What Comes After the Last Page
Three books can change your Thursday. One book can change your world.
The other week, my father called me.
He was dealing with a health issue and wanted to know what to do. As he talked, it became clear this wasn’t something to sit on. It probably warranted an ER visit. He was stable, but it needed attention. So I did what I’ve learned to do over the years: I listened, slowed things down, and started building a plan.
My first call was to a medical school classmate and close friend, Matthew Grossman, MD. Matt is one of the premier gastroenterologists in the country—frankly, in the world. I told him what was going on. He didn’t hesitate. Within 48 hours, my father was under his care. The problem was diagnosed. Treated. Managed.
A couple of years ago, my daughter Ruby crashed during a ski race and shattered her shoulder. The injury required a complex surgical repair. I reached out to someone I trusted implicitly: another medical school classmate, Jonathan Bravman, MD, one of the finest orthopedic surgeons anywhere. He evaluated Ruby and, within weeks, performed the surgery that put her back together.
Just a few days ago, a childhood friend called me. His father had fallen and suffered bleeding around his brain. He was driving hundreds of miles to the hospital and needed help—not medical heroics, just clarity. Perspective. Reassurance. Someone to talk to while the fear set in.
Three moments. Three different people. Three different crises.
Same theme.
I’ve been thinking about these interactions a lot. They reminded me, again, how much of life comes down to relationships. When things go sideways—and health almost always finds a way to put us there—what matters most is who you can call.
Having friends who show up for you.
Being able to show up for someone else.
That’s the real currency.
For the past three years, I’ve been connected to this Three Book Thursday community. Nearly every morning, I’d wake up, transfer book notes into Evernote, and ask myself a simple question: What story might be worth sharing today?
The introduction to the very first post, published on December 15, 2022, read:
Three Book Thursday is an experiment. It’s for individuals who are lifelong learners—those seeking a rich life. The idea is simple. Each Thursday, I will share three books that changed my life.
Today marks the 100th post.
It also marks the turning of the year.
And it marks the final Three Book Thursday.
This experiment is complete—for me.
These 100 posts helped me grow. They clarified what matters. They pushed me to reflect. They brought me closer to friends and family. They reminded me that vulnerability leads to intimacy, and intimacy leads to fulfillment.
Three Book Thursday reconnected me with people I hadn’t spoken to in years—and brought people I’d never met into my life as colleagues, collaborators, and friends.
For that, I’m deeply grateful.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for engaging.
Thank you for being part of this.
My hope now is simple: to take the lessons learned and live them—to make sure my actions reflect my values. I wish the same for you.
Here is the link to every Three Book Thursday ever published.
People often ask me which books had the greatest impact on my life.
That’s a hard question. Books compound. One book unlocks the next. Growth doesn’t happen in isolation, it stacks.
Still, for this final edition, I want to share three books that most directly changed the trajectory of my life, not because of how profound they were on the page, but because of the actions and relationships they led to.
You will not take the same lessons from these books that I did. I’m certain of that. And that’s the point.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The first book I ever read cover to cover.
This book ignited my learning journey. It taught me that transformation is possible. That fairness and equality are not guaranteed. That disciplined effort matters. And most importantly, that belief in yourself can change your circumstances.
It also introduced me—intellectually and emotionally—to the Civil Rights Movement. That knowledge fueled a conversation I had in 1998 with a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. That conversation became a 27‑year relationship and a 20‑year marriage.
No other book could possibly compete with that.
A book I’ve never shared publicly.
I read it the year after finishing residency. Please don’t let the title mislead you. Much of the book actively discourages the pursuit of money for its own sake. What it did teach me was something far more important:
There is nothing on the other side of fear.
For much of my life, fear quietly dictated my choices. This book helped me see fear for what it is: a construct. Not imaginary—but not real either. Risk is real. Consequences are real. But fear, unchecked, is optional.
This book gave me permission to start.
This book changed everything.
It taught me about vulnerability, values, and culture. It was a railroad switch—one that sent my life onto entirely new tracks. It reshaped how I show up with colleagues, friends, and family. Its message became embedded in how I lead, how I listen, and how I live.
If I’ve ever carried a compass, this was it.
So here we are.
If you’ve ever noticed the quote at the top of every Three Book Thursday, it wasn’t accidental. It was chosen with purpose. Louis L’Amour wrote:
“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.”
I’ve always loved that line—because it reminds us that endings aren’t really endings. They’re transitions. New chapters disguised as closings.
As this chapter of 3BT comes to an end, I want to leave you with the three lessons that have mattered most to me:
Believe in yourself.
Keep learning. Keep growing. As Ted Lasso said, be curious, not judgmental.
And above all—love generously.
Always ❤️📚💡
Thanks, Adam. These post have been a meaningful part of my Thursdays.