This post is a part of the Book Beginnings and Friday 56 blog memes. And I always add a little extra, a quote from page 100. Visit more of my All About Books posts.
Fiction
Book Beginnings: Zarina Kazakova stepped to the glass doors of Belyy Dom, the Russian White House, and peered out at the leaden sky threatening to suffocate Moscow. It was not if the sky would unleash the first flurry of snow, but when. Meteorologists had forecast evening temperatures below zero, and as much as six to eight inches. Zarina sighed at the thought of another difficult winter as she forced her fingers into the soft fur of her mittens.
Friday 56: When he had finished sharing the information, Jenkins said, “You see, Viktor, sometimes the best disguise is no disguise at all. One can simply disappear in plain sight, and everyone speculates as to why he has done so, until they lose interest in him altogether. It is then that the person is most valuable . . . and the most dangerous. Wouldn’t you agree?”
100: Jenkins again looked down at the street. A black Mercedes had pulled to the front of the building. The reception desk had reached Federov. The FSB officer emerged from the passenger’s door. Volkov stepped from the driver’s side and came around the back of the car. “They are coming, aren’t they, Mr. Jenkins?” the woman said. “They are coming to—how do you Americans say it—kill two birds with one stone.”
Nonfiction
by Bob Knight and Bob Hammel
If you don't know what kind of person, what kind of character, Bobby Knight has been as a college basketball coach, you will after this. Good messages worth hearing.
Book Beginnings: “DON’T WORRY, HONEY. Everything will be all-l-l right.” Chances are the first time you heard that was from your mother when you were three or four years old. It’s dangerous and borderline un-American to speak out against any form of motherly advice, but let’s be honest about this one: “Let me kiss it and make it well.” The truth is that unless Mom had a mouthful of iodine, she probably wasn’t going to help. Whatever led to that soothing assurance was not going to turn out all right until medication—not mollification—was used.
Friday 56: Vitally important in working with people is to recognize and emphasize how good someone is at the things he or she does best. “You are invaluable to our team when this is what you are doing, but when you start deviating from what you are really good at, then you become more of a liability than an asset.” It is not a disgrace to be really good at one thing and not so good at another.
100: Sometimes things I read just stick in my mind, and I can’t really cite where I saw them. Lincoln said an important thing for any leader to understand is: Do what you think is best—after, I’m presuming, you’ve thoroughly thought out and researched the problem. I’d like to think even Abe, with his profound faith, made his judgments on something more than divine guidance. Someone of considerably less stature than Lincoln had advice almost as profound: Don’t start vast projects with half-vast ideas.