On the Shelf: Book Recommendations from the BlueVoyant Government Solutions Team

One of the backlogs we hate to see pile up is the giant stack of books on our nightstands. Fortunately, some of us still made a dent in our reading lists last year. From cybersecurity and data science to national security, globalization, and everything in between, there are so many perspectives that impact our work and approach to government supply chain defense. And sometimes, a bit of science fiction, a gothic thriller, and maybe even a book on Formula 1 will happily find their way into the mix.

If you’re looking for book recommendations to round out your 2023 reading wishlist, check out some of our team’s favorite reads from the past year.

Book Recommendations for Work

1. This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race by Nicole Perlroth

“This book had been sitting on my shelf for a while, but Nicole Perlroth’s historical account of cyberattacks – and how they are only going to get worse – certainly helped to shape my perspective on cyber defense this year.” – Cassidy Chiasson, Sales Enablement Manager

2. The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-term World by Roman Krznaric

“It’s hard to think of a discipline that’s more damaged by short-term thinking than supply chain management. This book provides a roadmap to the holy grail of long-term planning, and gives me confidence that it is, in fact, within our reach.” – Gina Orlando, Product Marketing Manager for Third-Party Risk and Government

3. The Dream Machine by M. Mitchell Waldrop

“A must read, quite simply because you should understand the industry you serve.” – Sebastian Sobolev, Chief Technology Officer

4. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins

“A great read on how companies can be built and grown for long-term success and not just a single short-term boom, with an overarching theme of successful companies making sure they have the right people in the right seats. It was a favorite from the BVGS Book Club, and it feels like we are in that spot right now!” – Karen Hunter, Vice President of Finance & Corporate Administration

5. Cuentos Chinos by Andres Oppenheimer

“I really enjoyed this book because it offered an interesting, niche perspective on the rise of China in relation to the globalist boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The author, who is an Argentine professor, traveled across China, Latin America, and developing parts of Europe such as Spain to understand how the CCP managed to ascend to its economic position so quickly. Oppenheimer's perspective is neutral and curious, particularly in his interviews with top Chinese party and government officials. His perspective and background melds the development of Latin America, China, and parts of Europe into one cohesive story that involves cultural trends, the boom of globalism, and informal institutions.” – Peter Clanton, Senior Delivery Analyst

6. Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes

“While chronicling the science of nuclear fission and the creation of the atomic bomb, this is also a master class on writing about science, and especially its human element.” – Sebastian Sobolev, Chief Technology Officer

7. Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3-Second World by Brendan Kane

“I enjoyed this book's great insights on how to market and engage in the current market environment. The author, Brendan, really hits home the shifts in marketing dynamics, and that companies and individuals must evolve in order to stay relevant in a "3 second" world dominated by social media and an abundance of content vying for our time.” – John Eubank, Chief Revenue Officer

Book Recommendations for Fun

While we’re huge advocates of professional development and advancing our knowledge on all things related to supply chain defense, we also know the importance of reading for fun. We’d be remiss to not include a few personal recommendations – here are some of our team’s non-work-related favorites:

1. Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck

“A literary classic from Steinbeck that paints a diverse, wacky, yet distinctly American picture of his travels across the United States with his dog Charley. Driving over mountains, across deserts, and encountering people of all walks of life, Steinbeck's 10,000 mile journey in a makeshift camper van is a captivating read and highly recommended.” – Peter Clanton, Senior Delivery Analyst

2. The Deluge by Adam Tooze

“Tooze’s economic history of the interwar years is a few years old at this point, but it is one of my favorite books on the subject. It tells the story of the economic fallout from the First World War, America’s role in filling the fiscal and monetary void after the war, the failed attempt at reimagining global order, and choices that might have averted the Second World War. He does a masterful job pulling together political, economic, military, and ideological trends into a cohesive narrative about a hugely promising but ultimately tragic period in world history.” – Andrew Daly, Senior Vice President of Product

3. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

“If you’re a fan of gothic thrillers, this book is fantastic. The story is moody and atmospheric, but Moreno-Garcia also touches on various real-world issues. The slow-build of dread transported me into the pages, painting an eerie picture that was dripping with decaying decadence.” – Cassidy Chiasson, Sales Enablement Manager

4. How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey

“If you’re an F1 fan, this is required reading. It should also probably be required reading and a cautionary tale if you’re a zealous engineer who wants to have healthy relationships.” – Sebastian Sobolev, Chief Technology Officer

5. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

"A collection of essays taken from Strayed’s anonymous advice column, “Dear Sugar,” and I could not put this one down. Highly recommend it!” – Karen Hunter, Vice President of Finance & Corporate Administration

6. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

“Fantastic read that offers insight into the various advanced indigenous civilizations that flourished in the Americas before Columbus. The book argues for a re-assessment of longstanding views about the pre-Columbian world, painting pictures of incredibly advanced cities, mail systems across road networks spanning thousands of kilometers, botanical gardens, running water, etc.” – Peter Clanton, Senior Delivery Analyst

7. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

“After almost a decade of on-and-off reading and 12,000 total pages, I finished the Wheel of Time series – proof that you too can finish a high fantasy series and not be wholly disappointed in the conclusion.” – Andrew Daly, Senior Vice President of Product

Interested in hearing more from the BlueVoyant Government Solutions team? Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest insights on government supply chain defense and more.

Cassidy Chiasson is the Sales Enablement Manager at BlueVoyant Government Solutions