Book Value
Leaders from the worlds of business, academia, entertainment and politics share what’s on their bedside table.
Growing up in Georgia, I was one of three Asian kids in school. Reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime (Doubleday, 2003) as an adult who has grown to embrace my differences and those of others was cathartic and a lesson in the power of empathy. The Curious Incident is a British mystery novel about an autistic teen, Christopher, who sets out to investigate the death of his neighbor’s dog. He makes an unlikely yet fascinating detective. He loves math, has a logical brain and hates meeting new people and being touched. I’ve learned that I’m a person who gravitates toward logic and does things differently, so I see a little of myself in him. I recommend this book to others because it’s a simple way to remind yourself that every person sees every situation through a different lens than you do. Our differences are what make us special.