2023: My Year in Books
Books are irreplaceable and remain one of the best sources of knowledge. Here's a look back at the 80+ books I consumed this year with highlights and recommendations by genre.
This was a great year for me, with regards to books. I read over 80 tomes. For reference, my baseline yearly average is around 50. This year, I updated my reading list on Goodreads consistently, in part, thanks to the way my library automatically updates my account with the ebooks I go through.
The other thing that helped me strengthen my reading was the decision to consciously develop a habit of reading books during the day. I identified pockets of time, spent unwisely on TV or on my phone, and redirected them towards reading instead. I also read multiple books at a time maintaining a minimum of at least two: one non-fiction for the day, and one fiction for when wind-down time arrives.
This year was not great for me in a typical professional sense, but I nonetheless learnt a lot (perhaps because of that?). I was exposed to several different topics and read books published by scientists in various fields. I’m grateful for all the knowledge I acquired. Had I been grinding the whetstone 40 hours a week, I may not have had the energy to go through some of the same non-fictional wonders.
Moreover, every week I would wander in my local library, both physically and virtually, and pick up books that caught my eye. Some of these were not the ones top-rated on Goodreads or the ones touted highly by NYT Critics. Nevertheless, they were wonderful reads and contained hidden gems. In 2024, I urge you all to visit your local library, browse around and let books call to you organically, or you can lean on the wisdom of the highly learned librarians in lieu of half-baked recommendations online.
Libraries are, after all, the one public institution that capitalism has failed to dig its claws fully into. Let’s revel in them while we can!
Now, Here Come my Recommendations:
In Business and Self-Help:
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth: The author explains what’s going wrong with the current growth-centered economic system and the failure of business-as-usual to take heed of existential threats like planetary boundaries and tip-off points. I admit that she does spend more time than necessary ribbing traditional economists. But the main lessons in her research were conveyed in a language both readable and understandable to the non-economist layperson.
Working to Restore by Esha Chabra: Here is a gem I found while wandering around an Indie Bookstore in Bangalore. Esha Chabra examines circular business models and presents case studies of different regenerative businesses that are both in operation currently and are successful in the traditional money-making sense. Enlightening and inspiring!
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth: Decades of psychological research presented in an easy-to-read manner by a MacArthur Fellow awardee. In fact, Dr. Duckworth made me reflect and face my some of own shortcomings. I did not fare well on her grit scale. But she also motivated me to improve on that. Younger people do tend to have lesser grit. She showed simple but powerful data on successful people, and how most of their success is due to hard work and not just one lucky day as the media would have it. It was a great book, a bit lacking in depth given the actual amount of research she has done, but potent enough to resonate with every one of us.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: A book centered on presenting the research done by Professor Kahneman and his colleagues, spanning over decades. He describes in detail how the human mind works and how there are essentially two systems of thinking: the reactive one and the analytical one. This is an amazing read for anyone interested in understanding human society, how to build better cultures within any organization, and for those who want to better understand their own thoughts and reactions. I also found several pointers that can be gobbled up by marketers and influencers.
With knowledge comes power, and with power comes responsibility. - Wise words paraphrased from an half-arachnid man.
In Other Non-Fiction:
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari: It describes the perils we face today due to overexposure to the internet and social media. He usefully presents various solutions people are already experimenting with and he covers a whole section on the rise of ADHD in teenagers and young adults. A timely book and a must-read!
Feminism for the 99% by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, Nancy Fraser: A slim and hard-hitting volume that links the multiple crises present in this generation. This book was also written by scientists and researchers who denounce Corporate Feminism and speak about one that stands for all the people and the planet.
Against White Feminism by Rafia Zakaria: Sorry I couldn’t resist adding another book on intersectional feminism. I loved this book because it was so relatable. Here was another brown women in the corporate world who had experienced the same double-sided pink-washing that I had. Here was someone who understood and, more importantly, analyzed what it means to be brown and living in a white world. PS: This book is not against white people as a race in any way. It’s more about acknowledging historical power holders and how even people of color can start to emulate those same classist behaviors.
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown: This book is a relatively light read that lists out the 70+ emotions human beings are capable of. It provides reasons for common instances of strife within families and what drives people to act in certain ways. A thought provoking book that helped me hold my tongue and be nicer to my family at certain icky times!
In Memoirs and Biographies:
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang: Opened my eyes to the many ways “illegal“ immigrants suffer in the US. Often, the ones with the least power have the most to say. Julie chronicles her inspiring coming-of-age story and notes down her experience as an 8-year old immigrant child. She captures many of the emotions that immigrants go through accurately, especially the fear that follows them everywhere.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb: A therapist recounts some of her most interesting cases and what it means to be a therapist. A good resource on mental health that shows how normal and everyday therapy can be. Very insightful.
What my Bones Know by Stephanie Foo: It recounts her experience with trauma, how it affected her and how she worked hard to overcome it. An impactful and awe-inspiring narrative that at times shocks and at times pulls deeply at your heart.
All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung: The life of a cross-country adoptee and the entailing joys and sorrows that she had faced growing up. She speaks about her search for her roots and the discoveries she made along the way. A wonderful journey that also sheds light on the transracial adoption process.
“Here’s a theory: Maybe I had not really been broken this whole time.
Maybe I had been a human—flawed and still growing but full of light nonetheless” - Stephanie Foo
In Fiction:
This one is hard, because I do read more fiction than non-fiction and its hard to name only a few. Instead, I will give a list of my favorites from this year, in no particular order:
Contemporary, Literary:
Annie Hartnett’s two beautiful books: Unlikely Animals and Rabbit Cake.
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine.
The Dragonfly Sea by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.
99 Nights in Logar by Jamil Jan Kochai.
The Push by Ashley Audrain.
Historical Fiction:
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R.F.Kuang.
The Downstairs Girl by Stacy Lee.
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn.
The Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra.
Fantasy, Sci-Fi :
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.
Gallant by V.E.Schwab.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.
The Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik.
I also went through a bunch of thrillers and crime novels but none of them were remarkable to recommend. Maybe Hidden Pictures?
Here’s my full reading list if anyone is interested!
And finally, in 2023 I experienced a renewed flush of affection for books. And Libraries. They are truly the best. I hope 2024 brings with it a crazy trove of books too!
Happy New Year! And, let me know what books you enjoyed this year! As always, thanks for reading this blog and for all your wonderful support.
This newsletter is one of the best things that happened in 2023