Are you interested in how a company rises up from its humble beginnings to a multi-billion dollar company years later? If you are, look no further! Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings just wrote a new book about the unorthodox culture behind the workplace at Netflix.
image via amazon
His book, No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention, set for release May 12, describes his philosophy and management principles – fostering a culture where adequacy is looking down on and people were fired for being “just ok.” However, those that are fired for their average work received pretty big severance.
Hastings’ new book draws upon hundreds of interviews with current Netflix employees and also includes never-before-seen stores from his career, according with the publisher, Penguin Press.
image via variety
According to an article from Variety, “Hastings’ book makes the case that Netflix’s employment practices have afforded it “flexibility, speed, and boldness”.” It’s certainly questionable that the company expects the best work from its employees with no guarantee that they’ll be there long-term. An interesting read shows how ex-employees complain about the very culture that Hastings says brought Netflix way up.
If you’re still interested in Netflix’s rise to success and Hastings’ story, you can get his book on Amazon in the link above.
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The light at the end of the tunnel is almost in sight. That’s right, January is almost over! We’ve had a busy week here at Bookstr and I’m back to give you a rundown of what you might have missed. I’m broke after the holidays so it’s the only gift you’re getting from me!
Adaptation news
2020 so far has brought with it a whole lot of exciting book adaptation news. It’s not that it’s a current trend, per say, since books have beenadapted for the screen for many many years, but this year has been next level. This week we learned some more about Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere and its release date. Netflix gave us the main trailer for the To All The Boys sequel. You can read all about Little Fireshere, and check out LJ and Peterhere.
image via grammarly
NEWS NEWS
The book world had a few shake-ups this week. Be it fantasy YA, crime thrillers or family tragedies, there was a myriad of news in all book realms. Suzanne Collinsreleased some new information about her upcoming Hunger Games prequel. Lee Child haspassed the Jack Reacher baton to his brother. Jeanine Cummins’ newestrelease has been met with serious controversy surrounding racial representation and cultural appropriation. Phew, does anyone else wish we had a book news channel?
remembering the greats
Between births and deaths, there were commemorations this week for some truly great writers. Lord Byron’s birthday was on Wednesday and you can read about his wild anticshere. George Orwell died seventy years ago this week and we’ve got some interesting facts about the man, myth and legendhere.
three to read
Nehal is back with her three reads this week and you can read all about it here. Make sure to catch their killer video too.
Let Bookstr be your older sibling today (we’re in charge and we WILL tell mom if you’re not behaving!!) and pass on some vital information. This week we are focusing reading long books and writing good ones. If you’re looking to pick a long one, take a lookhere. If you’re trying to work out how to write a good one, let Kali show you the wayshere.
There you have it! You’re all caught up. I’ll be back next week to keep to updated but until then, happy reading!
Bookstr is community supported. If you enjoy Bookstr’s articles, quizzes, graphics and videos, please join our Patreon to support our writers and creators or donate to our Paypal and help Bookstr to keep supporting the book loving community. Become a Patron!
Each week, Bookstr scans bestseller lists across the Internet to learn what people are reading, buying, gifting, and talking about most — just to make sure you’re out there living your absolute best life! This week, we’re taking a break from the usual routine to bring you some summer reading for the 4th of July! Here are some reading recommendations as you relax on a beach, prepare to lounge by the pool, or take in the fireworks!
Image via Amazon
5. Shapes of Native nonfiction edited by Elissa Washuta and Theresa Warburton
Shapes of Native Nonfiction by Elissa Warburton is a collection of essays that helps us remember America’s first people, the Indigenous Americans, even as we celebrate our own independence from British rule. This collection features a full range of dynamic Indigenous talent designed around the theme of lyric essays. Featuring imaginative and well regarded talent putting on a full range of work, this collection is one to read about America’s heritage and certainly a relaxing read beneath the warm skies.
Image via Amazon
4. Because Internet by Getchen McCulloch
Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch is a good book to get yourself back into the internet swing of things in a relaxing fashion. This book defines the language and slang of the internet for not so savvy internet users, as the internet is making language change faster than perhaps our brains can keep up with. The author helps unpack the evolution of digital language, providing a survey of everything from the appeal of memes to the true meaning of ‘LOL.’
Image via Amazon
3. Revenge of the Punks by Vivien Goldman
Revenge of the Punks by Vivien Goldman is a rock and rolling book about reliving the turbulent days of youth. Goldman was Bob Marley’s first UK publicist but also wrote searing music reviews in the 70s and 80s. She now turns her pen to telling the stories of female music writers and women’s relationship to the music that defined generations. She tells stories of the genre’s rebel women such as Bikini Kill, Nehen Cherry, and activist punks. Goldman’s book explores their lives, capturing the spirit of rebellion to get you pumped for July 4th.
Image via Amazon
2. Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino
Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino is a collection of essays revolving around our own self-destruction, fueled by the rise of social media and our increased isolation. You might not think that’s an optimistic, breezy read, but the author tackles the essays with humor and grace, tackling challenging topics with easy to understand context. This may be a little more challenging, but if you’re looking for a way to truly stop your self-reflective sense of self-delusion and self-destruction, this is the read for you.
Image via Amazon
1. A Death in the rainforest by Don Kulick
A Death In the Rainforestby Don Kulick discusses what it means to truly study another culture that is not your own. It tells of Don Kulick, who went to the tiny village of Gapun in New Guinea to document the death of the native language, Tayap. Over thirty years, he documented the slow death of Tayap and the look of vanishing death. The story tells not only of Don’s illuminating look into the native language, but also the white society’s reach into the farthest corner of the Earth, and Kulick’s realization that he had to stop his study of the culture altogether.
According to The Guardian, Father Karel Stautemas, “in the presence of the town’s mayor and 120 journalists and enthusiasts,” made a startling announcement.
Image Via Cactus Hugs
The abbey, which Reuters notes has a phoenix emblem ‘with the Latin motto ‘Ardet nec consumitur’, meaning ‘Burned but not destroyed’,” was burned down in 1798 by French secular revolutionaries. As a result, the 12th century recipe was thought to be lost, but turns out the recipe, along with 300 others books, had been smuggled out and hidden within ancient archives.
The monks got to work. They did their best to keep the brewing as authentic as possible, such as using “wooden barrels and exploitation of particular local soil”, but changes had to be made. The Monks used only a few selected methods for brewing from the old manuscripts given that, as Master brewer Marc-Antoine Sochon explained to Daily Mail, “[i]n those times, regular beer was a bit tasteless, it was like liquid bread’”.
Who wants to drink liquid bread except for the person sitting to your left, dear reader?
And this wasn’t their first rodeo. In 1950s the Order of Canons Regular of Premontre, located at Grimbergen Abbey in Belgium, were approached by local brewer Maes. Since then, the abbey has famously created and worked with commercial brewers to “to use the Grimbergen name and emblem on its ‘abbey beer’.”
The ale won’t be available for mass consumption until the late 2020s, but maybe that’s a good thing. The Daily Mail warns us to “be careful” because “the new ancient brew – at 10.8 per cent alcohol content it’s likely to blow your cassock off.”
Several weeks ago I lost my library card. At one point it was in my wallet and then it was gone. I have no leads on its whereabouts. Presumably, it could be anywhere along the east coast, following I-95 from D.C. to New York City. Blown away on an illiterate wind. Realistically, it’s probably stuck in some sidewalk crack or floating in a puddle under the subway tracks.
I know that if somebody has found it, they haven’t used it. Online, I see that I have no new checkouts aside from the two books I took off the shelves almost sixteen weeks ago and keep renewing with the hope that I will find the time to sit down and read them. What kind of monster would checkout books on somebody else’s library card?
The reason I haven’t gotten a replacement library card is twofold. First, I think I owe the library a fifty cent late fee, which I am loathe to pay. And second, I don’t want to wither under the scorn of the librarian who has to jump through the bureaucratic hoops to get me my (hopefully complimentary) replacement card. Which is a shame because you can now use a New York Public Library card to get into museums and other cultural destinations forfree!
As a transplant from Washington, D.C. to New York City, I have been spoiled by the Smithsonian Institute and its dedication to intellectually enriching Washingtonians for free with tax dollars from the rest of the country. It was minor culture shock to see admission prices at the doors to many New York based museums, which is why I am glad I can visit some of these places without spending any money. My inner cheapskate penny pinches for joy.
The list of included institutions is pretty expansive, including the likes of the Whitney, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), and the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) to lesser known spots like the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art on Staten Island. Time for a Himalayan exhibition!
