BLOG OF MAYANK JAIN
Best Books I Read in 2023
Say Aye if you read less this year than the last.
“Aye!” Less than half the books of last year for me.
The short attention span syndrome hit me hard. It’s evident in the fact that two of the books I recommend here are a collection of bite-sized aphorisms.
We all have our different reasons for why that happened. And I hope we agree that it symbolises a more serious disorder. But that's a discussion for another time.
For now, the best books I read this year:
1. The Prophet (Audiobook) - Khalil Gibran
A collection of timeless wisdom. Simple, yet thought-provoking.
2. Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
Every year, I read one such kind of book - streams of consciousness written down on paper without any filter. And I love it. This raw writing style is as much fun writing as it is reading.
3. The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Another collection of tiny pearls of wisdom. One thing that I still remember from this book - Taleb hates economists.
Notable Mentions:
Elon Musk - Walter Isaacson
Can’t Hurt Me - David Goggins
River of Stories (Graphic Novel) - Orijit Sen
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. I really do. And if you have some recommendations, please do leave a comment. I want to get my attention span and focus back in 2024.
Lists from previous years: Best of 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Best Books I Read in 2022 & Getting Better at Reading
My biggest reading accomplishment this year was an improved relationship with books. Here’s how:
Active reading instead of passive consumption. I tried to make the book work for me instead of the other way around. I got inspiration from this quote on Farnam Street:
Learnt the art of letting a book go unfinished. It would bother me if I didn’t complete a book even if it wasn’t enjoyable. But now I feel much more at ease with that. For instance, I have read 30% of Fairy Tale by Stephen King. But I’ve stopped enjoying the style of narration so I am quitting it.
Letting go of trying to understand every single word/sentence. This is a problem I found especially in sci-fi. The plot would be amazing, and the details immaculate. But the writing style can be dense and full of jargon. They can be difficult reads. So I decided to stop spending too much time worrying about understanding every single detail, and focus on the larger picture instead. Cases in point: Dune series and Brave New World.
Reading what I like and not what I am supposed to like. For example, there was Rumors of Spring - a girlhood memoir by the author who grew up in Kashmir. I wanted to like the book. I wanted to understand what it was like growing up in such a conflicted part of our country. But I just couldn't get into the groove of it.
And now the books I liked the best this year:
1. Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art - James Nestor
Given that breathing is the most fundamental aspect of life, its effects on us shouldn't be surprising. But I was constantly amazed. It's an insightful book which takes a lot of references from our ancient Indian texts and practices (I am looking at you, Pranayam).
2. The Three-Body Problem - Cixin Liu
Originally written in Chinese, the English translation seems a little jagged, especially whenever there is a conversation. Or maybe it's just the cultural difference that caused it. It was after all the first Chinese book I've ever read. Even then, it managed to provoke some vocal outbursts of 'Wow' in me. Immense.
3. The Poppy War - R.F. Kuang
It was a heady combination of fresh air and comfortable familiarity. If you like Harry Potter-style coming-of-age fantasy, you'll love this. A word of caution, the second book in the series was a little underwhelming. I would still give it a read in spite of that. It also gave me my new favourite exclamation - Tiger’s Tits!
4. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking - Susan Cain
The most important book I read this year. It helped me understand the fundamental difference between the two broad personality types we divide ourselves into - introverts and extroverts. At times, I struggle with too many people or too much stimulation. This book helped me to be at peace with that. Moreover, I learnt some tools to navigate such situations.
Notable mentions:
Ted Chiang's two anthologies were enjoyable.
I also discovered Brandon Sanderson after his incredible Kickstarter campaign which raised more than $41 million for his upcoming books. I enjoyed the new magical world in them.
Seth Rogen's Yearbook was funny. And of course, Atomic Habits is damn good.
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years: Best of 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016
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Best Books I Read in 2021
The paradox of choice is paralysing. I have way too many unread books on my kindle and on the bookshelf; even more in my wishlist.
The only way I could get past that and read was by deliberately picking one book and finding an extended period of time undisturbed by the distractions of our lives. And it was some of the happiest time of my year.
1. Dune - Frank Herbert
I got goosebumps one afternoon while reading Dune. When I shared this news with my wife, she did a happy dance that lasted for at least a minute. She had finished reading it a couple of months earlier and had been coaxing me to get to it. Naturally she was elated when I reached the 'goosebumps' stage. That stage is less of a point in the book, but more of an opening of our own minds. An expansion of understanding.
Dune is easily one of the best books I've ever read. My only regret is that I didn't get to it sooner. If you end up reading this, please message me. I cannot get enough of it and would love to discuss it with anyone who is willing.
2. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment - Eckhart Tolle
In all honesty, I haven't finished reading this, nor did I start reading it this year. But I can't delay sharing this with you any further.
After years of stumbling from one philosophy of life to another, I finally found something that I could use in my life on an almost daily basis. Every time I find myself stuck with some problem, or if I am going through a particularly anxious phase of life, I turn to this book.
For me, it serves as a manual for living. And has helped me immensely in coming to terms with what we call our existence.
3. Project Hail Mary (Audiobook) - Andy Weir
If you get the right one, audiobooks can be incredibly fun. Many years ago, while recuperating from an illness on bed rest, I had listened to Weir's first book The Martian. It was an exhilarating experience.
I listened to this new one while driving to a vacation to Chikkamagalur. Once we were there, it rained heavily. So we would tuck into our blankets, dim the lights, and listen to it as rain poured outside. I was happy in those moments. A good story narrated well can do that to you.
Other notable mentions:
How to Live by Derek Sivers
In Order To Live - A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
And two books I enjoyed reading about the famously happy Danish people:
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country - Helen Russell
The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
If you like this post and want to receive emails on any new post I write, leave your email address here:
Best Books I Read in 2020
“Maturity is learning how to start when you feel like procrastinating.“ - James Clear
While doing my weekly Saturday email cleanup, I came across this idea from a newsletter by James Clear. And I decided to treat it as a prompt to write my annual best books I read list.
Even though we spent majority of the year locked inside our homes, ironically it made it more difficult to read. Reading is a low dopamine releasing activity competing for our attention with easy mediums of passive consumption (Netflix, YouTube, et al). Combine it with a deep sense of lockdown gloom and a forbearing of impending doom, picking up a book became a herculean task.
I still managed to read some good ones and the following three seem like the best fit to prepare us for a post-pandemic world.
1. Just Kids – Patti Smith
Pablo Picasso said, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” And my soul needed a deep cleansing. I am not even half-way through and it has already become my favorite. It replenished my life force and was exactly what I needed to end this crazy year.
This is the second book by Patti Smith that I am reading. And it is equally beautiful and magical. Read this if you want to step into the life of New York City’s artists from the 1970s.
2. Factfulness – Hans Rosling
If we were to believe our inherent biases, based on the zeitgeist, we would think the world is rotting. Factfulness aims to inject logic and facts in this narrative to show that the world is not as bad as it seems. If anything, the world is moving towards rapid progress and prosperity for a greater number of its residents.
Read this if you need some facts based positivity in your life instead of conjecture based pessimism.
3. Talking to Strangers - Malcolm Gladwell
As we grow in maturity, we gradually gain an understanding that judging others on outwardly appearances is wrong and inaccurate. This book puts into solid reasoning why it is so. As we reacquaint ourselves with each other in the post lock-down world, this book might come in handy to keep a check on our preconceptions about others.
Other notable mention: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
Best Books I Read in 2019
Every year, I spend a lot of time on choosing the books I want to read. I find my recommendations from a variety of sources - reading lists, Reddit, friends, popular culture, and mentions in books. And this end of year list is something I do to point out the brightest ones from a sea of innumerable beautiful stars. Let's jump right into it.
1. Tiger Woods - Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian
I’ve always been fascinated by the lives of sport stars, successful entrepreneurs, and other such elite performers and achievers. So I read a lot of biographies and memoirs. They don’t necessarily give me a blueprint on how to lead my life but show me all the required steps to success. Unfailingly, I’ve found some common traits in all of them - discipline, sacrifices, mental fortitude, failures (and then rising up back again), etc. And Tiger Woods’ biography told me all about it and a lot more.
2. The Dalai Lama’s Cat: A Novel - David Mitchie
I read this book at a turbulent time in my life. And it helped calm the waters. I did not know what to expect out of this book since I knew nothing about it and had only picked it up after my wife’s recommendation. It explains some of the tenets of Buddhist philosophy in the most charming way. As I read it, I felt a sense of peace and serenity envelope me. And as soon as I finished, I picked up next in the series.
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
There are good chances that a lot of you have read this. It is an undeniable classic with timeless advice that is still relevant today. I first read this as a teenager and I remember instantly feeling more connected with fellow humans and less anxious in company of others. The reason I picked this book again last year was to feel that connect again. It reminded me of all the intricacies of human nature that I didn’t intuitively understand. And I see myself revisiting this regularly - as a guidebook for life.
Other Notable Mentions:
Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5 was a great war (or anti-war) novel and I already feel like reading it again. Trevor Noah’s memoir Born A Crime told me a lot about apartheid in South Africa.
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
Best Books I Read in 2018
Every year, I spend a lot of time on choosing the books I want to read. I find my recommendations from a variety of sources - reading lists, Reddit, friends, popular culture, and mentions in books. And this end of year list is something I do to point out the brightest ones from a sea of innumerable beautiful stars. Let's jump right into it.
1. Reasons to Stay Alive - Matt Haig
It is a memoir about the author's depressive disorders and the ways he copes with them. I found this book at a time when I was struggling with my own mental health. And reading about the author's account helped me in a way sharing your problems with a friend does. It also taught me a lot about what depression and anxiety feels like in severe cases. I would highly recommend this book if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues. It may not solve all the problems, but it definitely eases the burden.
2. Born to Run: The hidden tribe, the ultra-runners, and the greatest race the world has never seen - Christopher McDougall
It had long been in my wishlist but I was never too keen to read it. I am not a runner, so I assumed that this wouldn't interest me too much. I was wrong. It is a captivating story, told beautifully. Although it speaks a lot about running, there was never a moment when I thought, 'this is boring'. It has inspired me to take up running (albeit short distances) and also showed me how we humans have expandable limits.
3. Walk Through Walls: A Memoir - Marina Abramovic
Marina Abramovic is a performance artist. If you don't know what performance art, check out this short clip of her explaining what it is.
To say I was intrigued by her work would be an understatement. She has been one of the flag bearers of this art form for which there have been few takers and a lot of skeptics. During this time, she kept creating, surviving (and thriving). And her memoir is an account of her eccentric, bohemian and utterly fascinating life.
A short clip to get you started on her work.
4. Peter Camenzind: A Novel - Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading one of his works. Peter Camenzind is a light, breezy coming of age story. Peter is every one of us, or at least a part of us. He is an innocent, young boy who loves the mountains and the river near his home. As he grows up, he moves to the city and deals with conflicts not uncommon to what we face in our lives.
If you haven't read a Hesse yet, start with this one. As soon as I finished reading it, I practically shoved it into my wife's hands. And she was not disappointed. Neither would you be.
Other Notable Mentions:
Daniel Pink's When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing was insightful. It provided me with small hacks that can improve my life considerably.
I also read Charles Bukowski. His stories reflected my somber mood and I would often be drinking while reading them. I'd recommend Post Office.
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. If you like to follow debates on popular cultural issues like feminism, drug legalisation, gender identity etc., chances are you would have heard about him. The rules look simple, but have gravitas when you look deeper.
Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck was an interesting read.
And finally, The Complete MAUS by Art Spiegelman, one of the few graphic novels I have ever read was a moving real-life story.
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
Best Books I Read in 2017
Every year, I spend a lot of time on choosing the books I want to read. I find my recommendations from a variety of sources - reading lists, Reddit, friends, popular culture, and mentions in books. And this end of year list is something I do to point out the brightest ones from a sea of innumerable beautiful stars. Let's jump right into it.
1. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
The first thought that came to my mind when I finished reading this book was, “What do I do with my life now?” It left me feeling like I have now read everything that I would ever want to read and nothing that I pick again is going to match its level. This is an incredible book, a masterpiece. Of course you don’t need me to say this about the sole recipient of The Best of the Booker award. I had never read a Rushdie before so I did not know what I was getting into. And his imagination and the richness of characters totally blew me away.
People adept at their craft are sometimes called magicians out of respect. In Rushdie’s case, this is a veritable truth and not just in a metaphorical sense. I never imagined that language and words could be used in this way; I was spell bound. Midnight's Children ranks right up there with the best books I have ever read. And I would urge you vehemently to make this your next book to read.
2. Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind - Yuval Noah Harari
Over the past few years, I have dramatically reduced my internet reading. Instead, I like to read books which offer in depth material on a certain topic. Knowledge empowers the mind to make informed choices. And with Sapiens, I found answers to a lot of questions which plague me as an individual and also as a member of our society.
When I picked this book, I imagined that I’d learn a lot about mankind’s history from the prehistoric times up to today. But it did a lot more than inform me - it changed my worldview. Instead of passive knowledge, I received active wisdom. It helped me look at the world around me and things that I care about in a different light. And I couldn’t help but recommend this to every person I met.
3. A Farewell To Arms - Ernest Hemingway
If you read a Hemingway, and it doesn’t feature in your Best-Of list, you probably didn’t read it right. He is one of my favorite authors and from whose writing style I try to take a lot. A Farewell of Arms is an intense World War 1 story and one of his best works. I want to leave you with the most famous quote from this book:
“If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.”
4. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
It might come across as a children’s book. But it is much more than that. The best lessons are the ones which nudge you in the right direction from where you can travel on your own. And not the ones where you are pushed onto and you are not sure what you are supposed to do now. This book comes under the former category. Apart from the charming story and the illustrations, the author himself is quite a character. Its a cute, lovable, simple, deep book all at the same time. Read this with your partner or read it with your kids, and share laughter, happiness and timeless wisdom.
Other Notable Mentions:
I read a few Agatha Christies which never disappoint. Also read a couple of books from The Song of Ice and Fire series - I only wish I had experienced them before watching the TV show first. Non-fiction works like Deep Work, Predictably Irrational, Song Machine and As a Man Thinketh were interesting reads as well.
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
Best Books I Read in 2016
Every year, I spend ample time on selecting the books to read. I find my recommendations from a variety of sources - reading lists, Reddit, friends, popular culture, and other books. And this end of year list is something I do to point out the brightest ones from a sea of innumerable beautiful stars. Let's jump right into it.
1. The Call Of The Wild - Jack London
I read it in a single bus ride from Dharmashala to Delhi. And every time I am looking for a new book to read, my thoughts go back to reading this book again. It's that good. It is not a complicated story but the writing style and the narrative evoked strong emotions in me. Sometimes, I see myself in Buck, the dog who is the main character. At other times, I see myself in his owners. I don't want to reveal more, go ahead and find it out for yourself. Thank me later.
2. Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
This was my fourth attempt to read this book. While in the first two attempts, I barely managed to move past a few pages, in the third one I read till about 100 pages and then stopped. The blame for not being able to finish it earlier rests solely on the immaturity of my ability to grasp the meaning and perhaps a lack of focus. It has got nothing to do with the quality of the book.
Quality - that is what this book is, and is about. I associate myself very closely to it - the writer's questions are the ones I seek, his fears are what haunt me in tense moments at night. I am a big fan of rational thought process, and thoroughly enjoyed the writer's journey to find the ghost of rationality. If you do decide to read this, take your time, don't rush and let every new concept sink in.
3. The Book of Tea - Kakuzo Okakura
It is more like a very long essay than a book. The art of making tea and the philosophy of life derived from it (Teaism) has left me deeply enamored. On its face value, you might assume that the author has written about the ways of making tea, its history, and its effect on Japanese culture. All that is there along with much more. The metaphors used can be applied to our daily life and provide a simple way to live in harmony with the nature that is around and inside of us. This book taught me a lot more about life in subtle ways than any other book could directly.
4. The Silent Cry - Kenzaburo Oe
If you are looking for a simple story to read, don't pick this book. Oe's stories, much like human behaviors are layered and multi-dimensional. They reveal to us the depth of emotions which we may or may not express to each other but harbor inside ourselves. So, in a way, Oe's books are a mirror to our deepest, darkest feelings. This is the second time that Oe's work has featured in my end of year best-of list. And honestly, I feel that it doesn't matter what the specifics of the book are, if it's an Oe, it'll find its way on such lists.
5. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
There are few books which make me laugh out loud. There are fewer which invoke pathos. And the books which can do both are even rarer. Catch-22 falls in the third kind. Each character brings something different to the story - humor, despair, innocence, vitality, absurdity, lunacy. The sum of all these parts lends a fascinating quality to the whole. As much as this is a great book to read, it is also a brilliant education in how to write a good story.
Currently Reading - When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi. I am half-way through this and I suspect it will find its way into my best of list soon.
I hope you do get around to reading some of these. If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Lists from previous years:
Best of 2015
Best of 2014
Best of 2013
Notes from Elon Musk's Biography
For an extended period of time late last year, I was obsessed with Elon Musk. I consider him my modern day hero. I have mentioned him before in my essay How to Live Life.
Through his story, I wanted to understand, what drives the high achievers to take incredible personal risks and have the drive and intelligence to see them through to the end. So, I picked up Musk's biography Elon Musk : How The Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping Our Future by Ashlee Vance. It offers a unique perspective inside one of the most brilliant minds of our generation.
The following are my highlights from the book and my notes on the basis of all that I have read and watched about Musk. His story gives me inspiration and some important lessons. I hope you find it useful too.
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
(Lines from the book are in italics)
His most fundamental philosophy:
“When thinking, go down to the fundamentals of a problem, instead of deciphering it via analogy.”
This right here is to me Musk’s most endearing trait - his hyper rationality. By going down to the most basic entity of a problem, whether it is business or personal, we can find a better solution. I cannot stress this enough. Take this for example:
Acronyms Seriously Suck - Musk wrote a long email to his employees urging them not to use acronyms for common technical terms. This is to ensure that any new joinee doesn't have a problem in catching up with things. Because when people discuss things in acronyms, you don't want to be the one who looks dumb and asks to be explained the meaning. It seems trivial to mention this in a company-wide email but highlights his uncompromising rationality in even the most basic tasks.
Quotes from his employees:
You did what Musk asked or were prepared to burrow down into the properties of materials to explain why something could not be done. “He always said, ‘Take it down to the physics"
He would place this urgency that he expected the revenue in ten years to be ten million dollars a day and that every day we were slower to achieve our goals was a day of missing out on that money.
If you told him that you made a particular choice because ‘it was the standard way things had always been done,’ he’d kick you out of a meeting fast. He’d say, ‘I never want to hear that phrase again. What we have to do is fucking hard and half-assing things won’t be tolerated.’
And when he's building any component of his product, however big or small, he wants it to be the best:
“We have to decide what is the best sun visor in the world and then do better”
On building a culture:
Next is his quality of building a comradeship and responsibility among his people. These folks genuinely believe they are working on things that will alter the course of humanity (which they are).
“Every person on that island was a fucking star, and they were always holding seminars on radios or the engine. It was such an invigorating place.”
Straubel was stalking the solar car crew, trying to talk them into building an electric car based on the lithium ion batteries. He would fly up to Palo Alto, spend the night sleeping in his plane, and then ride a bicycle to the Stanford campus to make his sales pitch while helping with their current projects.
An undergraduate, Berdichevsky volunteered to quit school, work for free, and sweep the floors at Tesla if that’s what it took to get a job.
At a time when Tesla was running out of money, and Musk had to lean on friends to try to make payroll from week to week, as he negotiated with investors, this is what happened:
“A bunch of Tesla employees wrote checks to keep the company going,”
On his work ethic
His work ethic and ability to handle stress is second to none:
“Elon would come home at eleven and work some more. People didn’t always get the sacrifice he made in order to be where he was.”
“He has the ability to work harder and endure more stress than anyone I’ve ever met”
"I’ve just never seen anything like his ability to take pain.”
And he wasn't immune to feeling dejected like normal humans:
Musk had come to Russia filled with optimism about putting on a great show for mankind and was now leaving exasperated and disappointed by human nature.
On his commitment:
‘I will spend my last dollar on these companies. If we have to move into Justine’s parents’ basement, we’ll do it.’
“God is our witness, come hell or high water, I am going to do it"
On the kind of people he wants to work with:
One thing that Musk holds in the highest regard is resolve, and he respects people who continue on after being told no.
What Musk would not tolerate were excuses or the lack of a clear plan of attack.
Spotting engineers who have exhibited type A personality traits over the course of their lives.
The object is to find individuals who ooze passion, can work well as part of a team, and have real-world experience bending metal.
Where a typical manager may set the deadline for the employee, Musk guides his engineers into taking ownership of their own delivery dates. “He doesn’t say, ‘You have to do this by Friday at two P.M.,’” Brogan said. “He says, ‘I need the impossible done by Friday at two P.M. Can you do it?’ Then, when you say yes, you are not working hard because he told you to. You’re working hard for yourself. It’s a distinction you can feel. You have signed up to do your own work.”
People who await guidance or detailed instructions languish. The same goes for workers who crave feedback.
And of course he is super intelligent:
People who have spent significant time with Musk will attest to his abilities to absorb incredible quantities of information with near-flawless recall.
Musk expresses empathy at a different level:
His brand of empathy is unique. He seems to feel for the human species as a whole without always wanting to consider the wants and needs of individuals.
Musk's endeavors are grand - on the scale of humanity and probably beyond. His efforts in all the companies together surmount anything seen ever before. Granted that he may not have started Tesla or Solar City but without his drive to get things done, they may not have reached the state they did.
I leave you with this quote, which to me is his most powerful one:
"It seemed like one should try to make the world a better place because the inverse makes no sense.”
I hope you get a chance to read the book. It is deeply inspiring and finds a place in my list of Best Books I read in 2015.
FURTHER READING
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Best Books I Read in 2015
I read 20+ books this year. For some it is a lot, for others just a few. Personally, I am very happy with having read so many good books. I invest a lot of time and thought in picking them. Thus, most of what I read this year has been brilliant. Making a best-of list is hence difficult. But, I'll give it a shot.
You can also check out the lists from the last couple of years.
1. A Personal Matter (Audiobook) - Kenzaburo Oe
A few years ago, I visited the hill town Mussorie with my family. One evening, while roaming the streets after dinner, I found a thrift store selling books at throwaway prices. Among the many I bought, there was one called 'Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere' by John Nash. It is a memoir of an American who had migrated to Japan, learnt Japanese and translated many Japanese books into English. One of them is by Kenzaburo Oe. And my word, what a book it is!
A personal matter is a dark, poignant piece of art. It requires patience and lingering on the words to admire their beauty. It is a semi-autobiographical work where the protagonist deals with the birth of his mentally disabled child. In real life, Oe has a son who is under developed and forms the basis of many of his works.
I consumed it as an audiobook and found myself rewinding multiple times. Reading it would have been preferable. It is one of those books which make you wish you knew the original language to truly understand the magnificence of this work. If you are still not convinced, did I mention that Oe is also a Nobel laureate?
2. The Martian (Audiobook) - Andy Weir
Another Audiobook. I discovered this via a blog I follow (Wait But Why) much before the movie. And as most books-movies go, it is so much better than the movie version. I actually slept in the movie, literally. Even if you have seen it, I would recommend reading/listening the book. There are so many details, incidents and twists and turns that have been missed or changed in the movie. The performance on my audiobook was outstanding to help the matters.
A fun fact: This book was released iteratively in a serial format with feedback from people on the internet. On completion this was released for free only for its rights to be later bought by a publishing house.
3. Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer
This was the book on which the movie 'Everest' was based on. It is funny that so many of the books I pick up are later made into movies. Again, this was much before the movie was released. And unlike 'The Martian', Everest and Into Thin Air are quite comparable in their execution. However, like always, reading is much more recommended.
4. Elon Musk : How The Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping Our Future- Ashlee Vance
This is a great insight into the life and mind of Musk who is a modern day hero for me. Musk’s most endearing trait to me is his hyper rationalism. His endeavours are grand - on the scale of humanity and probably beyond.
His efforts in all the companies together surmount anything seen ever before. Granted that he may not have started Tesla or Solar City but without his drive to get things done, they may not have reached the state they did.
5. Boats on Land (A Collection of Short Stories)- Janice Pariat
I don't remember who recommended it. Perhaps someone in my Facebook feed. It is a collection of stories from the North East region of India. The author, Janice, has done an incredible job at weaving beautiful, dreamy stories. You know the times when you read a book and instantly want to be transported to that time and place, that is what this book did to me.
6. Jaya - An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharats - Devdutt Patnaik
It doesn't matter if you are religious, atheist or agnostic, you have to agree that Mythology is interesting. The stories are colorful, grand and capture your imagination. Jaya did all this and more.
7. Shatranj ke Khiladi (Hindi Edition) - Munshi Premchand
A simple short story by Munshi Premchand. I read this in Hindi and it was a delight since we don't really read much in Hindi nowadays.
8. The Art of Asking: How I learned to stop worrying and let people help - Amanda Palmer
I read this non stop on a flight with sleepy eyes but found it unputdownable. It is a brutally honest autobiographical account by Amanda Palmer.
Other Notable mentions:
- How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia - Mohsin Hamid
- Hatching Twitter - Nick Bilton
- The Catcher in The Rye - J.D. Salinger
- On Writing - Stephen King
Now Reading and probably will find place in the next best-of list:
- Atlus Shrugged
- Man's Search for Meaning
- Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
I hope you get around to reading some of these. Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on them. After all, what does a good book do if not incite deeply polarized discussions.
If you like these recommendations, check out the rest of my reading list here.
Further Reading