每当我读完一本书并决定下一本要读什么的时候，二者之间往往很少有什么逻辑联系。我可能会在读完一本关于南北战争的非虚构类书籍后，紧接着就拿起一本设定在遥远未来的科幻小说。看剧和电影也是如此：我倾向于选择当下听起来最有趣的东西。
但当我整理推荐列表时，回头看看是否有一条主线贯穿其中也是趣事一件。而这次的夏季推荐，肯定有这条主线。
这次我夏季书单上的书籍和电视剧都涉及到为他人服务的理念——为什么我们要这样做，哪些事情会让它变得困难，以及为什么我们仍然应该这样做。其中一本小说讲述了越南战争前线美国护士所做的牺牲，另一本则是呼吁（和指导）人们在数字时代变得更加慷慨。其它作品包括对与他人建立联系的思考，以及学校教师如何支持学生发展的演变的观察。即使是电视剧，也是一部关于政府特工保护国家的虚构剧集。
我并不打算深入探讨服务的理念，但它在今天无疑和以往一样具有现实意义。在战争新闻占据头条、政治分化日益严重的今天，欣赏那些帮助他人的人并思考如何让自己在生活中变得更加慷慨，具有启发意义。
以下就是我的夏季推荐，并附上了每部作品的详细评论。你是否也曾回顾自己读过的书、看过的剧、听过的音乐，结果发现其中意想不到的主题呢？
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《女人（The Women）》，克里斯汀·汉娜（Kristin Hannah）著。这本出色的小说讲述了一名军队护士在越南前线服役两次后，回到因抗议和反战情绪而动荡的祖国的故事。作者克里斯汀·汉娜写过许多成功的书（包括这本书），我也能理解为什么她会成功。这本书以优美的文笔向一群退伍军人致敬，她们所做出的巨大牺牲值得更多的赞赏。
《传染性慷慨（Infectious Generosity）》，克里斯·安德森（Chris Anderson）著。克里斯担任TED负责人长达二十多年，他探讨了互联网如何扩大慷慨的影响力。他为每个人——包括个人、政府和企业提供了一个如何促进更多慷慨行为的计划。这不仅仅是关于捐钱，他认为我们需要扩展对慷慨的定义。如果你想帮助创造一个更加公平公正的世界，但又不知从何入手，《传染性慷慨》就是一本适合你的书。
《流人（Slow Horses）》。我对间谍故事情有独钟，也曾读过几本约翰·勒卡雷（John le Carré）的小说，而我最喜欢的两部电影就是《间谍游戏（Spy Game）》和《秃鹰七十二小时（Three Days of the Condor）》。我认为《流人》可以和它们媲美。这是一部英剧，讲述了被分配到斯劳部门的卧底特工的故事。“斯劳部门”（Slough House）是军情五处（MI5）内部一个虚构的小组，当人们犯了大错但还不足以被解雇时，就会被派到这里。加里·奥德曼（Gary Oldman）饰演斯劳部门的负责人，他基本上是詹姆斯·邦德的反面：邋遢、酗酒，对下属很刻薄，但他那些叹为观止的间谍手段也一定会惊到你。像勒卡雷的小说一样，《流人》有足够复杂的角色和情节，你真得集中注意力，但最后也会感觉很值（在美国可以通过Apple TV+观看）。
《勇敢新语（Brave New Words）》，萨尔·可汗（Sal Khan）著。萨尔是可汗学院的创始人，早在AI兴起之前，他就是教育技术领域的先驱。因此，他在《勇敢新语》中提出的AI将如何改善教育的愿景是有根有据的。萨尔认为，AI将从根本上改善学生的成果和教师的教学体验，并确保每个人都能获得世界一流的教育。他深知迄今为止创新在课堂上产生的影响微乎其微，但也提出了一个令人信服的观点，即AI将有所不同。萨尔对教育的未来那敏锐的洞察是无人可比的，因此我强烈推荐《勇敢新语》。
《如何了解一个人（How to Know a Person）》，大卫·布鲁克斯（David Brooks）著。我很喜欢大卫的前一本书《品格之路（The Road to Character）》，但这本书更胜一筹。这本书的关键前提是我在其它书中没有发现过的：对话和社交技能不仅仅是与生俱来的特质——它们可以被学习和改进。他提供了很多实用的建议，并将其称之为“大声倾听（loud listening）”，这种做法可以让他人感受到你的倾听与重视。它不仅是一份提高对话技巧的指南，更是一张连接更紧密、更人性化的生活方式的蓝图。
When I finish one book and decide what to read next, there’s rarely a logical connection between the two. I might get to the end of a history book on the Civil War and then pick up a sci-fi novel set in the distant future. The same goes for shows and movies: I gravitate toward whatever sounds most interesting at the moment.
But when I put together a list of recommendations, it’s fun to look back and see if there’s a thread that runs through them. This time, there definitely is.
The books and TV series on my summer list all touch on the idea of service to others—why we do it, the things that can make it difficult, and why we should do it anyway. One is a novel about the sacrifices made by American nurses on the front lines of the Vietnam War. Another is a call for (and a guide to) being more generous in the digital age. Others include a rumination on connecting with other people and a look at the evolution of how schoolteachers support their students. Even the TV series is a fictional show about government agents protecting their country.
I didn’t intend to go deep on the idea of service, but it’s certainly as relevant today as ever. At a time when wars dominate the headlines and our politics is becoming more and more polarized, it’s inspiring to appreciate those who help others and think about how we can be more generous in our own lives.
Here’s my list, with links to longer reviews of each entry. Do you ever look back and discover unexpected themes in the things you’ve read, watched, and listened to?
The Women, by Kristin Hannah. This terrific novel tells the story of a U.S. Army nurse who serves two tours on the frontlines in Vietnam before returning home to a country rocked by protest and anti-war sentiment. The author, Kristin Hannah, has written a number of books that did quite well—including this one—and I can see why. It’s a beautifully written tribute to a group of veterans who deserve more appreciation for the incredible sacrifices they made.
Infectious Generosity, by Chris Anderson. Chris, who has been the curator of TED Talks for more than two decades, explores how the internet can amplify the impact of generosity. He offers a plan for how everyone—including individuals, governments, and businesses—can foster more generosity. It’s not just about giving money; he argues that we need to expand our definition of generosity. If you want to help create a more equitable world but don’t know where to start, Infectious Generosity is for you.
Slow Horses. I’m a sucker for stories about spies. I’ve read several of John le Carré’s novels, and two of my favorite movies are Spy Game and Three Days of the Condor. I’d put Slow Horses up there with the best of them. It’s a British series about undercover agents assigned to Slough House, a fictional group inside MI5 where people are sent when they mess up badly, but not quite badly enough to get fired. Gary Oldman plays the head of Slough House, who’s basically the polar opposite of James Bond. He’s a slob and an alcoholic, but then he surprises you with some amazing bit of spycraft. Like le Carré novels, Slow Horses has enough complex characters and plots that you have to really pay attention, but it pays off in the end. (Available in the U.S. on Apple TV+.)
Brave New Words, by Sal Khan. Sal—the founder of Khan Academy—has been a pioneer in the field of education technology since long before the rise of artificial intelligence. So the vision he lays out in Brave New Words for how AI will improve education is well grounded. Sal argues that AI will radically improve both outcomes for students and the experiences of teachers, and help make sure everyone has access to a world-class education. He’s well aware that innovation has had only a marginal impact in the classroom so far but makes a compelling case that AI will be different. No one has sharper insights into the future of education than Sal does, and I can't recommend Brave New Words enough.
How to Know a Person, by David Brooks. I liked David’s previous book, The Road to Character, but this one is even better. His key premise is one I haven't found elsewhere: that conversational and social skills aren't just innate traits—they can be learned and improved upon. And he provides practical tips for what he calls “loud listening,” a practice that can help the people around you feel heard and valued. It’s more than a guide to better conversations; it’s a blueprint for a more connected and humane way of living.
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