My Books of 2021
I did this last year and thought it could be cool to do it once again to reflect on all the things I have read in the past year and see what I liked, didn’t like, and what I learned. This list is honestly quite a bit shorter and I definitely didn’t hit the reading goals that I set for myself last year. I read like six of these books in January and the reading clearly slowed once school started. But hey, we always got next year!
I started reading this book because someone recommended the show to me and this book was already on my list for a very long time. The premise is essentially about the joking relationship between an angel and a demon and them preparing for an apocalypse. Overall, the book is quite light-hearted and filled w/ British humor (if that’s your thing).
Recommendation: Good read, definitely recommend
2. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
Amazing book! It really brought a whole new light to exercise. It basically talks about the neurological benefits of exercise such as increased focus, better mood, etc. I’ve been applying the principles in the book by trying to go on small runs regularly. This book is extremely comprehensive so it may not be for everyone, especially if you know nothing like medicine like me.
Recommendation: Great read, learned so much, but tedious at times w/ medical jargon.
Wanted to read a book to learn about racism and bias, especially after the killing of George Floyd and the protests that ensued soon after. I thought the author had a very interesting perspective that I was happy to learn about. However, I found it extremely subjective and biased, especially for a book that’s not a memoir.
Recommendation: It was alright, I’m sure there are better books written on the topic. Send recommendations plz.
4. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World — and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Incredible book! I truly believe that everyone needs to read this. I read (actually listened) this book while doing a semester of school in quarantine with what seemed like chaos constantly going on around me. It was around the time of the insurrection at the Capitol. This book brought a much-needed positive perspective about how the world is in fact progressing forward. The author is extremely knowledgeable and this book is extremely well researched and has lots of emotion and humanity. I couldn’t help but have such an optimistic outlook on the world after reading this.
Recommendation: Everyone should absolutely read it, especially as the world and media become increasingly polarized.
5. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't help but agree with everything Melinda Gates was emphasizing throughout her book. She supported all her ideas with data and real-life examples. It’s crazy the impact you can have simply by uplifting women in 3rd world countries. I felt insanely passionate for the cause while and after reading the book. The book not only addresses high-level issues facing the developing world but also provides very real solutions put in place by the author.
Recommendation: Read it! Especially if you’re a dude (it’s not some cringeworthy feminist book)
I personally enjoyed listening to Andrew Yang campaigning in the past and mainly started listening to it because of that. This book is nowhere near as politically focused at all. It really focused on the economic structure of America and several upcoming issues such as automation. Even if you don’t necessarily agree with him politically it’s a super great read for someone who wants an insight into the issues of the future.
Recommendation: I learned so much through this book, would recommend listening to it actually since it’s narrated by Andrew Yang himself.
The first Tim Ferris book I read. I probably should’ve started with the 4-Hour Workweek tbh, but this was open in my library app. Wasn’t a huge fan and he did come across as kinda douchey throughout the book.
Recommendation: Skip
8. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Listened to this as an audiobook during my drives from College Station to Dallas. The book discusses when it’s beneficial to “trust your gut” and make quick decisions. Honestly, I didn’t think it was that amazing especially compared to some of the other books written by Malcolm Gladwell. It was definitely well written but I think the biggest reason I didn’t enjoy it as much was that I struggled to connect it to myself.
Recommendations: Decent book, not like life-changing or anything tho
9. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
Read this as part of Gents book club, which I, unfortunately, had to miss for an exam :( I feel like I read this book at the right time in my life. I feel like I’ve been trying to do a bit of everything all throughout college and spreading myself too thin. I found myself thinking about the key takeaways I had from this book well after I read it. Some of my personal key takeaways include prioritizing “time blocks”, “when you say yes to something, you are saying no to something else”, and the importance of asking yourself what is the one thing you could accomplish today where everything else wouldn’t matter.
Recommendation: Great book, especially if you’re like me and need a reminder to not spread yourself too thin.
Probably didn’t read as much as I intended to this year overall but there are definitely some high-quality books in there. There have also been several books that I started to read but put down because they felt boring or tedious. I kinda experimented with audiobooks for the first time and really enjoyed them. Hopefully this upcoming year I can read more since I will be taking a semester off to do a co-op.
