I started posting about my annual top reads in 2019. I'm happy that I've continued this practice every year since then. Here are my top 10 reads of 2024.
- Same as Ever by Morgan Housel: We live in a world where everyone keeps talking about what will change. But we don’t talk much about what will not change and stand the test of time. Morgan Housel shared his wisdom on what never changes and why those matter through 24 short stories.
- Hidden Potential by Adam Grant: Another fascinating read by organizational psychologist Adam Grant on unlocking hidden potential. The book discusses factors and processes that lead to success. Full of actionable insights on discovering talents and developing them as winners.
- Policymaker’s Journal by Kaushik Basu: Kaushik Basu is the Ex-Chief Economist of the World Bank. This is a diary of his day-to-day life as a policymaker. Don’t expect much discussion about economics in this book. It’s about his experience as a policymaker at the national and international levels.
- Richer, Wiser, Happier by William Green: This book is based on the writer’s interaction with the world’s most successful investors. The writer explored the rules investors followed to be successful. Thoroughly enjoyed the discussion on how the same philosophies that make someone a successful investor can also be applied to live a rewarding life.
- What it Takes by Stephen A. Schwarzman: Blackstone CEO’s memoir and his lessons on building a successful and enduring organization. Covers wisdom on pretty much every segment of business from dealmaking to leadership.?
- Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson: This one was one of the largest books I have read in my life. The writer did a brilliant job of capturing key points of Musk’s life. From getting bullied regularly to taking over the world, this is a fairytale for nerds.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: It’s the story of a man whose job is to burn printed books. He is a product of a society that doesn’t want people to think and question the system. He ends up reading a book and starts questioning everything he has ever known.
- Kori Diye Kinlam by Bimol Mitro: One of the best fiction I have ever read. Around 1400+ pages book but I didn’t feel bored at all. It’s the story of Diponkor, an employee of the Indian Railway. Revolves around his relationships and moral dilemmas. I am oversimplifying the plot here to save time. This is written on a large canvas with a lot of interesting characters set in the pre-independent era of India.
- On Writing Well by William Zinsser: One of the finest reads on non-fiction writing. Full of actionable advice. This book has significantly improved my writing skills.?
- Aranyak by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay: It’s a story of a young man named Satyacharan who grew up in a city but had to join as an estate manager in a forest area to earn his livelihood. A man who spent his whole life in the city slowly falls in love with nature and the people of the estate. I was reading a review and the reviewer has perfectly summed it up, “ Aranyak is an astonishing, sometimes haunting account of one man’s struggle with nature – told by the very man employed to destroy it.”
I'm looking forward to reading many books in 2025!
