Darran is well read.

I’m glad Darran Fernandez took the time to share what he’s reading, even though he felt the process was “like preparing for someone to read your journal.” Darran epitomizes motivation and ambition. He holds a Masters of Education from UBC and gets excited about  student engagement theory like I get excited about biting my lip next to movie stars. Darran hosts great dinner parties and only watches the classiest television shows.

What kind of a reader are you?
I’m a born-again reader.  After years of being buried in academic journals I’m ready to return to my days of trashy romance novels and re-learn what attracted me to them in the first place at the tender age of seven. Kidding.

Well, kinda. Seven years of school has me defaulting to Aristotle, Taras, Shannahan and Kuh as my go-to authors, though the last few months have reminded me of other story tellers – Eggars, Sedaris, Haddon and Gladwell – and I’m happier as a result.

Tell me about the last book you couldn’t put down.
The Opposable Mind by Roger Martin was the last book that for four days was, truly, an extension of my fingertips.  I cracked the spine two days into my trip to India this past December just after starting a new job and entering the tail end of my graduate work.  It couldn’t have come at a better time, especially with the loads of questioning about life’s next steps and friends suggesting this, that and the other self-help, leadership or aptitude test inspired book – Martin’s short read, thankfully, fell into my lap.

The Opposable Mind challenges the work of your typical advice books – best practices are a great way to learn how other people have been successful, but replicating the end result without knowing the thinking, context or full practice will probably not yield the same results.  Martin outlines that it’s much more important to emulate and understand how great people think – not necessarily what they do.  His simplistic model on integrative thinking is applicable in many situations – and helped me to realize my practice in my day-to-day life is independent of the practice of other great leaders, but in alignment with the great thinking of other practitioners.  The chapters of this book were easy to read, concise and had the flow of a great mystery novel.  Not to mention, it came at a good time when life’s biggest questions were hitting me in the face.

Some might say you have lofty political goals. What books would you recommend to someone who wants to take over the world?
Three books –
The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli – despite it being first published in the mid-1500s, the controversial concepts Machiavelli presents on acquiring, sustaining and the use of political power – by force, rather than rule of law – remain applicable and viable for present day.  It’s not to say that The Prince should be the rule of law for proper political management, but is a perspective necessary for proper world domination.
Straight from the Heart, Jean Chretien – everyone’s favourite love/hate Canadian Prime Minister published his first memoirs in the mid-1980s reflecting his experiences in a couple ministries in Pearson, Trudeau and Turner governments.  He shares the successes and failures of the governments he was a part of and lead, and showed what true modern day political management can do for a nation – what it means to be a strong leader and develop a followership equally as strong and how to remain true to ones character and convictions.  Attributes that are very important for world domination.
Yes Lives in the Land of No, BJ Gallagher – the book is a parable on navigating the world of ‘no’ and the successes and failures associated with being open to saying ‘yes’.  The second half of the book puts the actions of the characters in the parable into practice by outlining tips, tools and strategies to persist in the face of rejection and move beyond and find the yeses in ones everyday practice.  In politics – and world domination – you’re bound to get a few people disagreeing with you – navigating the practice and appealing to the masses so the yeses come easily is necessary.  It’ll also help you be a good people manager – another necessity when you’re taking care of over six billion people.

You’re also a nerd for education. Has any book influenced your philosophy on this?
I cannot say that there is one person or book that has influenced my philosophy, though a number have shaped and guided my practice in student affairs – G. Kuh, R. Keeling, A. Astin, G.A. Jones and J. Coleman to name a few.  At the most overarching level, St. Augustine is a philosopher whose thoughts on education align very closely with my own beliefs. He firmly believes ignorance is easy and learning requires a great deal of effort – students need to be critical thinkers and to question everything with a serious purpose, leading to the students gaining enough knowledge and independence to become their own teacher – a strong level of peer-to-peer learning.  His works focus on the power of the human mind and the education of the heart (as the heart works in tandem with the mind), education occurring in the community and knowing by loving.  He speaks of a society without barriers – financial, racial, cultural, etc. – to education; truly a right, not a privilege.

How do you get your books?
I buy books because I like to make notes in the margins when I’m reading and have them for reference when I need them.  Books are a part of my life and help to define who I am – they reflect my personality and help to share the story of my day-to-day.

Now, I have been known to trade them, but only if I can keep track of where they are.  No tracking device necessary, just a signed affidavit promising its safe return and a $100 deposit.

Tell me about your favourite place to read.
On a nice day in Vancouver, I head down to Jack Poole Plaza, in between Canada Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre and down the way form the Olympic Cauldron to plop myself on one of the metal lounge chairs that overlooks the Vancouver Harbour and the water airport.  In between chapters or self-reflections, I stare out North Vancouver, Grouse Mountain and watch the seaplanes take off and land in the Harbor and make up my own stories.  On a not so nice day, I’m curled up in my club chair in my apartment with a glass … er … bottle of wine.

If you were a book what book would you be?
I would be a complex 268-pager – educative, sarcastic and motivational.  It’s a book that you read, scribble notes on pages 13, 47 and 176, feel energized to change the world and finish it with a bigger smile on your face than when you first picked it up.  The next time you pick it up – because there will be a next time – you find new undertones and points of great hilarity you missed the first time around.  After round two, you’ll close the book with a cheeky smirk on your face, your left eyebrow raised and the desire to crack the spine again in the near future.

Darran’s Must Reads
The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
In Praise of Slow, Carl Honore
Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee