemies Adam Zagajewski

I am new to Zagajewski, and I am completely stunned by this collection: his voice speaks right through you with such sincerity and depth that it leaves you enthralled and speechless. Zagajewski is a Polish poet who was born in 1945, bypassing that major traumatic event in his country’s history. However, Zagajewski grew up with the weight of that plus the challenge of growing up in a communist world. His poetry intertwines place and memory using soft and mellow tones. This is one of my favorite collections of poetry that I’ve read. Highly recommended.