These are the books I have read in the last month:

Predatory Thinking, by Dave Trott

Pick this one if you think about a book to give your juniors at your ad agency. Dave Trott’s book is filled to the brim with great ideas and smart thinking told in a collection of random knowledge, anecdotes that all lead to the bottom line (at least for me): There is more wisdom and convincing argument in the reality of human interaction than in powerpoint slides and at the bottom of spreadsheets.
I will surely pick it again and again up as a reminder. This not your average advertising book like Lovemarks or Disruption. It is better, clearer and more inspiring. Because it does elaborate about one and the same thought for page after page. Predatory thinking gives you lots of new perspective can can build on yourself.

WE3, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

What a wonderful graphic novel. It tells the fictional background story of the world’s first cosmonaut, the stray Kudryavka better known as Laika.
Abadzis draws from many sources to tell, respectively draw, a tale of the unconditional love of an animal and its betrayal. On the one side there is Kudryavka, that friendly dog who trusts everyone, deals with everything and never gets angry about all the tests thrown at her. On the other side there are humans who fall in love with her friendly being, but all, on by one, ultimately will have to betray her trust precisely for all the reasons that won their heart in the first place.
My litmus test for a good graphic novel is whether the tale could not be told better in another format. I find Abadzis’ imprecise, organic pen stroke and his scenario deliver best. Recommendation.

WE3, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

WE3 is a unit of three militarized pets in exoskeletons. Dog, cat and bunny escape when they are supposed to be put down. Their flight turns into a bloodbath. Which is a euphemism for what happens when military types make their killer machines fight for their survival.While WE3 picks up the same general theme as Laika – the controversy of genuine trust of animals and utilizing (or should I say: abusing) it in technology – it comes in stark contrast. It is technological, polished, fast and brutal.  Think Hardboiled meets Watership Down.
But there is warmth. Underneath their armor these animals become very lovable for their specific character traits and you can’t help but root for them.
The 4-issue run feels too short and the end hasty. I would have loved to read more about the characters and animals, especially the dialogues between cat and dog.

Der lange Weg zur Freiheit: Autobiographie, Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela’s autobiography recalls his life from his upbringing in the fields of Qunu to his inauguration as South Africa president in 1994. Mandela thoroughly remembers the many events, persons, names, places and key moments of his life and as such the book is interesting. But is not the right book if you wish to find out about the development of character of one of the world’s most remarkable democratic leader of the last centuries. You get the facts and the politics, but hardly grasp the man who was able to reconcile a nation after being a victim for over 30 years. You find some hints between the lines, for instance when Mandela remembers the surprisingly friendly interactions with guards. I would have preferred to learn more about Mandela’s inner workings that to lead to his decisions, but this book is rather intended to be an historic document than a psychogram.