Last year I was on the trails for 100s of hours and audiobooks were great companions on all those long-distance runs.
There are some books that I re-read at the start of the year, others I will re-read this year, and then some that I had dreaded finishing or had to leave unfinished.
Books I re-read:
12 Rules for Life, Jordan Peterson – sets the tone for the entire year, encourages to do things that are outside the comfort zone, and teaches sacrifices do not go in vain.
The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel – the book explains money lessons in simple yet effective terms. Keeps me on track and doesn’t let me deviate from the plan.
Books I will re-read:
The course of love, Alain de Botton – the author was recommended to me by a colleague I respect and this definitely did not disappoint. The book is set as a love story about a young couple from the Isle of Skye and Highlands. With all the ups and downs during the course of a relationship, I could relate to each stage the couple were in and realized there always more to learn about the significant other. I had already gifted this book to 3 friends who got married this year.
On Confidence, Alain de Botton – I suffered tremendously from imposter syndrome last year and this book was a great help in showing the way out.
Mastery, Robert Greene – the journey of Mastery is boring. Embrace the boring.
Books I enjoyed/gifted the most:
Behave, Robert Sapolsky – this is an extraordinary book and I probably retained ~10% of it, but just learning about the human mind was a treat. Recommend pairing it with Sapiens.
Elon Musk, Walter Issacson – excellent biography, couldn’t put down.
Sita, Devdutt Pattanaik – the story of Ramayana narrated by Sita.
Bird by Bird – Anne Lamott – I wish I would’ve picked this book earlier.
Tracks, Robyn Davidson – read the book after watching the movie. The book is about Davidson’s 2,700 km trek across the deserts of Australia using camels she trained. I loved my dog even more after reading the book.
Books I didn’t finish:
Discipline is Destiny, Ryan Holiday – I don’t think I needed to read this book. Same monologue and repetitive examples.
One of them, Musa Okwonga – This book was referenced in a different book I was reading but picking it was a mistake.
The 50th Law, Robert Greene & 50 Cent – super repetitive.
A complete list of all the books I read with reviews is here.