Unplugged
Tom Freston, Unplugged (Simon & Schuster, $29)
“Unplugged” is Tom Freston’s memoir of how a restless, middle‑class kid turned himself into one of the most influential figures in global pop culture. He traces his winding path from hitchhiking around the world and running a clothing export business in India and Afghanistan to joining a scrappy cable start‑up that became MTV, then rising to lead MTV Networks and eventually Viacom. Along the way, Freston mixes rock‑and‑roll excess, boardroom drama, and far‑flung travel to show that a nonlinear life—guided by curiosity, risk‑taking, and empathy—can still lead to outsized creative and corporate impact.
Shop local bookstores such as CHAUCER’S BOOKS, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara, chaucersbooks.com; GODMOTHERS, 2280 Lillie Ave., Summerland, godmothers.com; and TECOLOTE BOOK SHOP, 1470 E. Valley Rd., Santa Barbara, tecolotebookshop.com.