Aaron W
A dystopian-esque thriller about survival and a family on the brink of ruin. Some fun sci-fi elements, and a compelling love story.
This book had a very confusing cadence and writing style. As a native Seattle-ite I was excited to maybe learn something new but instead I was distracted by the writing.
As a baseball fan, Field of Dreams is at the top of my list for baseball films that showcase the love of the game. It goes without saying then that I would eventually find my way to the novel that inspired the film.
Shoeless Joe is different from the film in many ways, but at its core it is about a man who is called to follow his passion. And that has always been what has resonated with me. We can go through life just biding time, or we can choose to take risks and build baseball fields in Iowa cornfields. I hope to be like Ray and to watch others come follow their passions with me.
An interesting story of family drama and problems with a intergalactic alien war side plot. While I love my alien stories, I got more out of this book from the family problems side. Reminded me to reach out to those we love and remember you never really know what they're going through, even if they're your family.
Not as fun as the first book for me. Still interesting and full of surprises and twists. Oliver's books are all roughly the same formula, but if you like that, then you will have a good time.
A fun look at one of the most important rock albums of a generation. Yes, I am biased because of my love of Radiohead, but this book does a great job breaking down the whole album, the time period, and music as a whole at the beginning of the century.
7 Habits is one of those books you hear about from people from all industries and all ages. I'm always skeptical of books that fit that description as I find it very rare that people agree on things.
This book was so thought-provoking and inspiring for me. I'm currently taking a look at my life, health, and career as I get older. And this book came into my view at the perfect time.
Covey offers actionable, clear advice on how to be a better leader, but also a better person. His examples are from different viewpoints, including different ones than his (he admits he's very religious towards the end and how he approached writing the book with that in mind). However, I don't think one should discount it just because of the religious lens. I'm not a religious person and I find all of the habits to be actionable for me.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is confused in a job or career, as a new manager, or just looking to improve their life.
Man's Search for Meaning is one of those books that you see recommended over and over again. I'm naturally skeptical of work like that, the point I put off reading this for several years. This year I picked it up and wow, Frankl gives a masterclass. This is a heartbreaking and captivating true story of overcoming the worst tragedy in modern times. Frankl is intelligent, moving, and inspiring in the face of such abhorrent acts. This book will break you, but Frankl is excellent at building you back up again afterwards.
In a past life I dreamt of doing everything in this book, but that was in the mid-2010s and I just don't find a lot of the information in this relevant/timely now. The high level points still are valid, but the way in which Tim achieved all this doesn't seem possible today.
It is worth the read, but in my view, solely because he shows you there are other ways to approach work.
The world Pierce Brown crafts is robust, full of details, and political intrigue. It is a cross between Dune and A Song of Ice and Fire in many ways. Highly recommend.
A great look into Eastern “self-help” and finding your purpose. This was my introduction into Eastern views on these topics and Ikigai was a good introduction.
Great takeaways about staying active, including examples (with photos) of the exercises. My favorite part was all the interviews conducted by the author's and the digests of those.
A fun and hokey take on a moonshot. Verne ended up being right in some predictions about moon travel some 100 years prior to man landing on the moon. Just enjoy it for its allure and you'll have a fun time.
But, unfortunately I am neither theologian, nor chemist, nor naturalist, nor philosopher; therefore, in my absolute ignorance of the great laws which govern the universe, I confine myself to saying in reply, ‘I do not know whether the worlds are inhabited or not; and since I do not know, I am going to see!'
Golden Son is another riveting triumph in the Red Rising series. Just as captivating as the first book - full of twists and turns and engrossing you in this lush world that Pierce Brown has crafted. I might have to start Book 3 this weekend.
I actually disliked the majority of this book. But by the final chapter and conclusion, I began to see some of Sam's points come into focus. This is a challenging book to read, and one I do not recommend unless you have a great interest in the mind and science.
An inspiring and approachable call to action. This book found me at the right time in my life, and hope that it spurs the change I am seeking.
This is a lovely little book. I recommend doing it daily, as it is meant to be thought provoking and think about the daily passages. Holiday does a great job making Stoicism approachable to the average person here. If you can stomach this and get anything of value out of it, I recommend his other works on Stoicism.
This book moved me to tears several times. It's a little Hallmark card-like, but the core themes are as important as ever today. I find myself fascinated by my own death Morrie's outlook is so admirable. If I can share even half his outlook on life and death, then I will be pleased with who I become.
A book that puts me in awe of the folly of man amidst insurmountable odds and scientific facts that were ignored in favor of political gain. S.C. Gwynne is a masterful storyteller, taking an obscure historical event and turning it into an engrossing story about aviation, airships, and man's folly.
I'm a big fan of Blake Crouch's Dark Matter. It remains one of my favorite and fastest book I have ever read. It engulfed me entirely and I adored its every word.
Upgrade is worthy of similar praise. Blake Crouch's ability to deliver the scientific breakdown of concepts rivals Andy Weir's. What separates these two author's is that Blake Crouch's storytelling is masterful. Upgrade is a wonderful sci-fi thriller that will keep you guessing. It is inherently human in its themes, and totally relevant to the 21st century's problems. I was hooked from the start and heartbroken by the end for Logan Ramsey.
Took me a while to get into this book, but I'm glad I stuck with it. A challenging novel about colonialism and how language is used as a tool of empire. I quite enjoyed it after the first ~20% or so.
This book is not very good. It's too many differing ideas interspersed amongst each other. I was very disappointed and confused reading from chapter to chapter.
If you love baseball, you will love this book. Posnanski admits early on this list is meant to create dialogue and even animosity, but that's what I love - he's bringing these players back into the forefront that have long been forgotten.
This book dazzled me. It made me wish I had lived over a hundred years to see each and every one of these players. But unfortunately I didn't, so instead we have The Baseball 100.
“you can't regret the life you didn't lead.”
These words have occupied the back of my mind since I first read this book years ago. When I decided to reread Oscar Wao this year, I wondered if this line would jump out - it sure did, and has never meant more to me.
This is a tragic story of growing up, familial pressure and struggles, a culture you don't necessarily understand or agree with, and much more. If you've ever felt like the outcast or the nerd, give this book a try.
If you enjoyed Andy Weir's ability to make science cool in The Martian, then you will love Project Hail Mary. Ryland Grace is that funny, charming science teacher you had back in the day. And Weir is able to weave a tale of grandeur, hope, and loss all into one.
Dare I say it's better than The Martian? It is.