My top reads of 2022

As a new year comes around I like to reflect on my favorite reads of the past 12 months. I've read very few memorable books this year so I considered broadening this post to include podcasts, movie, series or even courses. DM me if you need recommendations on those because I'm keeping this focused on my top reads of 2022. Although most are rather recent, this just means I read them in 2022, not that they were published in 2022.

How the World Really Works , by Vaclav Smil

I discovered Vaclav Smil, and this book, through Bill Gates who says he's "his favorite author". I'm not ready to make the same statement yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed most of his account (especially the first 3 chapters) about, well, how the world works: Scientifically and physically, how human society is developing and is increasingly dependent on fossil fuels. It's a sobering book with essential knowledge.

Speed and Scale by John Doerr

After reading through Vaclav Smil and going through initial anger and denial, you will hopefully keep moving through the change curve to start exploring what can be done. At that point, you get to "Speed and Scale". John Doerr does a masterful job of applying OKRs (objectives and key results) to create an action plan for the climate crisis. It's very comprehensive, clear and engaging with tons of testimonials and interviews. Now we just need the same approach to be replicated at every level: country, community, company...

This is How They Tell me the World Ends by Nicole Perlroth

If you were not depressed enough by the climate crisis, you can read Nicole Perlroth's book to learn about the looming threat that most of us underestimate: cyberwarfare. Messages of doom aside, it's a well-documented account of what's happening behind the scenes in cybersecurity. It was eye-opening to me for example to learn about Russia's multiple cyberattacks on Ukraine's electricity grid, years before the physical war of 2022.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Hail Mary - yes please! I listened to this book in early 2022 and raced through it. It's a science fiction story about an astronaut on a mission to save humanity (what else?) that is surprisingly well rooted in science (or at least seems to be for someone like me). It's by the author of the top hit "The Martian". The audio version has well designed sound effects that make the format quite engaging.

Honorable mentions: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant, A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth: 4.6 Billion Years in 12 Pithy Chapters by Henry Gee, Influence Empire: The Story of Tencent and China’s Tech Ambition by Lulu Chen