Cool People Telling the Story of Their Lives

During COVID, I went on a streak of listening to memoirs generally on audio books generally while running. Here is the best of the best. When possible, try to listen to the author in their own voice.

Okay I was running, so I started by listening to the origin story of the company Nike by its founder Phil Knight in a book recommended by my son Seamus called Shoe Dog. It’s not what you think. Phil ran track under legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman. He graduated Stanford business school in 1962, went backpacking around the world, and eventually borrowed $50 from his dad to start a sneaker company. For years he sold the shoes out of the trunk of his lime green Plymouth Valiant. He eventually hired his craziest friends. And year after year he came an inch from bankruptcy. It’s the best business book I have ever read.

Still on the running theme while running, I got turned onto Alexis Pappas on her interview on the Rich Roll Podcast. Rich is a former Stanford swimmer, recovering alcoholic, vegan, ultra-marathoner (which checks a lot of boxes for me). Alexis’s book is Bravey. I listened to her read it which was awesome. Suffice it to say her life started tragically. The book opens with the death of her mother when Alexis was still a kid. The daughter of Greek immigrants, she had to fight her way to everything she achieved, which is a tremendous amount. She ultimately became an Olympic runner, filmmaker, role model for millions of young women world-wide. Read the book. Better yet, listen to her read it.

I had the book Unbroken kicking around my office for months. I once picked it up and then put it down because I thought it too dark. I had loved the author Laura Hildebrand’s first book Seabiscuit. When I started running again, I decided to listen to her read about Louis Zamperini. Afterall the first section of the book is about how Louie, an Italian immigrant, had amazing natural running talent took him to the Berlin games and a gold medal. From there it is the most amazing story of survival ever told. It was hard to listen to but inspiring. One of those books that made me realize how relatively easy my life is. It’s an important book that you should read or listen to. A tale almost impossible to believe. But it is meticulously researched.

I was originally introduced to David Goggins when he was interviewed on RRP back in 2017 before anyone had heard of him. I eventually listened to his book, which he reads with breaks between chapters to elaborate on his story, Can’t Hurt Me while running during the pandemic. Goggin’s childhood was marked by poverty, prejudice, obesity and physical abuse. From that beginning he somehow became a military icon, the only person ever to pass both Ranger School and Navy Seals training. He then became one of the best ultra-athletes of all-time. His advice is hard-edged and inspirational. He is the epitome of no excuses. You listen to him talk and you want to run through brick walls. I love this guy. You will too if you are not familiar with him.

Chanel Miller has become one of my heroes. I was a little late to the game on this. Forgive my ignorance. I had an awareness of her in 2016 when her anonymous victim statement at the sentencing hearing of her sexual abuser went viral. But it was not until a friend recently encouraged me to read her amazing book Know My Name that I got the full story. I went back to watch the 60 minutes episode when she broke her silence. I also listened to her on We Can Do Hard Things talk about depression, her art, and going back to Stanford, the scene of her trauma, to speak to the incoming freshman class who had all read her book and getting a standing ovation of love and acceptance. I honestly think every man should read this book, particularly young men. I love everything about the courage, the grit, the brilliance, the brutal honesty of this woman.

Educated. I listened to Tara Westover describe growing up in a survivalist Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho. Her parents stockpiled canned goods for the end of the world. She is not allowed to see a doctor or go to school. She studied enough on her own to eventually rebel by going to Brigham Young and then Harvard and Cambridge. Despite the incredible abuse and trauma of her childhood, her parent’s insane world view still lingers. She wants to be loyal. But she can’t go back home. It’s a story of suffering and grief, education and freedom. And of grit and courage. She is an amazing woman.

Dreams of My Father It really doesn’t matter your political views, the origin story of Barack Obama is still incredible and uniquely American. How this Kenyan man, abandoned by his father and raised by his white mother and grandparents, finds his way from Indonesia to Harvard Law School, to the Senate, and the White House is a long-shot story beyond belief except for the author’s unique intelligence and charisma. Listening to him read it is the way to go. (pictured with his grandfather left)

Crying in H Mart is the story of identity, growing up Korean in Oregon. It’s about not belonging, trying to find your place, rebelling and coming back again when the person you love and hate most in the world is dying. It’s about the way life and art unfold in unpredictable ways. It about a woman who proposes to her boyfriend so they can get married before her mother passes away. It’s about a now famous musician who writes deeply about shopping for Korean food in an H Mart chain store and grieving her loss in familiar aromas.

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Tom Matlack | Father, Husband, Sober Seeker of Spiritual Enlightenment

During Covid I went a run of reading memoirs. Here is the best of the best. A woman stronger than any man. A guy who ventured, on the brink of bankruptcy for years, before there was venture capital. A woman who escaped her family’s bizarre and abusive religious cult. A President. An Olympian and film director (at the same time). A Korean rock star. Two of the toughest humans ever, one alive and one now passed on. All worth reading to be inspired by the human potential.

hashtag#Running hashtag#Sneaker hashtag#Olympics hashtag#venturecapital hashtag#music hashtag#cults

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This post was previously published on LINKEDIN.COM and is republished on Medium.

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