#BestSellers December 5

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

It was not long ago when many newspapers posted all of their content online for free. I loved to browse the NY Times site on a Sunday and take in many features including their BEST SELLER list for books.

I am convinced that reading helps anyone become a better thinker and leader. When we get exposed to different ideas, the life stories of others, and the importance of values and principles we grow.

I decided to go browsing on Tuesday morning to see what hardback books were on the Non-Fiction BEST SELLER list. I was not shocked to find certain memoirs from Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on the list. For Michelle she has been on the list for 93 weeks while her husband, the former president made his debut this past week.

One book that caught my eye was #15 on the list titled “First Principles” by Thomas Ricks. The book takes the reader on a look backwards to what principles the first four US Presidents utilized. It also is fascinating to see that our first four leaders did have some fears on what our country might evolve into.

One takeaway I got from reading some reviews of the book was the following. James Madison realized that we needed a governmental structure that placed little reliance on leaders to set aside their private interests for the good of all.

Sometimes history is sobering especially when someone from the past pops up on a BEST SELLER list to remind us about our future.

Here is interview with Tom Ricks