My reading list from 2023

Here are my top reading selections from 2023, featuring a mix of business learning, non-business learning, and fiction.

My number one choice is "The Goal" by E. Goldratt. This business novel follows a factory owner who dramatically transforms his plant by applying lean thinking and the "Theory of Constraints". Not a very new book, but concepts are still there and very well illustrated by the story.

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Then comes, "The Martian" by A. Weir, the scifi novel who inspired the film with Matt Damon. As another novel from A. Weir was my #1 last year, I read two of his other books this year (you'll find "Artemis" in #6). It's again a scientifically-hyper-realistic novel, where both the action and science parts are reinforcing each other.

"Antifragile" by N. Taleb is my third choice. I'm fascinated by the idea that the antonym of "fragile" (which breaks under stress) isn't "solid" (remains unchanged under stress), but "antifragile" (strengthens under stress). Interestingly, there's no direct English word for this concept and I find it more compelling than the commonly used term "resilience." The book explores this theme in various contexts, from business to medicine, though it could be more concise.

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In fourth and fifth place are two educational comics: "Le monde sans fin" by Jancovici & Blain, and "Geostrategix" by P Boniface and Tommy. Both use the comic format for educational purposes. "Le monde sans fin" offers an insightful overview of energy usage and climate change challenges, though I recommend additional readings for a balanced perspective (see www.lemondesansfin-lecorrige.fr). "Geostrategix" provides a summary of geopolitical changes from 1945 to the present.

"Artemis" by A Weir, as The Guardian puts it, is to the Moon what "The Martian" is to Mars. This sci-fi novel, set on the Moon, is very scientifically realist, while being an engaging read. A good novel for engineers (even if I still do prefer "The Martian" and "Project Hail Mary").

Next is "Capital in the 21st century" by T. Piketty. This lengthy book was a must-read for me, given the author's prominence. It offers insights that changed my perspective on economics, emphasizing the significance of capital and inheritance over self-earned income. However, it could be more concise.

Another history book, "A History of the World in 500 Maps" by C Grataloup, follows. As the title suggests, it's a historical atlas illustrating the human story. It's not a book to read in one sitting; I found reading 2-3 maps daily more manageable.

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Then there's "Au coeur de l'ingénierie Toyota" by D Soulié. As someone responsible for R&D and Lean in a Japanese company, this was an interesting read for me. The book shares anecdotes and insights from a French engineer at PSA who worked with Japanese colleagues from Toyota on a joint greenfield project. It's an enlightening look at cultural differences and Toyota's lean development tools.

"How the World Really Works" by V Smil reviews the foundational elements of our modern society, such as energy, food production, and materials, using facts and figures. It presents a realistic, albeit somewhat pessimistic, view of the major challenges we face, such as global warming and societal issues, urging a complete overhaul of our living, production, and consumption habits. Worth reading in complement to "Le monde sans fin".

"The Lean Strategy" by M Ballé, D Jones, J Chaize, and O Fiume left me with mixed feelings. I wanted to deepen my theoretical understanding of Lean, but the book focused more on what Lean isn't rather than what it is. I might revisit it in a few years.

Others not requiring extensive commentary:

• "Pars vite et reviens tard" ("Have mercy on us all") by F Vargas: a good thriller
• "L'ère des anges" and "La terre transpercée": graphic novels inspired by the L Cixin works
• "Le bureau des affaires occultes" by E Fouassier: a historical novel set during the French Revolution.
• "Chroniques de l'érable et du cerisier, vol. 1": read it during a trip in Japan
• "Le petit théatre des opérations", a (too) brief comic revealing lesser-known facts about World War II.
• "Power" by N Alderman: a thriller in a fictional world where women take the power thanks to a superpower. Liked the idea of having a women-dominated world, did not like the story.
• "Liberalism and its discontents" from F. Fukuyama: I read this to balance "Capital," but found it overly theoretical, delving into various philosophical aspects of liberalism.
• "The Art of War", by S Tzu: a classic, but it felt disconnected from the modern world to me.