Year-end Review of Books
Like many, I’d sum this year up in one word: brutal. By any measure.
But let’s focus on silver linings. A new dog came to our house on March 14, just in time for quarantine. So, I’m now walking a lot most days and have time to listen to many of the books that pique my interest. And my interests are insatiable.
Below is a list of the books I’ve read (or heard) this year and a subsequent personal rating. This isn’t exact but roughly the same order they were consumed. Many choices were made as a reflection of current events. Mix of fiction and non-fiction. A lot of different perspectives represented here that opened my mind to new ways of thinking.
What writing or podcast impacted you this year?
The Stranger in the Woods – Michael Finkel [3]
Blood Will Out – Walter Kirn [3]
Lord of the Flies – William Golding [3]
Trainspotting – Irvin Welsh [5]?
Stamped (the juvenile version of Stamped from the Beginning) – Jason Reynolds / Ibram X. Kendi [4]
Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates [5+]
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich – William L. Shirer [3]*
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley [3]??
The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell – W. Kamau Bell [4]
The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson [5]
White House, Inc. – Dan Alexander [4]
On the Beach – Nevil Shute [3]
Island – Aldous Huxley [4]
The Lost City of Z – David Grann [4]
Is This Anything – Jerry Seinfeld [4]*
Invisible Man – Ralph Ellison [4]*
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark – Michelle McNamara [5]*
Very Short Introduction series:
Fascism – Kevin Passmore [2]
Economics – Partha Dasgupta [2]
American Politics – Richard M. Valelly [2]
The U.S. Constitution – David J. Bodenhamer [2]
Legend
1 = couldn’t finish
2 = informative, not a pleasure read
3 = good, worth the time and/or culturally significant
4 = recommend
5 = excellent work on every level
* = not yet finished, rating subject to change
? = explicit
?? = re-read from childhood
-30-
Senior Director at Tyson Foods
4 年Lost City of Z is a good one, not exactly the same genre, but If you haven’t read The River of Doubt, highly recommend.
Counselor & Advocate | Regulatory & Commercial Expert | Policy & Contract Drafter | Leader & Trainer | Mediation & Negotiation pro
4 年Impressive! I loved The Invisible Man. I need to get myself in gear - I set a reading challenge every year on goodreads.com and I am a little behind! Currently listening to the new book by Obama - so far it is a recommend for audio as I am enjoying his narration. :)
Working with Awesome People
4 年Rise and Fall of the Third Reich...that is ambitious. I read it in college and loved it, but it is robust to say the least!! Good stuff Worth and Happy Holidays!!