This Week’s Guest: Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor, consultant pedeatrician, chevening scholar, public health sector administrator, researcher, avid reader
I had met Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor many times before I invited her to make an appearance on this page. There was something about her which I could not put my finger on that nudged me to ask her to be part of this reading revolution. Was it her scholarly mien or her business like walk? […]
I had met Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor many times before I invited her to make an appearance on this page. There was something about her which I could not put my finger on that nudged me to ask her to be part of this reading revolution. Was it her scholarly mien or her business like walk? Was it in our discussions or in her authorial presence? There was something . . . which was at once spiritual and a kinship. It took weeks to finally get the interview. As soon as I visited her home, it became clearer. Nenna has a study full of books and in every nook and cranny of her house are rows and rows of bookshelves. She is a reader as is her entire family.
I was in her house when news of the Dana crash came through. Last week, we had Books for the Grieving Soul with no inkling of this National tragedy. As we mourn, let us learn from Dr Ihebuzor’s five favourite books on how to be efficient at whatever we do. These tips would help us run a better Nation.
CURRENTLY READING:
Nudge. It’s a book on health, wealth and happiness. It’s about behavioural economics. It nudges people to do the right things in the right way without them feeling as if they are being coerced. It’s all about making the right choices.
WHAT MAKES YOU BUY A BOOK IN A BOOKSHOP:
The title, blurbs, content and presentation. Once I like an author, I will always buy his/her books. Also I find that most of the books I buy have interesting linkages. The authors usually have Steve as their first names. The kind of books I read these days are recommended by authors of other books I have read. It’s intriguing.
BOOK YOU WISH YOU HAD WRITTEN:
The Checklist Manifesto written by Atul Gawande, a surgeon. He says a checklist prevents failure at delivering on tasks. He uses examples from architecture and flying and applies them to medicine. He gives the example that despite the many skyscrapers in America, they hardly collapse. He says that successful tasks cannot rely on memory alone as man is wired to forget. Team building and checklists are the keys. “If you miss one key thing, you might as well not have made the effort at all”
WHAT BOOK DID YOU NOT FINISH?
I buy books a lot. In fact when I travel my hand luggage is made up of books. Sometimes I buy books in response to a certain situation at the time. I bought Egonomics because I was dealing with an ego issue around me and I read the chapter that dealt with the issues. I have lots of biographies which I did not finish but I finished Winston Churchill and King Hussein.
FIVE FAVOURITE BOOKS:
1. Mountain Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. It’s about the work of Dr Paul Farmer, doctor and anthropologist and the World Bank president. This is about the incredible work they are both doing in developing countries. They have set up tuberculosis and HIV care centres. Farmer says you cannot claim to help poor people and stay far away from them. For example he says giving poor people medicine for TB and not giving them food is like washing your hands and then dropping it in dirt.
2. Leading like Madiba; Leadership Lessons from Nelson Mandela, by Martin Kalungu Banda. These are anecdotes and lessons around Mandela’s life. When he first took over, a lot of white employees who served white Presidents expected to be sacked.He kept them and they could not believe it.
3. I read a lot of devotionals. I have one I especially like called Women of Character. It tells you the story of women in the Bible in two parts to enable you understand them. Like the Queen of Sheba and seeking wisdom. Sometimes Christians fail to understand these messages and become lazy. We spend time looking at how people became close to God rather than seeking to be close to God ourselves.
4. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. The story of success and the 10,000 hours rule. Bill Gates did not finish school but he met the 10,000 hours rule. Highly recommended. I have all of Malcolm Gladwell’s books.
5. Every day is for the thief by Teju Cole. I read it in one day.
BONUS BOOKS: How to be brilliant, by Michael Hepell. This is about thinking in the right way. It says one should not use the word “try. “It’s a weak word. You don’t try to stand up after all. You are either standing or you are sitting. The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande. It is such a good book; I am willing to read it twice.
WHAT TIME OF DAY DO YOU READ:
I tend to read at night except when I am on Holiday. Then I can read the whole day.