E. McDermott

Terrifically relatable overview of what affects decision making!

Revisado: 01-01-25

The courses reveal a framework and variety of examples to help relate decision making factors to everyday life. The author/professor is also a natural when it comes to the performance - in keeping the content engaging, and a disarmingly humorous whit.

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The most complete and balanced state of the mutual struggle.

Revisado: 06-03-24

I have read many books in an effort to become more knowledgeable on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. None of them can hold a candle to the breadth, depth and balance of this book. In a world racing to simplistic notions of right and wrong, this book reveals a true depth and nuance to the challenges. Not to mention it comes from the accounts of someone who has sat in the front row helping to lead many of the negotiations of the past decades in a lifetime committed to finding a lasting peace for both sides.

The challenges of the conflicts are exceedingly complex. I appreciate finding sources of information that leave me able to stand on either side of the challenge and articulate support for, as well as grievances against, both sides. This is such a source.

A rare find for those with the appetite to learn from someone who has spent their life working to stand in the middle and lead people to find common ground. And not in that poetically simplistic, wishy-washy “let’s all just hold hands” kind of way. Rather in a practical, sober, experienced, no easy answers kind of way — that still seeks to find the answers.

Anyone wishing to invest and engage the problem from this approach will not be disappointed.

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For those who want to truly understand…

Revisado: 05-05-24

In a world where we are becoming ever more prone to simplistic, single-sided views, this book refreshingly opens up to the depths and nuances of the Jewish experience (over millennia all the way up to the current day events).

As the series title proclaims, the book tackles uncomfortable conversations. I applaud this book on several levels. Tishby is a remarkable, well-spoken, well-researched, modern day voice of the Jewish experiences. Though perhaps even more so, as Jews are finding themselves ever-increasingly the target of antisemitism in recent times, Acho proves he is a rare leader to explore dialogues that help show how this deserves a seat at the table like so many other well-deserving perspectives for minority experiences.

And then there’s the very practical matter of this book factually deconstructing and debunking so many of the overt and covert falsehoods about Jews, Zionism, Israel, that are rampant right now (as well as their lesser known origin stories that go back for centuries).

Ultimately the message is one of coming together in constructive dialogue, a willingness to truly listen, even when it’s uncomfortable or disagreeable. Regardless of where any one is us may stand on an issue, this is a stand we should all support. Well done, and thank you.

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A big reframe for me…

Revisado: 01-04-24

It is easy to spot and denounce the atrocious hate crimes against Jews (and anyone else for that matter). It is not so easy to spot the often more subtle ways antisemitism is increasing in recent years. In fact, I’m a bit ashamed of myself to report, so many of them were ones that I missed or dismissed for years.

I cannot now. Especially in light of the recent attacks and the very public escalation of antisemitism. This book helped through thoughtful, well researched accounts of why the current systems of qualifying racism fall short for Jews — and worse yet, (if left unchecked) increase the dangers of histories circling back to atrocities of the past.

Thank you.

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The best book I’ve read on the matter…

Revisado: 01-04-24

I have read five books in the past few months that share perspectives for the Israeli and Palestinian existential conflict.

Without a doubt, this one is the most thoughtfully constructed to invite caring and compassion for both sides, without conceding widely held beliefs for Israelis and many Jews alike.

In a world where it is popular to accept the pervasive belief that there is a simple, single right vs wrong side of this (on either side), this book does not take the easy way out. On a subject that is quickly polarized, this book was a refreshing and welcoming change.

Thank you for helping me improve my own perspectives, and even my ability to stand for something is this conflict, without yielding my humanity to see the desperate challenges of the other side of the issue.

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A helpful reframing for me….

Revisado: 01-04-24

Never quite able to pinpoint why I’ve felt differently in the past years over the rise in antisemitism than I have felt before —this book helped me locate it.

After all, I’ve never personally been threatened, so why was I feeling increasingly uneasy? Why as someone in the USA, am I feeling a level unsafeness the likes of which I have not felt in the past five decades preceding? Where is it coming from?

This book, for me, helped frame it. The subtlety of the antisemitism, the ability to miss or dismiss it is so easy. The author has a fresh, biting wit for presenting a frame for what many of us are experiencing, an increasingly acceptable form of racism that is antisemitism. Thank you for such a thoughtful and concise work in this account of what so many of us are feeling.

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Facts alone are not enough…

Revisado: 11-27-23

This book is a fascinating and relatable journey to the unique, seemingly inexplicable way we as individuals and social networks hold onto and/or change our beliefs.

Taking historic major events, down to the more recent social media phenomenon of what color the dress is, the perspectives are extremely helpful. Especially at a time where much of what seems to get the spotlight are viewpoints that strike me as too extreme on either side, that is if the objective is to build towards progress together on difficult issues.

I appreciated the book for reminding me that “being wrong feels just like being right — until you find out you’re wrong.” That individual humility is more powerful than certainty, and that our networks (whether by design or default) produce so much of our frames of reference. At the end of the day, how to produce genuine, relatable ways to ask questions and listen sincerely to — not facts, will help us influence and be influenced to see each others perspectives. Thank you for the journey. I will indeed be adopting the methodologies outlined throughout the book, and altering the way I communicate on difficult issues going forward.

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Surprisingly Engaging, Thorough and Balanced

Revisado: 11-17-23

When a friend recommended the book I fully anticipated a dry, history-laden, academic book on Israel’s past. Though the book is thorough with history, it was far from dry or academic.

Noa Tishby poured her warm, direct personality into the book, making it rich with relatability and so right for the times. The book provided me a much needed context for the atrocities that have, and continue to be ever present in the region. Not to mention, the book does an excellent and thoughtful job of providing points and counterpoints for virtually every debate around Israel today. And I must confess, I did not realize how intentional, thorough, and subversively organized the information and PR campaigns against Israel have been for so many decades — from the UN, all the way to American college campuses.

Noa strikes a fine balance. Between expressing care for everyone in the region who is after living decent and productive livelihoods regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs — yet also impressively strong in the case for Israel, and a refreshing voice of reason amid so much social misinformation.

I’ve subsequently found her social media channels and now follow her. At a time in the region when public sentiment is being fiercely tested and contested, Noa has clearly become a modern day, relatable voice for Israel — and an impressive one at that.

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A dazzling journey into the vast depths of life’s meaning!

Revisado: 08-11-23

If you’re fascinated by the human quest to understand life, ourselves, and the vastness of the universe of the large and small, then you will appreciate this book.

The journey that Green takes the listener on sits at the intersection of pragmatism and philosophical mind-bend. A willingness to announce that for all that we think we know about life (which is remarkable), we actually know so very little.

As a listener of 99% non-fiction, at first I was concerned over the repeated references to science fiction. Then I realized it was used masterfully amid all the factual data to confront our preconceptions and thinking. Green tackles a truth that may indeed be stranger (and more diverse) than fiction. She draws us out from just facts for long enough challenge our creativity to imagine a wide array of perspectives.

And if I might add, Green’s writing expertise is richer than any tackling of science I’ve ever listened. And for anyone who ever finds themselves with author-narration fatigue, I could listen to Green’s voice narrate all day. I even found myself checking to confirm she didn’t hire a professional narrator.

So well done!

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Duhigg does it again!

Revisado: 04-27-23

Loved his book on habits, and then got this. I find Duhigg is tremendously adept in research-driven, practical insights. This book was no exception. His story telling was thoughtful, colorful, and I learned many new insights I will use when confronted with complex decision making, leading teams, and keeping an open mind.

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