The Digital Radish Book Club: March’s Top Picks
At Radish Towers, we’re incredibly lucky to work with such talented and inspiring women every day – from our female-founders to our amazing colleagues and clients.
On the back of celebrating International Women’s Day, we thought it would be apt to choose three books that could all be described as boundary breaking. In different ways, each book represents a story about confronting limits – and smashing through them.
As ever, if you’ve got any recommendations, drop us a line at hello@digitalradish.co.uk
Don’t forget to check out our February book club here for B2B marketing inspo.
What’s it about?
What if half of humanity woke up with a super power? The intriguing premise of Naomi Alderman‘s novel imagines how patriarchy would be upended for good – because only women are granted said power. The ability to generate electricity creates life-changing repercussions for the four characters at the centre of Naomi’s skilful story.
How does the author sum it up?
“I feel like my job is done if the reader is saying to themselves, ‘Wow, what would this be like in my life? How would this change things for me? How would it change things for my daughter? How would my work be different? How would my trip back home from the office late at night be different?” – Naomi Alderman
Why we love it
“It’s such an effective example of creative role reversal, with an excellently paced, electrifying plot to bot. The Power terrifyingly serves to show how willing those with power thrust upon them are to abuse it.” – Jack Toop
What we learned
Now adapted into a popular show on Amazon Prime, “The Power” is a darkly powerful exploration of human nature. Its nuanced take on gender issues, expressed by complex and compelling characters, invite readers to think about the nature of power and how easily it can corrupted.
What’s it about?
How would you rate your ability to stand up, right now, in front of 50 strangers and give a blinding five-minute presentation? It needn’t be as intimidating as it may sound – that’s at least according to Viv Groskop, whose book is full of practical tips to help people speak up with confidence and, well, own the room!
How does the author sum it up?
“Owning The Room is about feeling really comfortable in the spotlight. So comfortable that we’re OK with failing. Because when we’re talking to people in our everyday lives, we don’t go around thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to meet my friend for coffee but I haven’t prepared anything to say!'” – Viv Groskop
Why we love it
“It’s a really reassuring book. I think if you’re not used to public speaking or you feel that the “spotlight” Viv talks about is too intense, she’s super practical about how to confront the fear that can surface. Being willing to embrace slip-ups and errors is the flip side of confidence, and that’s the most useful lesson here, for sure.” – Ray Philp
What we learned
As a former stand-up comedian, Viv has a distinct perspective on how precarious public speaking can be. From effective body language to practical techniques to overcoming self-doubt and best-in-class examples of how to get different audiences onside, Viv’s book is exceptionally useful and well-informed.
What’s it about?
A portrait of one of Europe’s lesser known regions, “Border” explores how the lands where Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey meet have been shaped by wars, migration, Communism and the Ottoman Empire. Above all, the transient people who populate these areas – spies, soldiers, fugitives among them – make for fascinating subjects.
How does the author sum it up?
“It is understandable that borders are creeping into fashion again… Borders have always been with us, they have always served a purpose, and they have always failed, ultimately, though their failures have been so varied, so profound and so complex as to be confused, at times, with efficiency.” – Kapka Kassabova
Why we love it
“As a migrant myself, the idea of borders and how they affect people is really interesting to me. My family says that “nothing creates animosity like a border” – so I do quite like how the writer explores their impact. It’s a wonderful combination of personal experience and anthropology.” – Tess Coulthard
What we learned
You could write ten books about Kapka’s enigmatic subject and never get to the heart of all of its mysteries. But “Border” is a sensitive story about a forgotten part of Europe, and the limits that the people who pass through it come up against – and sometimes manage to transcend. It’s a heartwarming, hopeful book about overcoming boundaries of all kinds.
Share your favourites with us
Do you have any books you’d like to recommend to the Radishes? How about podcasts, videos, blogs or even documentaries? We’d love to hear from you – email us at hello@digitalradish.co.uk.