32 Books in 365 Days
(Short of my Goal for the 3rd Straight Year)
I lowered my target for 2022 after failing to get to 75 books in 2020 and 2021. 50 Books seemed like an achievable goal. Apparently, I was wrong. In my defense, I tackled some very long books this year. I also, snuck in a few short ones at the end.
The trend continued in 2022–I have no clear favorite in genre. There is significantly less fiction this year. The real world can be pretty interesting and I’ve been diving into more history. Like last year, the audio book has been a lifesaver and keeps me engaged on the go. I like to listen while driving or on long walks.
The good stuff from 2022
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X Kendi – This book, published in 2016, has won numerous awards. It dives deep into American history and more than just telling the history of racism in America, it breaks down the why (often economics) of policies and laws that reinforced racist ideas.
Will, by Will Smith – Before the slap, the memoir of Will Smith (co-written by Mark Manson) came out to wide acclaim. Despite what you think of his behavior at the Oscars, this book is filled with some amazing stories, hip-hop history and thoughtful soul searching. I didn’t love the ending, but he’s still alive, making work and figuring his shit out.
Yearbook, by Seth Rogan – Everyone knows who Seth Rogan is. Why would you read a book by Seth Rogan? I don’t remember what prompted this but I’m glad I stumbled into it. It’s not a biography, it’s short stories from his life. It’s funny, yes, but it’s also anxious and a little sad.
The World As It Is, by Ben Rhodes – This book was published by in 2018 which feels like 3 lifetimes ago in politics. It’s clear that there’s change coming and it’s a little foreboding. If you enjoy behind the scenes political wrangling, and want to jump into a time machine with Obama then this is worth a read–just don’t expect for a happy ending.
American Prison: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment, by Shane Bauer – Part history, part investigative journalism. This book centers on Bauer’s time working as a reported disguised as a working prison guard. It’s as broken as you might imagine and much more.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan – This book is Sagan’s love letter to science. If nothing else, this prophetic passage (published in 1996) makes this book worthwhile…
“I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness…
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman – It looks like one of those high-functioning, time management systems books. It is the opposite. It’s all about respecting your time and a lot about letting go of the craziness around being super productive all the time. Four thousand weeks, that’s our average life expectancy.
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz – History is rarely simple. I’ve been learning more about the native experiences in this country and it’s really eye-opening, super relevant to what’s still happening today, and also (while tragic) empowering at the same time. This book tells so many amazing stories that I can begin to give it justice.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker – From someone who spent most of college trying to pull as many all-nighters as possible, this was a book I avoided for a long time. I saw the headlines and I didn’t want to know more. I finally read the damn book and since then I’ve tried to remedy some of my bad sleeping habits. I’m not there yet, but knowing is half the battle. I learned that from G.I. Joe cartoons.
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis – This book is about the Pandemic. It details the amazing story of how the vaccines were developed, how the government of the USA failed and much more. It’s not just about a virus (Lewis is the master of this) but it’s also about why we couldn’t embrace our own knowledge and wisdom when it mattered most.
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Gallwey – I’m a fan of the aforementioned Michael Lewis. On his podcast, he did a whole episode about this book and its lasting impact today. I don’t care about getting better at tennis, haven’t played in years, with no plans to anytime soon. This book isn’t about tennis, it’s about focus and there are really good reasons that this is still being read almost 50 years after it was written.
I’m starting the 2023 reading challenge and I’m trying to read 50 books this year. Follow along at Goodreads. I’m already behind schedule.