As the year comes to a close, we’re excited to share the best pieces we read in 2024. From thought-provoking books to interesting articles, these selections captivated our team and sparked engaging discussions.
- The Quiet Damage: QAnon & the Destruction of the American Family by Jessalyn Cook. Vianovo partner Tucker Eskew says, "The Quiet Damage is a detailed and empathetic account of five families facing Q-Anon radicalization. The author etches clear, bright lines between reality and madness. As we've all seen, these lines are blurred for too many of our fellow citizens."
- Caitlin Clark and Iowa find peace in the process by Wright Thompson. Vianovo partner Mike Shannon says, "At more than 16,000 words, it is more like a short novel than an article. Thompson chronicles Caitlin’s rise to basketball greatness and fame, her triumphs and challenges, and how she, her teammates, and her coach learned to bring out the best in each other."
- How Everything Became National Security by Daniel Drezner. Vianovo senior strategist MC Andrews says, "David Dresner explains the impact of globalization on national security in a way that helps public affairs professionals think about how a broad array of financial, societal and political issues are shaping world affairs today. His article makes readers ask questions about what is really important to America’s national security, and potentially how to shape positioning of new issues, as they emerge."
- Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell. Vianovo senior associate Britt Snipes says, "What I enjoyed about the book is that it goes beyond infamous cults like the Manson Family and Jonestown—it also examines groups like SoulCycle, MLMs, and social media gurus (I personally identified with wanting to be a Glossier Girl). It looks at the specific words and phrases that create strong loyalty and dependence on a leader or group, often by creating an "us vs. them" mindset. Cultish suggests that by recognizing these patterns, people can spot manipulation tactics in certain social situations, not just in obvious cults."
- The Alignment Problem; Machine Learning and Human Values by Brian Christian. Vianovo partner Eddie Reeves says, "This book came almost a half-decade ago, but I just read it in the last several weeks. While it every bit as relevant now as when it was penned, I wish I had read it at least a year ago. The book's most provocative insight is deceptively simple: our AI is only as good as our understanding of human values. For Fortune 1000 leaders, this isn't an abstract philosophical problem — it's a concrete business risk."
- The New CEO: Lessons from CEOS on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly (Minus the Common Mistakes) by Ty Wiggins. Vianovo principal advisor Amy Smith says, "I loved CEO executive search guru Ty Wiggins’ book The New CEO: Lessons from CEOs on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly (Minus the Common Mistakes) – a great tool in my work on strategic communications plans for CEO/presidential transitions."
