My Top 10 Books of 2023

It's THAT time of the year! Hygge at its best with a cozy cuppa, a warm reading nook, and your favorite book! 2023 was a busy year for me but I still managed to read some gems - here are my top 10 of the year.

As I grow older, my concentration seems to be dipping - so I combine Audible versions, Kindle versions, and paperbacks in my reading now. Audiobooks are my new fave as they allow me to be flexible and 'read' even when I am on my commute.

Without further ado, here are the 10 books that wowed me!

1. Same as Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life: by Morgan HouselWe are very bad at predicting long-term change. That is why Morgan Housel shares 24 anecdotes from life, work, and business on how we should focus on things that will stay the same. E.g., pay attention to being healthy instead of obsessing over the stock market fluctuations. Loved the thought process of living a fulfilled life with a mindset switch.
2. Find a Way: One Untamed and Courageous Life: by Diana NyadI loved Nyad's TED talk - 'Never, ever give up'. With the new Netflix film, I was inspired beyond measure and just had to go read her book. Diana is an endurance swimmer and she made history by being the first woman to swim 110 miles from Cuba to Florida, in dangerous shark and jellyfish-infested waters, at the age of 64. She failed on multiple swims and made it only on the fifth attempt - a story of never giving up, pushing the human limits, and believing in oneself.
3. Roman Stories: by Jhumpa Lahiri A maestro of the short story format, this is yet another gem of a read from Jhumpa Lahiri. Set around the presence of Rome, it showcases the inner lives of 'outsiders' in Italy. There are tourists and there are immigrants - there are teenagers and there are middle-aged people.Some people came and stayed and people who never wanted to come back. A beautiful, searing portrayal of life's small and big moments in the iconic Roman backdrop.
4. Surrounded by Idiots: by Thomas Erikson Have you ended a meeting call and immediately called up your work friend and said, " How idiotic was that?! " Then you gotta read this book. Thomas Erikson goes deep into human behavior and communication, based on personality types. We think we are 'surrounded by idiots' who don't understand us or don't behave the way we expect them to - but Erikson says we are the idiots for expecting everyone to be the same.To be a good communicator, manager, and leader, you must know how to get through to different kinds of personalities and you must know which kind you are. A must-read, especially with the return to office.
5. Yellowface: Rebecca F Kuang Imitation is flattery. Well, not in this case. A young writer's life turns upside down as she witnesses the accidental death of a close friend and then, makes the mistake of passing off her friend's manuscript as her book.A satire on racial diversity and cultural appropriation in the publishing industry, it also deals with the universal theme of jealousy and guilt.
6. Shakespearean: On Life & Language in Times of Disruption - by Robert McCrum Speaking of universal themes, we come to Shakespeare, whose work flourishes and is relevant, no matter which age or time we live in.A close friend turned me to this book and what a discovery it was!Robert McCrum turns his journalistic eye to why Shakespeare still matters. Why are readers and theatre artists still finding solace, hope, political protest, and inspiration in Shakespeare's work? He compares it to the actual life and times of Shakespeare when he took risks with his writing so it would be one for the ages.
7. The Year of Reading Dangerously: How Fifty Great Books Saved My Life - by Andy Miller I won't say I haven't been tempted to do a 'Year of Reading' for myself. This is the memoir of Andy Miller, a disillusioned editor, and family man, soon approaching middle age and needing renewed purpose in his life. He takes on a project to read 50 great books in a year ( including classics like Austen, Dickens, Melville, and Dostoevsky ) to find the 'meaning of life'. A poignant, inspiring read on how literature can elevate us in difficult times and show us a better way.
8. How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking:by Viv GroskopWomen, make more noise! Loved this book which helps women communicate with presence and impact.Have reviewed this earlier but recommending it again and her next book - 'Happy High Status' for all you champions!
9. Lessons in Chemistry: by Bonnie GarmusThis was such a reveal! I picked it up after hearing of the Apple TV series but boy, the book is something else!Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1950s - she endures endless sexism and even assault at work - can't complete her Ph.D. and faced with dire financial circumstances, she accepts a job on a TV cooking show - 'Supper at Six'. How she inspires and rouses thousands of women by combining cooking with chemistry, confidence, and candor is a masterpiece.
10. The Good Enough Job: What We Gain When We Don’t Put Work First: Simone Stolzoff I have been toying with the idea of a sabbatical and this was such a meaningful book to come my way this year.How and why has work become the only central idea of our identity?If you ask people to tell me about themselves - they will first and foremost tell you where they work and which role they play.Simone talks about getting off the career treadmill that seems logical but is making us anxious and depressed. He shares the history of people down the ages treating a 'job as a job' - a way of paying the bills. Not the be-all, end-all of identity. By drawing healthy boundaries between our work and our life, we lead happier, fulfilled, balanced lives and yes, make enough money to be secure.

So dear readers, as I sign off for the year, wish you Happy Reading and see you all in 2024! :)