Books of the Month | March Book Reviews | On Genius, Humanity, and the Search for Meaning
Wanting to cure my brain from all the brain rot I’ve accumulated from scrolling social media, I embarked on a journey to rediscover the bibliophile in me, that was always there. I loved reading when I was a kid, borrowing towers of books from the library every month. Reading keeps me sane, calm, and focused, something I’ve forgotten through the drudgery of adult life, but something I’m returning to in the quiet stillness of Lent.
Here are 5 books I read in March — covering geniuses, innovators, biology, sin, and humanity.
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
This book taught me that even billionaires have problems — some even more than mine. Musk had a troubled childhood, which lent to him a volatile and often unstable character. But his visionary genius and business acumen coupled with his need to build and initiate impressed me. He had a tolerance for risk and discomfort that I can only envy, if not emulate. He pushed the boundaries of sanity and reason, demanding the impossible from the possible, and raising the ceiling of possibility. His ambition made him great and his intensity was a double edged sword that pushed people away and pulled them even closer in his magnetic, mercurial appeal.
Lesson: Limits exist only within the human mind.
“With God all things are possible.“ - Matthew 19:26
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
While Elon Musk is arguably more of a likeable literary character than Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs compelled me. His personality is in diametric opposition with mine. I actually met him once in high school. I remember sitting across the table, wanting to impress him with my ambitious project, and he would glare at me unrelentingly, interrogating me with questions about my research, inevitably driving me to tears. No, this is not a fantasy, nor a dream, but a complicated encounter with a complicated man. Steve Jobs loved art, but he was not an artist, far from it. He was a businessman, able to orchestrate deals and negotiate to win at any cost. He did not budge from his convictions, and he did not put up with bullshit. ENTJ to the tenth degree.
Lesson: Have conviction and do not compromise.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” - Romans 12:2
Einstein by Walter Isaacson
I thought this book would draw me due to Einstein’s famed theories and genius, but interestingly enough, it was his multifaceted, complicated love life that interested me in this book. I always thought Einstein was this nerdy, scatterbrained genius that only cared about his work in physics, but he was actually liked by many people, and he had many relationships with women. He was a charming character and his curiosity was attractive. There was a beauty to him and his work, in his humility and discovery of truth.
Lesson: Be curious with anything and everything.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” - Proverbs 9:10
The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
An interesting exploration of the discovery of CRISPR, detailing the stories of the characters involved in the race. Jennifer Doudna was a key player. It discusses the ethical questions involved and the responsibility and burdens innovation carries.
Lesson: Just because we can, does that mean we should?
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.“ - Luke 14:27
The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Biology becomes poetry in this book. Cells are the foundation of life, identity, and healing. Mukerjee traces the history of cell discovery while connecting it to modern medicine. What interested me in this book were his anecdotes of his journey in treating cancer patients.
Lesson: The human body is intricate and creatively coordinated and deeply intelligent.
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.“ - Psalm 139:14
