Hmm, looks like I missed a couple of years there… something must have come up. Previous editions. The PremonitionMichael LewisA prehistory of the Covid-19 pandemic that makes clear the importance as well as the invisibility of public health. Raising RaffiKeith GessenA series of connected essays from a (frustrated, exasperated, confused, loving) middle-aged literary dad, about […]
Previous editions: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011. New job, new city, new kid… I didn’t read much for a while there. Thankfully I found Libby! This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm Ted Genoways Follows a Nebraska family as they farm corn, beans, and cattle, fighting the constant […]
Previous editions: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011. Fewer books read this year–toddlers take attention! Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy Christoper Hayes Perceptively anticipating current events, this book argues that America’s ostensibly meritocratic elite has become self-dealing and detached from the concerns of the larger population, undermining governance and stability. Skyfaring: A Journey with a […]
Previous editions: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End Atul Gawande The author, a surgeon, explores how end-of-life care in the U.S. developed and why its outcomes are so often poor, as his own father nears death. He suggests that thoughtful treatment choices be guided by the patient’s reflection […]
Previous editions: 2013, 2012, 2011. The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America George Packer A perceptive and moving account of the recent history of the United States, told through the experiences of Americans both famous and ordinary. Collision Low Crossers: A Year Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football Nicholas Dawidoff A closely […]
Following the 2011 and 2012 editions, here are the most interesting books I read this year: When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God T. M. Luhrmann How do evangelical Christians in modern America come to believe that God speaks to them directly, as individuals? A tour de force of scholarship, synthesizing […]
Following the 2011 version, here are the best books I read this year. Moonwalking with Einstein Joshua Foer Can a normal person become a memory champion? Joshua Foer covers a lot of ground in this well-written book, including extensive historical background as well as considerations of neuroscience, deliberate practice and expertise, savantism, and immersive journalism. […]
Austin Kleon‘s book Steal Like an Artist is short but rich with ideas for anyone nurturing creative projects. All of the sections are thought-provoking, but I especially appreciated the suggestion to work offline more, with tangible, physical materials. I’ve broken out of many mental blocks by turning away from the computer screen to scribble on […]
For the last few years, I’ve kept a simple text log with some brief notes summarizing the books I read. It’s been satisfying watching the list grow, and I am able to give much better answers when friends ask me what I’ve been reading lately! Mining that list, here are the best books I read […]