I am a reluctant commuter. For years I lived in downtown Honolulu within three miles of the office. Then, in 1993, I succumbed to the lure of suburbia, foolishly casting my fate onto the asphalt of Kalanianaole Highway before Phase II of the highway widening project was complete and just as real estate prices peaked. ‘Reading’ my way to work
I dislike commuting because the time spent driving to and from work is largely wasted. By the time I'm on the road, I've heard the day's news three times over and can recite most of the headlines from memory. To put the time to good use, I play cassette tapes of books.
I rent from a company that's got a great catalog of history, biography and nonfiction, all unabridged. The fatter and more intimidating the book, the better - they last longer.
I've absorbed biographies of Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, JFK, Lincoln and J.P. Morgan, a mosquito-by mosquito account of the building of the Panama Canal, the voyages of Captain Cook and much more.
My latest project is a biography of Chairman Mao written by his personal physician. I enjoy the juxtaposition of the images from this book - the political terror of the Cultural Revolution, the disastrous Great Leap Forward that catapulted China into a famine that killed millions, the purges, intrigues and deprivations - and the sight of well-groomed Hawaii workers driving their shiny cars to work. What better preparation for a day at the office?
