Books I've loved in 2021

The joy of reading

During the past 5 years, I have become passionate about reading. Spending time recently in bookstores and the library has given me a much-needed reminder of the simple joy of reading a book. I derive excitement and energy from these books in a variety of ways. I love it when someone shares their latest read with me and the impact it had on him or her. I have had wonderful experiences doing research: sometimes spending 6-7 hours on a single book. I also get emotionally excited by the acquisition of a new book – especially a physical book! I believe that a hard copy of a book creates more of an emotional connection to the reader than its digital version. Reading on paper provides a different experience. If I buy a hardcopy of a book, it’s either a book I’d want to read several times or it’s a book I want to give to someone.?Several times this past year, I’ve bought paper copies of books I’d already read on Kindle.

Easy access to reading

Thanks to technology, we have unprecedented access to books. We can read everywhere, at any time; even those of us who only have 10 minutes to spare. I can start my book on a Kindle at home, and then, while on the move, I can continue to read the same book on my phone while waiting for someone. There are many benefits to reading books, one chapter at a time.?These benefits include increased retention…especially when reading non-fiction! The blessing of having access to various resources available at public libraries is one of today’s best kept secrets. Most of the books I read are from libraries that I don’t even physically visit. eBooks are delivered straight to my kindle in seconds. I always have 5-6 books on hold so I’ll get a new book delivered to me once a week.

Sequencing to increase engagement

A couple of days ago, I received Ray Dalio’s new book: The Changing World Order. I flipped through the book in order to understand basically what it was about.?This helped me to determine when the best moment to read it will be in term of books I had recently read. This is an important part of my mental preparation. Over time, I've learned that sequencing helps me get the most out of a book. I retain and understand a lot more if I plan wisely how to consume my content. If I read too many similarly themed books, they start to lose their impact. That’s why this sort of planning is critical.?But what works for me might not necessarily work for someone else. I just know I must pay attention to that more than ever.?.

A lifelong journey?

Reading hasn't always been my thing. I didn't read much before 2015. I am writing this article hoping that you will also become an avid reader overnight. It’s fascinating how a relationship with books can evolve over time. One can learn (or relearn) how to read, where and what to read and in which order. Things evolve. One can read faster, retain better, and thus gain the ability to better analyze the construction and framework of a book.?This is especially helpful for the reading of non-fiction books. The time it takes to read most non-fiction books can be cut in half without sacrificing retention. This is something you will get good at with practice.

Evolving areas of interest

After reading 50-60 books (90% non-fiction) a year within the last two years, I've been exposed to a variety of topics that have subsequently increased the scope of my curiosity. What I seek to know has evolved over time, as have my recommendations.

Here are some of my ongoing principles:

• Learning remains my number #1 priority. This year, I read the Leonardo Da Vinci biography by Walter Isaacson, Flash Boy by Michael Lewis, and The Price We Pay by Marty Makary.?These books were great opportunities to a) learn about one of the greatest inventors and artists of all times, b) understand how high frequency trading originated and the impact it has on today's economy and c) discover how dysfunctional the US health care system is.
• My #2 priority is to get a fresh perspective on something already familiar to me. I was moved tremendously by Reality Is Not What It Seems by Carlo Rovelli. The chapter on how to look at time both blew my mind and disturbed me. The book itself remained with me a couple of months after I had finished reading it. The same thing happened when I read One, No-One and 10000 by Pirandello
• My #3 priority is to escape current reality and experience something new. To read something that transports you to another world – like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, or the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – is truly a stress relieving exercise. For me, this recalls a quote from Dance with Dragons by George Martin: "A reader lives a thousand lies before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one."

Looking ahead at 2022!

My source of inspiration has evolved slightly: I rely a lot on YOU for suggestions to my reading list. ?50% of this list came from a LinkedIn post I wrote back in January 2021. I am also exploring new publications from authors I have already read. 4 out of the 8 books I am recommending below came out in 2021: How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith (June 2021), Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (May 2021), Genius Makers by Cade Metz (March 2021) and Think Again by Adam Grant (February 2021).

?I am excited about the coming year! New books are being published at a furious rate and I would love for you to share with me ONE book you really enjoyed and WHY. I will return the favor by sharing the books I loved during this year and hopefully give you an incentive to read these books yourself.

??? What is the best book you’ve read this year??What book do you give most often as a gift and why??

Thank you & happy reading!