My Best Reads of 2021

2021 is almost over and, just as some parts of the world were planning post-COVID life, a new cycle has started with Omicron. For those of us who must or can stay socially distanced in their cocoon, a good book is always helpful to pass the time. Here were my favorites for 2021. Although most are rather recent, this just means I read them in 2021, not that they were published in 2021.

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates

Think what you may about Bill Gates, if you only read one book about climate change (and you shouldn't), then this should be the one. It delivers incredibly well on two things everyone needs to know: 1) Why we urgently need to reach net zero emissions and 2) What are the different sources contributing to climate change, the technologies available and the gaps remaining to reach net zero.

No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram by Sarah Frier

Behind every social media network is a good story. A few years ago I had a blast listening to Hatching Twitter , so when No Filter came along, with great reviews, I jumped in... and it does not disappoint. While it's called the inside story of Instagram, it's as much the inside story on Zuckerberg and how he pushed co-founders Systrom and Krieger to grow both Instagram and Facebook. It's also a good way to understand why many people, myself included, have been put off from using either network in recent years.

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis

A reading list for 2021 cannot be complete without a book about the pandemic itself: here's my pick. As with many of his other bestsellers, Lewis manages to turn seemingly ordinary people he interviews into fascinating characters and stories. It's a guaranteed page-turner about the few people in the United States who truly understood the risks of the arriving pandemic and were trying to prepare Americans, despite having no official permission.

The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey

I will start by admitting that I am a huge Federer fan so when I heard on the Tennis Podcast about this book, I immediately ordered it. It's a biography at the right time, when Federer's career as a tennis player seems to be really reaching its end, and by a journalist, Clarey, who has followed him from the very beginning. So how did Federer have such a long run? Plenty of luck for sure, but also determination and especially fun. The most striking part of Federer's story is how he continuously enjoyed every part of his tennis journey and drew strength from it: can you say the same about your own profession? If you can, you've cracked the secret as well.

Designing Your New Work Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

The second pandemic year has challenged everyone and also provided some of us time for reflection about what truly matters to us in life and at work. If that resonates with you, before jumping on the great resignation train, try out this book. I found it thanks to my guide, JP, as part of an agile leadership program. I'm cheating by adding it to this list because I'm only half-way through, but I found the first exercises already quite useful, and have shared it with all my team.

Other good reads from 2021: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer; The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson; The Culture Map by Erin Meyer; Team of Teams by Stanley McCrystal; Quiet Leadership by David Rock.

Happy reading and safe start to 2022!