Literary Lotus

WIMR: James K. Scott, Punahou

2008-07-16T07:00:00.000-10:00

What I’m Reading | James K. Scott
President, Punahou School

Q&A with Christine Thomas
December 2007

-What are you reading?

Currently I have two books going. One is titled Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life by Mark Freedman, and it’s about baby-boomers retiring and finding work that matters and finding work that matters in the second half of their life. I’m actually reading it with several other people who run non-profits about how the workforce is going to be changed—looking at possibilities for individuals but all also for companies. Every so often I get to read fiction so I’m reading a book called “Aloft” by Chang Rae Lee—it’s a book in common we’re reading with the English Department here, and it’s about a guy living in the suburbs of Long Island in a middle-age crisis. So a lot of adult males will relate to this.

There’s also a book called “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future” by Daniel Pink and in it he talks about the rise of right brain thinkers--looking at patterns and systems and nuances—those are not usually the skills awarded in schools. And then over the summer “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream” by Barack Obama. It’s been on my bookshelf for a couple of years and I finally got around to it. And a book called “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” by Michael Lewis. On the surface it’s a baseball book. It’s fun for me as a former baseball player, but it’s a new way of evaluating talent, or people resources.

-Where did you discover it?

When we new that [Lee] was coming I wanted to read his books. When I first met him at Princeton a year ago he gave me the book “Aloft” personally with his signature so I felt I needed to read it before he came. And "Encore" was sent to me by Robert Witt who is the head of the Hawai`i Associate of Independent Schools—we’re just reading it with a group of school heads and nonprofits. And the other person who recommended it was Calvin Takeda who is the head of the Hawai`i Community Foundation, and former head of The Nature Conservancy.

-What do you like about Freedman's and Lee's books?

"Encore" is just giving me a different way to view the demographic transitions in the faculty. So what’s happening for us in schools with the retirement of the baby boomers is you have this massive teacher shortage that’s upon us. This has given me ways to reframe this—maybe some of those baby boomers will be working longer but in a different way through mentoring or other ways. For those who are retiring it’s a way to reframe retirement. And most of my reading list is nonfiction so “Aloft” is a nice treat.

-Do these stories about people in transition help you envision how Punahou students and faculty can model and promote environmental sustainability?

I think 80 percent of our budget is the people costs of running the organization. And 80 percent of my time is filled with people issues. In my position I have to rise above the day-to-day and think more strategically and creatively about the issues, and as I do I can help force other people to do the same. I think even though sustainability is a thrust for us, something like “A Whole New Mind” actually fits into that. We’re trying not just to change kids’ behavior, but for them to see systems and the interdependence of systems and for them to become not just recyclers but more inventive and innovative and resourceful about how they might do things differently. We’re producing the next generation of change agents not just the next generation of consumers. If we can get from a 5-year-old to an 18-year-old to a 50-year-old faculty member to think about the interdependence of systems then you’re really changing how people conceptualize the world.

Everything Shiny & Bright...Well, Not Everything

2008-07-11T06:00:00.005-10:00

From the first page of Seth Greenland's new novel Shining City, I was hooked. It was sharp, hilarious, timely, and simply fun to read. Even more funny might be Greenland's book promo, which promotes his book while taking the piss out of every other dull book promo that has come before.

I recommended it in a recent Lei Chic feature.

Who’s Your Daddy?
By Christine Thomas
Published July 9, 2008 in Lei Chic

Should I have children, or travel? Pursue my dreams or get a job with benefits? Go to the denim sale or pay my electric bill?

Such pressing life questions seem simple compared to the quandary of middle-aged everyman Marcus Ripps, protagonist of Seth Greenland’s hilarious new satirical novel “Shining City.” After losing his factory job to China, Marcus faces defaulting on his L.A. home and living a sexless marriage, until his estranged brother bequeaths him an eponymous dry cleaning business. But this solution is quickly soiled when he learns the only thing being laundered there is money earned by a suite of prostitutes.

So, what to do but rationally consider the irrational—becoming a pimp. After all, then Marcus could pay off his mortgage, afford his son’s over-the-top bar mitzvah, rescue his wife’s business, and buy his medical marijuana-smoking mother-in-law health insurance. And if he’s a good provider and boss, offering 401Ks and health care to his ladies, is he really a criminal?

Greenland’s exacting characterization and pithy descriptions cleverly position this ludicrous plot somewhere between a laugh-out-loud farce and an illuminating portrait of modern society’s moral ironies and unbelievable dilemmas.

The perfect novel in a time when To pimp or not to pimp? is everybody’s real-life question.

Available online at amazon.com or your local bookseller.

WIMR: Stephanie Lum, KHNL Anchor

2008-07-09T07:00:00.000-10:00

What I’m Reading | Stephanie Lum
KHNL Anchor

Q&A with Christine Thomas
December 2007

-What are you reading?

“Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!” by Anthony Robbins. Before that I was reading “Peony in Love” by Lisa See, but I didn’t finish that one because I got sidetracked with “Awaken the Giant Within.”

-How did you discover them?

“Awaken the Giant Within” was sitting on my bookshelf. It was my boyfriend’s book and I would always see it but never had an interest in reading it. I don’t know if it was coincidence but all of a sudden I‘d run into people or hear from friends and coworkers about how wonderful it was and how it motivated them to made powerful changes in their own lives. “Peony in Love”—I read a book review in music magazine about that, and it stuck out because it’s about a young Chinese girl who dreams about finding true love and I’m totally a sucker for romance. But more so I wanted to learn more about my culture—it takes place in 17th century China.

-What captivates you about Robbins' book?

So far I guess I love that it motivates me to continue to work hard toward accomplishing my goals, to never give up. It also reinforces my belief that I am the creator of my destiny that I can control the outcome of situations and challenges by the decisions and choices that I make in life. That might sound like a no-brainer, but personally speaking, it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and before you know it time has just passed by. So it helps me stay focused on the things that I want to do in my life.

-Is it typical of books that you read?

I like to read books more like “Peony in Love,” books that take me to another place, because sometimes my career can get stressful, and I can escape and relax, and go to new places. I also read National Geographic Traveler and Newsweek—a variety of publications to learn new things and relax.

-As an anchor you deliver stories to help educate the public, so does reading sharpen your newsroom skills?

Definitely. In our industry we read every day to complete our stories so we’re telling a complete story to our viewers. We’re always reading and proofreading to make sure it makes sense and all the angels are covered and nothing is missing. I believe that reading equals knowledge; the more you read the more you learn. And that definitely relates to what I do.