Book of the Month by Mihir Desai

Editor’s note:  Thanks to my son, Timmy, for this my favorite read of the year so far.  I imagine that loving it depends on your perspective.  My children and I consider ourselves wisdom-seeking writers who generally hold finance in disdain.  And I know quite a few finance wizards who are not inclined to the arts.  Desai, a long-time business and law professor at Harvard makes wonderful connections between the two disciplines – from as far back as Archimedes to as current as The Simpsons.  I mean, who knew that the first examples of 529 college plans were romance savings accounts (for dowries) in 15^th century Florence!

Song of the month: “Lay your head on me”, by Major Lazer featuring Marcus Mumford

To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.

ee

Editor’s note: Thanks to friend, Frank Dixon, for turning me onto Giffels, a local (Akron) professor and writer. Don’t let the theme of building his own coffin (yes, that’s the story) throw you off. Rather than morbid this book is filled with wisdom, warmth and laughter. It is quite more about living than dying. Whether the cause is the author’s writing or my comprehension, the book started to really delight and engage me more after page 148, when at least a half dozen times I would stop, say “wow” and reread the paragraph or section.