Courtesy of Lioncrest
(Can’t Hurt Me)
; Courtesy of Penguin Random House
(The Third Pillar;
A Woman of No Importance; Rise and Kill First); Courtesy of Simon & Schuster(White Ivy)What
They’re
Reading
Compiled by FANG BLOCK
For more book
choices, visit
Inspired-
ByPenta.com
December 2020 | InspiredByPenta.com | 29
Book recommendations
from business leaders
and cultural influencers
Jenny Johnson
President and CEO,
Franklin Templeton
A Woman of No Importance:
The Untold Story of the American Spy
Who Helped Win World War II,
by Sonia Purnell
“This is a remarkable story of an Ameri-
can woman who served as a secret
undercover agent in France during
World War II—first as a spy for the
British Intelligence agency SOE, because
the U.S. state department refused to let
her join, and then later for the U.S. She
had unbelievable success in mobilizing
the French resistance—fortunately,
unconscious bias worked in her favor, as
the Germans could not imagine that a
woman with a disability could be so
effective at undercover work—including
bold prison breaks! Despite her success,
the SOE refused to promote her, until
finally it became abundantly clear that
she was far more effective than her
superiors, and she was appointed to a
leadership position.”
Greg Norman
World Golf Hall of Famer, Chairman
and CEO, Greg Norman Co.
Rise and Kill First: The Secret History
of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations,
by Ronen Bergman
“The book was recommended by a few
of my friends. I recently went on a trip to
Israel and was fascinated by how such a
small nation has had such a difficult
history. This book really showcased how
hard Israel has fought and continues to
do so for its sovereign rights.”
David Hunt
President and CEO, PGIM
The Third Pillar: How Markets and the
State Leave the Community Behind,
by Raghuram Rajan
“While the globalization of capitalism
has been responsible for lifting millions
of people out of poverty, in an age of
rising inequality, many are rightfully
questioning the system as a whole.
Rajan’s The Third Pillar offers an
excellent framework to understand the
problems associated with market-based
economic systems and help us think
about solutions.”
Dana Canedy
Senior Vice President and
Publisher, Simon & Schuster
White Ivy, by Susie Yang
“I absolutely love fiction with characters
that are so richly realized and that defy
stereotypes and show us new ways to
see cultures and the people who make
them so complex and vibrant. Yang does
not disappoint, with this brilliant work
of literature that offers a unique view of
the immigrant experience and left me
thinking about class and character in
unexpected ways.”
Cristina Mariani-May
CEO, Banfi Vintners
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your
Mind and Defy the Odds,
by David Goggins
“I was inspired by Goggins’ persever-
ance and drive. As a working mom who
recently reorganized her business after
100 years of being family owned and
operated and who worked to reposition
it for today and the next generation, I
really loved the role model I found in
Goggins. I am also an ultra-marathon
runner, and David tells amazingly
detailed stories of long-distance trail
runs. If you want to feel empowered,
read this book!”