Hi there! Here at the JanusGroup, we're big readers. We love to learn, to challenge ourselves and to be constantly developing and improving. As individuals, as team members, and as a collective unit. Below we share a few books that we have recently read (or listened to! Audible books count!) and that we enjoyed. Without further delay…

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

Author: Meik Wiking
Reader: Aaron
Thoughts: Of what I've read so far, it's been interesting to see how the Danes use lighting (candles, in particular) to create a certain cozy (another level of cozy) feel.  It's also interesting how pervasive this way of living is across the country.  It may be worth studying, as the Danes are often times referred to as the happiest people in the world, right? 

The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Author: Pierre Hadot, translated by Michael Chase
Reader: Aaron
Thoughts: I've also been reading Piere Hadot's translation of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. Unlike simply reading the Meditations, Hadot adds the historical context to it, which I find fascinating. (Indeed, Hadot was a philosopher in his own right and spent many years studying the classics and translating them from Latin and Greek into French. Learn more about Hadot here.)

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Reader: Jamie
Thoughts: Harari picks out 21 challenges we are currently facing in society and discusses how to adjust to change and thrive. My favorite part of the book is the author’s thoughtfulness in looking at where we have come from and where we are going when it comes to changing technology and the workforce. When we are deluged with irrelevant information, clarity is power!

Calypso

Author: David Sedaris
Reader: Jamie
Thoughts: Sedaris looks at some of the most serious issues in family life and brings forward a bright and witty view that expresses both the sadness of grief and the hilarity of family and daily life. This book had me both empathizing with his loss and laughing out loud. 

Milkman

Author: Anna Burns
Reader: Jamie
Thoughts: A blisteringly observant book of some pretty necessary truths about the state of a woman’s life and her attempt to find her own agency in a setting of conflict, unnamed in the book, but clearly Northern Ireland. The unique narrative of this book and the wonderful intelligence of the main character make this well worth the read. 

The Fifth Risk

Author: Michael Lewis
Reader: Brett
Thoughts: Michael Lewis's latest book is a true page-turner, despite the dry subject matter. Who knew that aspects of the Department of Energy (nuclear weapons and the Hanford Site), Department of Agriculture (food inspection) and Department of Commerce (including the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) could be so exciting? Lewis expertly weaves his narrative, sprinkled with anecdotes that are equally fascinating and disturbing. A good read.

Thanks for reading (ha!)! If you have a great book recommendation we'd love to hear it!