Brian Chesky (co-founder of airbnb)

This biography, meticulously researched over seven years with complete access to the Disney archives, provides a detailed and nuanced portrait of Walt Disney. It covers his early life, his transformation of animation into an art form with iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and films such as Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi, and his expansion into television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise. The book also delves into Disney's personal life, revealing a complex figure with both remarkable achievements and hidden struggles, including financial problems, a nervous breakdown, and personal controversies. Gabler's work is a masterful exploration of both the work and the man, highlighting Disney's impact on American culture and the power of his imagination.

In this book, Joseph Campbell explores his theory of the 'monomyth', a universal pattern found in the mythological narratives of various cultures. He details the stages of the 'hero's journey', which include departure from the ordinary world, initiation into a supernatural world, and return with a boon. Campbell draws on a wide range of mythological sources and integrates insights from psychology, particularly from Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, to illustrate the common elements of heroic myths across different cultures.

In 'Why We Dream,' Alice Robb delves into the latest research on dreams, revealing their crucial roles in learning, overcoming psychic trauma, and maintaining physical and mental health. The book discusses how dreams can help process pain, improve athletic performance, and even aid in recovery from addiction. Robb also explores the phenomenon of lucid dreaming and provides advice on how to enhance dream recall and experience lucid dreaming. The book is a fresh and revelatory foray into the science of dreams, highlighting their importance in our nocturnal and waking lives.