Annie's #BookWrapped 2022

'Tis that time of the year again. Sharing the amazing books that made an impact on me this year. Hoping you can pick up some in the holiday season.

1. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

A fantasy novel with beautiful characters in parallel lives who define what it means to 'live' beautifully. Feel-good book.

2. On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta - Jen Lin-Liu

I learned about the genre of food history recently and this book, recommended by a close friend, is amazing - part memoir, part travel book, part food history - it's the story of a cook and entrepreneur who travels to find the origins of the noodle.

3. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka

A dark comedy about the civil wars in Sri Lanka - harrowing in sections but such brilliant imagery.

4. A Song of Ice and Fire - George R R Martin

Courtesy of 'The House of the Dragon' series. Well-written and will keep you hooked to the history of the Targaryen's.

5. Wall and Piece - Banksy

Part socio-cultural commentary and part guerilla art, this is the hard-hitting thinkpiece from Banksy and his reasons behind choosing graffiti art as a form of social commentary. Must-read.

6. Face To Face with Vincent Van Gogh - Aukje Vergeest

My husband picked this up from the Van Gogh musuem in Amsterdam. I have always loved Van Gogh's life and work and this is a beautiful collection of his finest art, along with the story of his evolution as an artist.

7. A Still Life: A Memoir - Josie George

One of the most moving books I read this year. Josie's memoir shares her life's journey as a 'still life' version where she can't stand or walk due to a nerve impairment. Forced to lead a 'slow life', she still manages to create a meaningful and beautiful life, appreciating the small things which we all find mundane.

8. Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 1 and 2 - Yuval Noah Harari

I am a fan of graphic novels and these two volumes blew my mind! Really well done storytelling and graphics make Harari's narration of human evolution a fascinating read.

9. Figuring - Maria Popova

Maria Popova's brilliant newsletter - 'Brain Pickings' is something I have followed forever. This version of her book traces the uncanny connection of female inventors, scientists, artists, and founders from the Middle Ages to the modern day and how their ideas intertwined in astronomy, physics, space research and other innovations.

10. How Women Rise - Sally Helgesen, Marshall Goldsmith

Ever wondered why women find it difficult to rise in their careers? Despite having more awareness and opportunities available today? This important book makes all women aware of how they are communicating about their ambitions and strategizing their careers so they can rise to the boards of companies.

11. The Confidence Code - Katty Kay, Claire Shipman

Something similar to the earlier book. Recommended by a colleague and friend, this goes deeper into the female psyche and the inherent lack of confidence and self-doubt that women seem to have. The authors debunk the concept of confidence as a character trait and present it as a skill - a code that women can easily develop and implement to achieve professional and personal success. Super - important read.

12. Will - Mark Manson

The biography of Will Smith, written by the candid Mark Manson. If you are a Will Smith fan, this has to be a must-read. You will be inspired by his gritty journey in childhood.

13. Everyone You Hate Is Going To Die - Daniel Sloss

I am a fan of Daniel Sloss' dark comedy. (Watch 'Jigsaw' on Netflix - his stand up act ). Daniel's book is unique, funny and a thought-provoking look into human relationships.

14. Passion Economy and the Side Hustle Revolution - Utkarsh Amitabh

Utkarsh was one of my interviewers for Teach For India - he has built an amazing community in Network Capital and this book is an important documentation of the process of building a business from a side hustle. With the uncertainty of the economic scenario, learning how to create an alternative source of income from your passion project can only be insightful.

15. Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay - Liz Fosslein and Mollie West Duffy

A book about understanding all the big emotions that rule our personal and professional lives and learning to be self aware and happier. Their comic styles illustrations capture all our Zoom angst! :)

16. Great Circle - Maggie Shipstead

An inspiring story - the novel follows the uncertain journey of a female pilot, Marian Graves, who in 1950 attempted to fly the 'great circle' around the earth, flying over both North and South poles. She disappeared in this journey, much like Amelia Earhart.

17. My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh

A satire on millennial and Gen Z lifestyles - a young girl from an elite background is so bored with her life that she spends a year sleeping.

18. How To Change Your Mind - Michael Pollan

Took this up after watching the Netflix documentary about how innovative medical usage of plants has helped rewire the brains of PTSD patients.

19. Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan - Shrabani Basu

A riveting story of Noor Inayat Khan - born into an illustrious Sufi music family and the descendant of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, she was a children's books writer who became a British secret agent for special operations during World War II, under the name - Nora Baker.

20. American Kingpin: Nick Bolton

This is a story from 2011, when a twenty-six-year-old libertarian programmer named Ross Ulbricht launched the Silk Road. This was a clandestine website hosted on the dark web where anyone could trade anything—drugs, hacking software, forged passports, counterfeit cash, poisons. The government couldn't track this activity - till they did and imprisoned Ross. A gripping read!

That's all for this year, bookworms!

Wishing you a happy reading season and a beautiful year end.

See you in 2023.....Ciao!

Annie