My Best of 2024 Reading List

I’m grateful for you; let’s share some good books!

I am a voracious reader that favors fiction in the form of thrillers, sci-fi/speculative fiction, and fantasy; I also try to get in as much professional development content as I can. In 2024 I finished 37 books and audiobooks, and I wanted to share with you my must-read list of the year (for a full list drop by my 2024 Read Books list at Goodreads).

Let’s dive into it!

Favorite Sci-fi/Speculative fiction books

The Safehold Series, by David Weber.

Imagine a world where all technology is forbidden, where the slightest spark of innovation could mean death. Welcome to Safehold, a planet where humanity's remnants hide from a genocidal alien that destroyed Earth and all other human colonies by reverting to a pre-industrial society in the hopes of remaining undetected. Yet, within the heart of Safehold lies a secret rebellion led by a single android with the memories and personality of a 21st-century naval officer.

I am loving this series so much. I read the first three books of the Safehold series in 2024 and am well into the fourth one as we start 2025. This series defies traditional genres, since the events happen in the context of a medieval theocratic society but are driven by an advanced android with access to long lost futuristic technology. The books include maps, glossary, and cast of characters appendixes to help you get the full framing of the vast world-building the author does when he brings Safehold to life across multiple generations.

Wool, by Hugh Howey

The novel that was adapted into Apple TV's Silo. The book follows those who live in an underground city after an unnamed disaster rendered the surface world uninhabitable. The characters portray deeply human concerns and universal wants for love, truth, freedom, continuity, and peace and as a result are endearing and memorable. A great read! As a side note: I was very pleasantly surprised to realize how good of an adaptation Apple managed to create with its show.

Favorite Fantasy/Alternate fiction books

The Poppy War trilogy, by R.F. Kuang

My 2023 book of the year was Babel, also by R.F. Kuang, so this year I went back to read her Poppy War series: The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God and I was rewarded greatly for having done so.

The country of Nikan had suffered countless civil wars until a ruthless shamanic emperor united all the territories. Many years later Rin, an ambitious and fiercely determined war orphan who rises from the depths of poverty to attend the prestigious Sinegard military academy goes through a tumultuous journey of power, revenge, and self-discovery as she awakens to her own shamanic powers.

In its fictional setting, the trilogy of books mirrors historical events and real-world locations with parallelisms that are impossible to ignore shining a bright light on some of the historical horrors inflicted.

Favorite Thriller

You Like It Darker, by Stephen King

Stephen King continues to write like he's running out of time (pop culture reference!) and among other books in 2024 he released a collection of 12 short stories in You Like It Darker. Eleven of the twelve stories were 4.5 stars or higher for me, so I absolutely recommend the collection. Since these are short stories, it is harder to give you a summary without spoiling anything but trust me when I say it is worth your time.

Favorite non-fiction books

White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy, by Rev. William J. Barber II

I already wrote a review for this book back in August, go check it out. Bottomline: the common perception of poverty as predominantly a Black issue is a myth that obscures the reality that there are millions more poor white people in the United States. People in power use this myth to further divide us, and if the recent US election is any evidence it continues to work in their favor. An absolute must read.

I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: Everything I Wish I Never Had to Learn About Money, by Madeline Pendleton

The best book about personal finance and managing money for a new generation. When you live in an unethical world, "the goal is to survive". Each chapter is punctuated by applicable advice aimed at the tail end of the millennial and Gen Z generations on finding a job, getting a lease, purchasing a vehicle, saving and using your money while avoiding pitfalls, among other. This book is way better than any get-rich-quick mindset books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, it even dedicates a chapter to critique those books. This is the book I am sharing with my teenage kids to prepare them to make good choices as they venture into adulthood.

Favorite self-development book

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

This book works as a historical record of Amazon meteoric rise and as a blueprint of best practices other companies could replicate to try and capture some of the innovation that Amazon brought to product design, people management, developing new markets, and corporate alignment and strategy. It is a fascinating read.

Honorary mention

The Quantum Games, by Robably

Disclaimer: I know the author and was lucky to be one of the first to read this work.

The first book by a new author, The Quantum Games is a fun coming-of-age story about a group of five students who are chosen to take part in an intergalactic contest. While the pacing is uneven in a couple of chapters, the characters and plot kept me interested as Robably successfully merges videogame and Sci-Fi concepts with John Hughes' americana vibes. A recommended read!

Have a 2025 full of good books and growth!

-- Manuel T. Reiner, the blue haired nerd.