I read thirty six books last year. Top picks are below, and you can find the full list over at the index.

Literature

It was a good year for literature. All four of these are incredibly well written and fresh.

Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon

Detective Noir set in a fictional Jewish settlement in Alaska. Loved the Yiddish peppered throughout.

Nine months Landsman’s been flopping at the Hotel Zamenhof without any of his fellow residents managing to get themselves murdered. Now somebody has put a bullet in the brain of the occupant of 208, a yid who was calling himself Emanuel Lasker.

A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Each chapter told by a different character in a unique style, and could almost stand alone as short stories though are still intricately connected. Super interesting structure. Its sequel (or … companion piece?) The Candy House is also fantastic, focusing more on near-future technology.

“Time’s a goon, right? You gonna let that goon push you around?” Scotty shook his head. “The goon won.”

The Office Of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

Six short stories and a novella that all feel unique.

I used to think you were so brave, and sometimes I still do, and sometimes I think it’s just that there’s nothing in your life but you, and you have no idea what it means to be scared that what you do might matter.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Witty and poignant. Recommended here as “read this if you’re looking to get into literary fiction” which is spot on. I discovered this creator this year and many of her recommendations were fantastic.

Fitzgerald said that the sign of genius is being able to hold two contradictory ideas in your head at the same time. But what if you hold two contradictory fears? Are you still some kind of a genius?

Non-fiction

The Price of Peace by Zachary D. Carter

Biography of John Maynard Keynes, who I previously only knew nothing of except the economic school of thought he is famously known for. Usually not into biographies but this was good.

Made me appreciate how his thought was shaped by real world experience: across both world wars, involvement in the arts, and a deep-seated desire to create the conditions for peace — of which economics plays a critical role.

Also gave me a new lens into international relations around that time.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Memoir of a therapist, centred on her own journey through therapy. Funny, more twists than you’d expect from a memoir, and a lot of insight into the therapeutic process.

Outlive by Peter Attia

What do you want to be able to do at eighty? Figure that out then work backwards. You probably need to be a lot stronger today to account for inevitable physical decline.

Wasn’t simply about “do exercise” though. What types of exercise? Why? Also covers nutrition, drugs, and mental health from an evidence informed perspective.

It’s important, obviously, that our strategy be based on evidence. Unfortunately, the pursuit of longevity is where the most powerful tool of Medicine 2.0, the randomised clinical trial in humans, runs into a brick wall. Randomised controlled trials are used to determine cause and effect in relatively simple, short-term situations. It’s fairly easy, for example, to run a study showing that sunscreen prevents sunburn. But such studies are of limited use in our quest for longevity.

People get old when they stop thinking about the future.

Against The Tide by David T. Oliver

Best management book I’ve read in a while, even though it’s ostensibly a biography. Admiral Rickover was the man behind the USA’s nuclear submarine program. Packed with insight, particular as it relates to managing both process compliance and innovation at the same time.

By insisting on strict process control for routine evaluations yet concurrently encouraging individuals to challenge his system and his processes, Rickover was able to institute a scheme in which individuals did not have to choose between process and innovation. The nuclear-submarine force would value both.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

The Mountain In The Sea by Ray Nayler

Near future AI and climate sci-fi. Also there is an octopus. Great themes.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Weirdly unique. A good paced short read.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown

Book six of the Red Rising saga. Was losing interest in the series after its initially strong start, but this book turned it around. Great mix of action and plot.

Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver

Another near future AI/climate sci-fi. Very different to previous recommendation: much more action heavy and not as well written but still worthwhile for the themes.