The Best Books I Read in 2021

I’ve been asked often how I read, and my methodology is not overly complicated and falls in three buckets:

1) Categories I am regulatory interested in – history, current events, rising parts of the world, the brain and behavior, technology and innovation; 2) Categories of spontaneity – the culture, politics and history of countries I’m about to visit, some interesting idea I had not thought of before; 3) Categories where I know I have to do better – great literature and fiction and leadership/religion/spirituality lead this area.

This year I’ve added a fourth – how to survive if not escape Covid and our too-often toxic political environment. The best reads this year for me, in this light, were in historical fiction and travel writing. In fact, they encompassed all four categories, and will be guides for me as I begin to go abroad again, and process our times.

For the latest in tech I rely almost exclusively on blogs and WhatsApp and other groups.

Time is a zero sum game and it is humbling how much I will never get to. I’ve learned to set goals of how many books to read every year and brutally stop reading early books that do not resonate. I thank Matt Colford and Nate Fick for setting me straight on these truths.

What is shared across my reading are recommendations from people whose judgement in an area I trust implicitly. I discovered this year that nearly half the books I read came from such friends and I am indebted to you (and mention you at the end of the post.)

This was a terrific year of reading, but if I impossibly had to single one per category, they would be:

Books Coming Out in 2022:???David Hoffman’s Give me Liberty

Africa:???????????????????????????????????? Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

American History/Society????? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s On the Shoulders of Giants

Antiquity??????????????????????????????? Mary Beard’s?Twelve Caesars

Art/Music????????????????????????????????Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop

Asia???????????????????????????????????????? Ai Weiwei's 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows

The Brain/Behavior????????????????Hans Rosling’s Factfulness

Europe???????????????????????????????????? Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing

Fiction???????????????????????????????????? Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun

Historical Fiction???????????????????? Harris’ Cicero and Barker’s Women of Troy trilogies

Leadership/Spirituality????????????Bruce Feiler’s Life is in the Transitions

The Middle East??????????????????????Martin Indyk’s Master of the Game

Science and Technology?????????Elting Morison’s Men, Machines and Modern Times

South Asia??????????????????????????????Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants

Travel Writing?????????????????????????All of it

World History?????????????????????????Will and Ariel Durant’s The Lessons of History

Links to these with all of my recommendations and summaries by category follow:

Books Coming Out in 2022 (I thank the authors for giving me early looks)

???????????Susannah Fox????????????????????????????????????The Patient-Led Revolution

The power of healthcare bottom up, and playbook by one who has helped make it so.

??????????Amal Ghandour???????????????????????????????????Where was I

Moving look at the Middle East, part memoir, from one of the region’s great writers.

David Hoffman????????????????????????????????????Give Me Liberty (Oswaldo Paya and Cuba)

Astounding reporting on this hero who is the example for standing up today

Michael O’Hanlon??????????????????????????????Military History for the Modern Strategists

Perhaps the best one-volume and actionable book on the subject I have read.

Africa:

???????????Chinua Achebe???????????????????????????????????????????????Things Fall Apart

???????????It is as stunning today as when I read it in high school and again in college.

???????????Michela Wrong??????????????????????????????????????????????Do Not Disturb (Rwanda)

???????????I'd admired much in Rwanda since its catastrophe; this is an essential cautionary tale.

American History/Society:

???????????David Eisenhower??????????????????????????????Going Home to Glory

???????????Outstanding reflection on the great figure from the lens of growing up with him.

???????????Thomas Evans???????????????????????????????????The Education of Ronald Reagan

???????????One of the most interesting books I’ve read on Reagan and his formative years.

???????????Drew Gilpin Faust???????????????????????????????This Republic of Suffering

???????????The quantity of death, and how we processed it in the Civil War forever changed us.

???????????Thomas Fleming?????????????????????????????????A Disease in the Public Mind (The Civil War)

???????????Provocative view of when sides no longer are able to listen to each other.

???????????Malcolm Gladwell??????????????????????????????The Bomber Mafia

???????????A detailed look at the people who made the war efforts in the air during World War II.

???????????William Halsey????????????????????????????????????Admiral Halsey’s Story

???????????A poignant reflection of this great but little known figure of World War II.

???????????Ignatius/Brzezinski/Scowcroft???????????America and the World

???????????An extraordinary series of conversations among three great minds on global affairs.

???????????Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?????????????????????????On the Shoulders of Giants

???????????He was also a superb historian with this is wonderful look at the Harlem Renaissance.

???????????Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?????????????????????????Coach Wooden and Me

???????????The life and story of one of the most important coaches of any sport.

???????????Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?????????????????????????Becoming Kareem

???????????His story is way beyond basketball, and an important memoir of where we are today.

Toby Harnden?????????????????????????????? ?????First Casualty

A profound/deeply researched look at first months in Afghanistan after September 11.

Mariam Klamkin????????????????????????????????The Return of Lafayette

When the great figure returned to a very different America for the last time.

Evan Osnos????????????????????????????????????????Wildland

One part journalistic memoir and reflection on a certain view of America today.

Karen Petrou??????????????????????????????????????Engine of Inequality

A deeply data filled analysis from an economist who dedicated her life to the subject.

Tim Weiner????????????????????????????????????????Legacy of Ashes

A historical overview of intelligence gathering in the US after World War II.

Wesley Yang?????????????????????????????????????The Souls of Yellow Folk

Essays by an award winning journalist reflecting on race in America.

Antiquity:

?????? Mary Beard????????????????????????????????????????A Don’s Life

The best blog posts of this legendary scholar of Rome and Antiquity.

Mary Beard?????????????????????????????????????????Twelve Caesars

A fascinating look at Imperial Rome through art created then and subsequently.

???Caesar (James O’Donnell trans.)??????????The War for Gaul

???????Caesar (James O’Donnell trans.)??????????Commentaries on the Civil War

???????Caesar holds up today in these wonderful and detailed translations.

???????Cicero?(Macdonald trans.)?????????????????? In Catiline; Pro Murena; Pro Sulla; Pro Flacco

?????? Cicero (DR Shackleton Bailey trans.)?Philippics

???????Cicero (W.A. Falconer trans.)?????????????On Old Age, Friendship and Divination

???????It is impossible to delve into this great writer other than to do so. Here is how I began.

???????Robert Davis??????????????????????????????????????The Coming of the Greeks

???????A surprising look at when did the Greeks actually rose and where they came from.

???????Will and Ariel Durant????????????????????????The Greeks

???????An epic and comprehensive overview, perhaps still unequalled.

????? ?Anthony Everitt????????????????????????????????Alexander the Great

?????? A vibrant and fast-paced look at this extraordinary life cut short at 32.

Homer (Lombardo trans.)???????????????????The Iliad

A beautifully rendered and accessible translation, best listened to on audible.

Elaine Pagels???????????????????????????????????????Beyond Belief: The Gospel of Thomas

No scholar has delved into the Gnostic Gospels and history of the early church as she.

Stacy Schiff??????????????? ????????????????????????Cleopatra A Life

The most comprehensive look at this great figure usually seen through the eyes of men.

Suetonius (Graves trans.)????????????????????The Twelve Caesars

Tacitus (Grant trans.)??????????????????????????The Annals (One and Two)

Riveting history, and the foundations of almost all Roman history to come.

Kathryn Tempest???????????????????????????????Cicero: Politics/Persuasions Ancient Rome

A thoughtful overview of one of the most influential people of the Roman Republic.

Arts/Music:

?????Jeff Chang??????????????????????????????????????????Can’t Stop Won’t Stop

?????Detailed overview on this history of rap music and culture.

?????Eric Siblin???????????????????????????????????????????Bach: The Cello Suites

????A beautiful tribute to these extraordinary pieces, their histories, and influences today.

Asia:

????? Francois Bougon?????????????????????????????????Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping

???? Taking on an impossible task to explain what may be motivating this world leader.

Thuan Le Elston?????????????????????????????????Rendezvous at the Altar

A lovely but somber fictionalized memoir of Vietnamese coming and rising in America.

Kishore Mahbubani???????????????????????????Has China Won?

The question is provocative, but underscores how much we need to understand.

Lao Tzu??????????????????????????????????????????????The Way of Life

One of the most influential books of China and many lessons for life today.

Jack Weatherford???????????????????????????????Genghis Khan: Making of the Modern World

A staggering look at one of the most important and little known empires of history.

Ai WeiWei??????????????????????????????????????????1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows a Memoir

A complex and courageous reflection by a complex and courageous artist.

The Brain and Behavior:

???Julia Galef??????????????????????????????????????????The Scout Mindset

?? ?A guide on why we react knee-jerk to so much; and how to address it in ourselves.

Malcolm Gladwell??????????????????????????????Talking to Strangers

The power of getting out of our narrative bias and experience.

?? Garett Jones???????????????????????????????????????Hive Mind

?? An essential look at IQ and the data behind its ramifications on different societies.

Hans Rosling ????????????????????????????????????Factfulness

We'd be in better shape if we embraced wonder in being wrong – as we are all the time.

Carol Tavris/Elliot Aronson????????????????Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)

We are wired, neurologically, to want to double down on our views. How to break this?

Peter Walker??????????????????????????????????????Complex PTSD: Surviving to Thriving

It is astounding how experiences of our past deeply affect our decision making today.

Europe:

?????Lionel Barber?????????????????????????????????????The Powerful and the Damned

????Lively read not only on the FT Editor’s life, but how the state of news is what it is today.

???James Burnham?????????????????????????????????????????????The Machiavellians

? ?One of the most important books of three – all explaining our political state today.

?? ?Roger Crowley???????????????????????????????????City of Fortune (Venice)

? Superb overview of the 1,000 year old Republic/Empire/Oligarchy all but unknown.

?? Giulia Foscari????????????????????????????????????Elements of Venice

?? Beautiful one part guide, history, design overview of this extraordinary city.

? Paul Fussell?????????????????????????????????????????The Great War and Modern Memory

?? Perhaps the best book on World War I and how its experienced were captured in literature.

? Martin Klingst????????????????????????????????????Guido Goldman - Transatlantic Bridge Builder

?? We lost a giant this year, whose biography overviews US/Europe of the last 50 years.

?? Robert Graves?????????????????????????????????????Goodbye to All That

?? One of the great memoirs of England in the period of and after World War I.

Patrick Radden Keefe ????????????????????????Say Nothing

A riveting look at The Troubles in Ireland from a stunning disappearance and murder.

Kia Hiruta???????????????????????????????????????????Hannah Arendt & Isaiah Berlin

A look at two great minds in conflict to understand the greatest crimes of the 20th century.

Erik Larson?????????????????????????????????????????Splendid and the Vile?

One more Larson page turner, now on Churchill at the beginning of World War II.

Thomas F. Madden????????????????????????????Venice a New History

Another excellent view of this extraordinary Republic’s history.

Friedrich Meinecke?????????????????????????????The German Catastrophe

An analysis of what was unravelling in Europe at that time, from a great thinker living it.

C.V. Wedgewood???????????????????????????????The Thirty Years War

The definitive look at this little-known period that shaped the world we live in today.

Fiction:

?? Shirley Hazzard?????????????????????????????????????????????The Transit of Venus

?? One of the most beautifully rendered novels I’ve read in years.

?? Kazuo Ishiguro??????????????????????????????????????????????Klara and the Sun

? ?The great Nobelist shocks as he explores science fiction and AI perhaps prophetically.

??William Trevor??????????????????????????????????????????????Last Stories

???I’ve not read Trevor in years, and each story is a perfect escape into perfect language.

??Barry Unsworth?????????????????????????????????????????????The Morality Play

??The great author turned to a murder mystery in the Middle Ages, and I read it in one sitting.

Historical Fiction:

Pat Barker???????????????????????????????????????????The Silence of the Girls

Pat Barker???????????????????????????????????????????The Women of Troy

These are two in a trilogy looking at the Iliad – but through the eyes of women. Stunning.

Robert Harris?????????????????????????????????????Imperium (Cicero Trilogy)

Robert Harris??????????????????????????????????????Lustrum (Cicero Trilogy)

Robert Harris??????????????????????????????????????Dictator (Cicero Trilogy)

This trilogy , with Barker, was among the best historical fiction I’ve read.

Paul Quinn??????????????????????????????????????????The Venetian Crusader

A fictionalized look at Dandelo, the aged 90 blind doge who reshaped the Mediterranean.

Leadership, Spirituality, Religion, Faith:

Bob Buford????????????????????????????????????????Half Time

A powerful look at meaning in our lives – through faith and focus on impact.

Bruce Feiler???????????????????????????????????????Life is in the Transitions

Experiences of people whose lives shook, and launched into extraordinary contribution.

Richard K. Fenn?????????????????????????????????Time Exposure: Time in Secular Societies

How do we think about our time on the planet – and time as a construct day to day.

Michael Beer/Fleming Norrgren??????Higher Ambition: Create Economic/Social Value

This book should be updated, but is a superb overview of what made best CEOs.

Don and Katie Fortune??????????????????????????????????Discover your God Given Gifts

Books on faith can trouble, but this is an actionable look at our strengths/spirituality.

Gay Hendricks???????????????????????????????????The Big Leap - Take Life to the Next Level

Hendricks has a big following, but I found helpful stepping through/aside of our fears.

Ariel Sabar??????????????????????????????????????????Veritas – The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife

This is a fascinating thriller on when the Gospel of Mary was discovered. Or was it?

Tony Zorc???????????????????????????????????????????Iconoclasm

My friend writes part memoir/exhortation to being and thinking outside the box.

The Middle East:

????? James Barr????????????????????????????????????A Line in the Sand (UK/France in the Middle East)

????? A definitive look at Britain/France fighting for control of the region in the last century.

Timothy Brennan????????????????????????????????Places of Mind (Life of Edward Said)

????? I am deeply influenced by Said and this is a fine first attempt to delve into his life.

Martin Indyk???????????????????????????????????Master of the Game (Kissinger in the Middle East)

Written by the only man who could write it:?made me look at HK in new light.

Hooman Majd????????????????????????????????????The Ayatollah Begs to Differ

? ??A wonderful look at Iran since the Green Revolution in 2009.

Toby Wilkinson?????????????????????????????????????????????World Beneath the Sands

A marvelous look at the history of Egyptology over the centuries.

Science, Technology and Innovation:

? Michio Kaku??????????????????????????????????????The God Equation

Few have inspired more physicists/made complexity of science more understandable.

Elting Morison????????????????????????????????????Men, Machines, Modern Times

An epic history of the rise of innovation – as relevant today as when written in 1966.

Brian Requarth??????????????????????????????????????????????Viva The Entrepreneur

A superb memoir/look at the rise of Latin Am startups by one who helped make it so.

???? Rebecca Wragg Sykes????????????????????????Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death

???? We have caricaturized these remarkable and complex ancestors. This book clears the air.

??? ?Maryanne Wolf?????????????????????????????????????????????Proust and the Squid

????How have we learned to read/write? How has our brain evolved over centuries?

South Asia:

???????Sujatha Gidla?????????????????????????????????????Ants Among Elephants

???????One of the most extraordinary and well researched look at untouchability in India.

Travel Writing:

Anthony Bourdain??????????????????????????????World Travel

I have been so inspired by his shows that I often forget how gifted a writer he was.

Patrick Leigh Fermor??????????????????????????A Time of Gifts

Patrick Leigh Fermor??????????????????????????Walking the Woods and Water

Patrick Leigh Fermor??????????????????????????The Broken Road

Astoundingly written trilogy of a young man hiking from England to Istanbul in the '30s.

Norman Lewis????????????????????????????????????A Dragon Apparent

Similarly astounding memoir of a young man who hiked across Vietnam in 1954.

Jan Morris???????????????????????????????????????????Venice

As beautiful a reflection and history and Venice as has been written.

HV Morton?????????????????????????????????????????A Traveler in Italy

HV Morton????????????????????????????????????????A Traveler in Rome

The best travel writing/historical reflections on Italy ever written. Holds up perfectly.

World History:

????????Will and Ariel Durant???????????????????????????????????The Lessons of History

????????Having delved heir volume on Greece, this essay summarizes their work wonderfully.

With thanks to: Herb Allen, Marc Andreessen, Lionel Barber, Katherine Boyle, Marcus Brauchli, Grant Brooke, Gahl Burt, Priyanka Chaurasia, Connie Chen, Matt Clifford, Sandy Coburn, James Crabtree, Hank Crumpton, James Diener, Bruce Feiler, Nate Fick, Susannah Fox, Sarah Friar, Amal Ghandour, Fadi Ghandour, Guido Goldman, Dean Graham, Neil Hindle, Blair Hoffman, David Hoffman, David Ignatius, Martin Indyk, Lucie Jay, Harry Miller, Emily Murphy, Lynn Nguyen, Michael O’Hanlon, Evan Osnos, Nadia Oweidat, Snigdha Poonam, Jim Popkin, Sally Quinn, Elizabeth Ralph, Brian Requarth , Jordan Schneider, Ben Schroeder, Ed Schroeder, Elaine Schroeder, Claire Scoville, Joye Shepperd, David Simpson, Robert Wachen, Jennifer Lehman Weng, Keshin Wu, Tony Zorc