Describe your ideal reading experience (when, where, what, how).
In the morning, on a lounge chair, with any book that is making me better. (Being a father to a 2-year-old means this ideal experience doesn’t happen!)
What books are on your night stand?
“High Growth Handbook,” by Elad Gil; “No Rules Rules,” by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer; “The Effective Executive,” by Peter F. Drucker; “Working Backwards,” by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr; “Shoe Dog,” by Phil Knight; “The Ride of a Lifetime,” by Bob Iger; “Good to Great,” by Jim Collins; “Good Strategy Bad Strategy,” by Richard Rumelt; “The Hard Thing About Hard Things,” by Ben Horowitz; “The Great C.E.O. Within,” by Matt Mochary.
Why so many business books?
As the founder of Lumi Story A.I., which was announced at the end of July, I am constantly working to advance my knowledge and learn from other brilliant minds on how I can build a successful and impactful company.
What have you learned from launching your own publishing company?
The difficulties that creators face while trying to bring their stories to life. The existing business models don’t allow for all creators to tell their stories.
What’s the last great book you read?
“High Growth Handbook.” The book is impactful because the information comes directly from industry leaders. It makes the book very relatable and applicable, which helps cut through the noise directly to solutions for a company.
What kind of reader were you as a kid? Do any childhood books and authors stick with you most?
I was a reluctant reader because the books didn’t resonate with me. It wasn’t until I read “We’ll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente,” by Trudie Engel, that I saw myself in a story, and that has stuck with me ever since.
Why is writing for kids important to you?
Kids are so impressionable. What they are reading and absorbing at a young age will stay with them forever, so it’s important to make sure we give them great and empowering books to read that help them lay a positive foundation for the rest of their lives.
Who is your favorite fictional hero or heroine? Your favorite antihero or villain?
Hero: Yuji Itadori.
Yuji is constantly trying to help and save others while trying to navigate his own growth and development. He is constantly conflicted by his morals, his power, the outcomes he wants to achieve and the situations he is put in.
Antihero: Erik Killmonger.
He challenges all of our existing perceptions of who is the hero and who is the villain. He makes people uncomfortable by exposing the impact of colonialism, the hoarding of resources for self-interest, and the disconnect between leaders and the people. His pursuit of creating a better future for people is honorable, and his methods make us question if the ends justify the means.
Which books or authors inspired you as an activist?
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” by Alex Haley, Malcolm X and Attallah Shabazz; “Revolutionary Suicide,” by Huey P. Newton; “The Wretched of the Earth” and “Black Skin, White Masks,” by Frantz Fanon; “Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” by Paulo Freire; “Black Awakening in Capitalist America,” by Robert L. Allen; “Women, Race and Class” and “Freedom Is a Constant Struggle,” by Angela Y. Davis; “I Write What I Like,” by Steve Biko; “Slave Patrols,” by Sally E. Hadden. These books are written by incredibly brilliant minds and provide research and perspective that is grounded in the liberation of oppressed people, specifically Black people.
Do you expect to write a memoir one day?
Yes. My graphic novel memoir, “Change the Game,” was my first, based on my high school years. I will write a complete memoir in the future.
You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?
James Baldwin, Alexandre Dumas and Toni Morrison.
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