2021 Year in Reading

2021 Year in Reading

Although I had always enjoyed reading, I never read more than 8-10 books in any given year. That all changed in 2020, when the pandemic forced us to quarantine and seek entertainment within the confines of our homes. During that time, I read 23 books across a variety of topics. It served as an escape from the early days of the pandemic and also made me feel accomplished. In 2021, even though things somewhat returned to normal (for awhile, anyway), I increased my reading load considerably. I used reading in the morning as a way of activating my brain to get ready for the work day, and as a break when I needed to reset. Listed below are the books that I read, with brief notes and whether or not I’d recommend them. Hopefully this is helpful!


Fiction/Non-Fiction

The Yellow House: A Memoir by Sarah M. Broom

  • Although described as a memoir, this stunning debut work dives into the history and mythology of New Orleans and 100 years of her family’s history there. Recommended.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

  • Although derisively categorized as “chic lit”, this is a well researched and compelling World War II story of family, love and resistance in France. A well told story with strong character development and a satisfying, if heart wrenching, conclusion. Recommended.

Tinkers by Paul Harding

  • Essentially a fever dream of an old man’s dying day, this is a beautiful story of life, love and loss. That said, given the (short) length, it was a difficult book to get through. Mildly recommended.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

  • This book details the active role of local, state and federal governments, as well as property owners, banks and real estate agencies, in creating an environment in which people of color were denied fair and equal housing, with the knock on effect of preventing any wealth creation or societal advancement for those affected by such policies. Recommended.

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

  • A collection of 9 quirky and thoroughly original short stories spanning the range of fantasy, science fiction and the just plain bizarre. Chiang is a gifted writer with a unique mind and style. Recommended.

The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream by Patrick Radden Keefe

  • Utterly fascinating account of the multi-million dollar Chinese refugee trade and the underground network of illegally transporting both the criminally minded and earnest hard workers into the US. Another incredibly well researched and told story from the author of “Say Nothing”. Highly recommended.

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

  • Winner of the National Book Award in 2020 - This is a thoroughly original book, both in terms of storytelling and composition. A fresh take on a troubling topic - race, identity and the Asian American experience. One of the best books I read all year. Highly recommended.

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

  • Winner of the National Book Award in 2016 - This deeply researched narrative defines the history of racist ideas and anti-racist actions through the lives and actions of 5 historic figures. Along the way, the reader learns that the space between racist, non-racist and actively anti-racist is loaded with nuance and conflict. Recommended

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

  • WWII account of life, death, war and peace for Australian servicemen in a Japanese POW camp, who are tasked with building an impossible road to advance the war effort. Beautifully written. Recommended

The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars?and Kurt Kohlstedt

  • Anyone who appreciates design, architecture or city planning will find this book thoroughly entertaining. It takes a closer look at common things in cities, in plain sight, that we never really see or understand. Highly recommended.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

  • A richly detailed history of the Great Migration, a period of time between 1915 to 1970 when millions of African Americans moved out of the South to escape racism and find better opportunity for hope and prosperity. Recommended.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

  • The reader really has no idea where this story is going until almost the very end. I can’t say that this is a cheerful book by any means and don’t want to give anything away, but I do recommend it.

Eat a Peach by David Chang

  • Chronicling the humble beginnings of Chang’s future culinary empire, this witty and self-effacing account also reveals his motivations, personality quirks and the hidden demons that drove him to great success and occasionally alienating those around him. If you are a fan of his restaurants or TV shows, this is recommended reading.?

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

  • Winner of the Pultizer for fiction in 2011, this colorful story depicts the life of a former punk rocker turned record executive trying to redeem himself for mistakes made. The latter portions contain some unique approaches to storytelling I’ve never seen before. Mildly recommended.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

  • Winner of the Pultizer for fiction in 1999, this book focuses on the English author Virginia Woolfe, a person reading her last novel, and the apparent physical manifestation of one of Woolfe’s characters. Their stories all intersect as the book goes on. I don’t pretend to understand the plot, and therefore not sure I can recommend it..

Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

  • Much like “Never Let Me Go”, this is an entirely original story that keeps the reader both engaged but also unsure where the story is going until the very end. The general plot is of a future where children of certain social status have human-like robot companions. Recommended.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson

  • Winner of the Pultizer for fiction in 2013, this is the improbable but completely mesmerizing tale about a young North Korean “bodysnatcher” who, after enduring unimaginable pain and suffering, goes on to become the unlikely nemesis of Kim Jong-un. The author’s well researched understanding of the mysteries of North Korea provides the backdrop for this amazing story. Highly recommended.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

  • Deftly showing his literary range, the two time Pulitzer winner changes gears from heady topics of racism and inequality to a clever tale about crooks and capers in 1960s New York City. The colorful characters leap off the page and heist stories crackle with gritty energy. Highly recommended.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

  • It’s somewhat amazing how the author can cover this much historical ground while making it engaging and even humorous. Provides a glimpse into how and why we have become the species we are, for better or worse. Recommended.

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

  • Serving as a sequel to Sapiens, this book posits what the next evolution of humans may be, as technology, environment and genetics collide to potentially result in an entirely new species. Occasionally dystopian and depressing, this is nonetheless an engrossing read. Recommended (but read “Sapiens” first.)

Mythologies Without End: The US, Israel, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1917-2020 by Jerome Slater

  • No one book can cover the entire history of millennium long land disputes, religious fanaticism and armed conflict that has characterized the Middle East throughout history. Wanting to get a better understanding of the underpinnings of this problem, I sought out a balanced account that was neither pro-Israeli or pro-Arab. This book, written by a Jewish American scholar, is critical of both Arab and Israeli policies, approaches and missteps over the decades. Recommended if you are interested in understanding more about this highly charged topic.

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich

  • Based on the true story of the author’s grandfather, the 2021 Pulitzer winner for fiction, this is the story of a Chippewa reservation in North Dakota, and the US government’s plan to emancipate them in 1953. Filled with richly detailed and memorable characters. Recommended

The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year by Dawn Dais

  • My wife and I are expecting our first child, and this is an eye opening account of all the things no one tells you during baby's first year. Although written from the mother’s perspective, with lots of humor, this is still something prospective fathers should read.

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg

  • Written in the style of a Boy Scout’s field guide, this mildly informative, if very funny, book gives a glimpse of what new fathers can expect. Some of the references and mindsets are quite dated, but it’s a fun, fast read and a way to break the ice to more serious books on the subject of parenting.


Business/Tech Books

How Design Makes the World by Scott Berkum

  • A fun book that exposes how design, both good and bad, is all around us and in everything we use. A fun read. Mildly recommended.

Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais

  • Based on the notion that team organization and orientation mimic the software that those teams develop (an inversion of Conway’s Law), this book reviews different approaches for optimizing team structures. Since I am not in software development, this book didn’t exactly resonate. Not sure that I would recommend.

The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well by Michael Lopp

  • Broken down into sections for the first time manager, director and executive level, this is a great introduction to tech leadership by someone who has been in the industry a long time. Also wrote a book called “Managing Humans” which has been well received. Recommended.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz

  • As one half of powerhouse venture capitalist firm, Andressen Horowitz, the author talks in great detail and based on personal detail how hard it is to do things that have never been done before and when failure is not an option. A classic for entrepreneurs or for those part of the startup ride. Recommended.

Good Services by Lou Downe

  • Excellent overview on developing new services or overhauling existing ones, and applies to analog, digital or a hybrid of the two. It provides a clear explanation of what both a bad and good service looks like. The book’s format and style are a little off putting though. If you can get past that, it’s a recommended read for those in the service delivery domain.

Infrastructure As Code by Kief Morris

  • The best primer on the concepts, benefits and path to implementing IaC tools and techniques. Fairly technical reading, but approachable enough for those not at all familiar with these topics. I read the first edition, but there has since been an updated version which likely covers more modern tools and use cases. Recommended.

Articulating Design Decisions by Tom Greever

  • While framed as a set of tools and processes for designers to present their proposals for maximum benefit and adoption, at its core this is really a book about communication strategies to get others to see your side of things. The principles outlined here could be adopted for any number of scenarios. Highly recommended.

The Invincible Company by Alexander Osterwalder

  • Written and laid out in the now classic Strategyzer style (see Value Proposition Design), this book describes common traits and characteristics of companies that endure multiple market changes to stay relevant and successful. Not my favorite in this series and would recommend previous books by the author instead.

Mapping Experiences by James Kalbach

  • A collection of tools and techniques aimed at how to visually depict customer experiences and align on business goals. Can probably get the same content, along with other useful tools, from a good design thinking or service design book.

Designing for Behavior Change: Applying Psychology and Behavioral Economics by Stephen Wendel

  • Digs deep into human psychology to identify how to develop product design that is both sticky and meets a deeper human need, without resorting to simple tricks of manipulation. It’s a fascinating topic, well written and approachable for those not in this field. Recommended.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

  • Although largely common sense, we all know that sense isn’t so common and sometimes big change can be daunting. This book proposes small, but consistent, changes can lead to outsized outcomes. Recommended.

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant

  • Sometimes to learn something new, you have to unlearn things that have been part of institutional dogma. Concepts are explained through relatable case studies. Highly recommended.

Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgement by Daniel Kahneman, Oliver Sibony, Cass Sunstein

  • Having read “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, I felt it was only logical to follow with this complementary research study. And while very interesting subject matter, it is also highly academic and, at times, dull. Concepts and hypotheses are described through case studies in court judgements and hiring decisions, which make the material more accessible. Unless this is your field, I’m not sure I’d recommend it.

Invent and Wander by Jeff Bezos

  • With a foreword written by acclaimed biographer Walter Issacson, this collection of writings provides a good primer into the way Jeff Bezos thinks about a wide variety of topics. Much of what is in here, namely the shareholder letters, is freely available. Other material is repeated several times throughout. Having all of this in one book, provides a case study in the type of writing favored at Amazon: direct, precise and uncomplicated. That said, I’m not sure I’d recommend reading, let alone buying, this book.

Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr

  • Former Amazon executives detail the peculiar approaches that have made Amazon an undeniable juggernaut. While I did spend some time there, although could never get the hang of some of their practices, this is a good instructional guide for understanding and implementing some Amazonian components in your own environment. While the authors were often in the room where it happened, this book also strikes me as a cash grab opportunity. Mildly recommended.

Inwoo Kim

Director of Engineering @ Samsung SmartThings

2 年

Thanks Bryce for sharing! Will be adding a couple books to my reading list!

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Ofir Hirak

Leader Technology Infrastructure

2 年

Thanks Bryce! I was looking for good 2022 book recommendation.

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