What they’re reading now

David Lebenstein
Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield

What are you reading now, or what did you finish most recently? “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit. It’s about the early beginnings of a Jewish state and Zionism, as well as the history of Palestine — both before and after the 1948 creation of the State of Israel.

What prompted you to read this book? Being the son of a Holocaust survivor whose parents died at the hands of Hitler and the Nazis, I have always been curious about Jewish history. And, after traveling to Israel and Jordan for the first time recently, I thought I should read a book about the conflict.

What has stuck with you from the book? I’ve learned that everybody’s right and everybody’s wrong. The land is mine and the land is also yours. It’s a very frustrating reality.

Would you recommend it to others? If you want to learn about the details and developments of the conflict and understand the historical context, you might give this a read.

Carol Staab
Associate Broker, Douglas Elliman

What are you reading now, or what did you finish most recently? “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” by Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist and professor at Harvard Business School.

What prompted you to read it? I first saw the author’s TED Talk, and my work includes making a lot of videos: weekly market reports, vlogs and advice videos. So, I wanted to try out what she teaches when shooting my videos and giving presentations.

What has stuck with you from the book? What has stuck with me is how we can use our physiology to increase our presence and power. One way of doing this is through a power pose — standing with your hands on your hips, chin tilted upward and feet planted wide apart. Expanding your body language and carrying yourself in a more expansive way can indeed make you feel more powerful. The author conducted studies to prove her theory.

Would you recommend this book? I would highly recommend this book to people who want to improve their self-confidence and learn how they can become more powerful influencers.

Jeremiah Larkin
Executive Vice President and Director of Leasing, Brookfield Property Partners

What are you reading now? “1776” by David McCullough. The book is about the fight for American independence and the struggle of the Continental Army led by George Washington.

What prompted you to read it? I love American history and it was recommended to me by Duncan McCuaig, Brookfield’s senior vice president of leasing; he has never steered me wrong on a good read.

Has anything from the book stuck with you? I was struck by the sacrifice that our forefathers made for what they believed in. These were farmers, schoolteachers and shopkeepers fighting the most feared army in the world for freedom. As the soldiers were on the run most the year, the outcome was always in doubt.

Would you recommend it to others? I would recommend it to all who are interested in American history. With so much of the battle fought in the tri-state area, it is easy to imagine the troops moving through the city and the British ships filling New York Harbor surrounding Battery Park.