2023 Reading Round Up & 2024 Reading List

Highlights from 2023 and what I'm planning to read in 2024.

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Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well and enjoyed the holiday period. 2023 was an great reading year for me. I finished 16 books across a wide range of genres and thoroughly enjoyed most of them.

This blog post is broken down into three sections. The first, "2023 in Review" discusses a few of the my highlight reads from the year. "2024 Strategy" discusses my reading plan for 2024, and "2024 Reading List" contains the actual list of books I plan to read in 2024.

Feel free to skip to the bottom if you only care about the list!

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2023 in Review

The year began with a fiction binge. I finished the third and final book of Brandon Sanderson’s brilliant Mistborn trilogy and speed-read through several other books in his “Cosmere” universe. Sanderson’s straightforward writing style might not appeal to everyone, but his world-building, lore, and unique magic systems are captivating for me. In Warbreaker, the magic system is particularly intriguing. Users extract another person's soul for their magic, then breathe this soul into inanimate objects to animate them. This process is, somehow, fuelled by the objects colour, leaving them grey and depleted it.

After that, I blitzed through several business and self-help books, as well as a few audiobook biographies. Favourites included 'Little Black Stretchy Pants,' the story of Lululemon by Chip Wilson, and 'What It Takes' by Stephen Schwarzman, which I reviewed here.

However, 'Most Dope,' an autobiography of Mac Miller, was disappointing. It felt more like a detailed timeline than an in-depth story of his life and legacy. The book lacked insights from those close to Mac. Although it featured interviews and contributions from a few friends and artists he worked with, family members or friends able to provide deep insight into Mac’s thoughts and feelings were noticeably absent. My research revealed that Mac’s family declined to participate in the book's writing or promotion, which aligns with its somewhat hollow feel.

I spent the Fall finishing Brandon Sanderson’s epic 1,007-page 'The Way of Kings.' The story and characters, though excellent, didn’t quite reach the heights of Mistborn for me. I’m hoping the next books in the series dive deeper into the history and lore of planet Roshar.

Finally, during PwC’s winter office closure, I dove into a couple of technology books, given the year's buzz around AI. 'The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century’s Greatest Dilemma' offered a balanced, intriguing, and somewhat alarming perspective on the AI containment issue. While I don’t agree with everything Mustafa Suleyman discusses, the book is a worthwhile read, especially for those interested in AI and emergent tech. Mustafa, as one of the co-founders of Google Deepmind, is undoubtedly one of the field's most influential figures.

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2024 Strategy

Now, despite 2023 being one of my best reading years, I have to admit I'm notoriously bad at actually tackling my "to-read" list.

I follow a personal rule: after finishing a book, I must immediately start another one, even if it's just reading a single page. This helps me maintain momentum; when I next want to sit down and read, I don't have to go through the hassle of choosing a new book, which encourages me to read more frequently.

The challenge is that I often end up selecting whatever book catches my eye at that particular moment, instead of picking from my to-read list. It's not a huge issue, but I'd really like to see the number on that list decrease instead of continually growing.

That's why, in 2024, I'm committing to be more intentional about my book choices. I'm setting a specific reading goal for the year, so I can hold myself accountable and reflect on my progress when 2025 rolls around.

I've handpicked 12 books from my to-read list for this year, making sure to include a mix of genres, authors, and book lengths. The total page count comes to about 5400 pages, which means I'll need to average around 100 pages a week.

Honestly, this seems like a lot, but I'm planning to leverage all the reading methods at my disposal: audiobooks during commutes or walks to the gym, AI-powered text-to-speech tools for laptop reading, and traditional reading before bed.

Below is my 2024 reading list, complete with short descriptions written by Chat-GPT. I've also included page numbers from Goodreads and expected reading times from Audible for your reference.

I’ll aim to write reviews for the standouts. If you happen to read any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts and compare notes!

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2024 Reading List

1. Sapiens (15.5 hrs) (512 pg)
   By Dr. Yuval Noah Harari
   
   Sapiens offers a sweeping overview of human history, from our earliest ancestors to the present day. Exploring key revolutions and ideologies that shaped Homo sapiens' dominance, it challenges our understanding of humanity, our society, and our future in a thought-provoking narrative.

2. The Wager (8.5 hrs) (329 pg)
   By David Grann
   
   The Wager is a gripping narrative of survival, treachery, and human resilience. This book tells the harrowing story of the survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, who, after being shipwrecked off Patagonia and enduring extreme hardships, are torn apart by mutiny and anarchy. As conflicting tales of heroism and villainy unfold, a dramatic court martial seeks the truth, with life-and-death consequences. This work by a master nonfiction writer combines the intensity of survival epics with the intrigue of a courtroom thriller.

3. Margin of Safety (N/A) (248 pg)
   By Seth Klarman
   
   Margin of Safety is a seminal work in the world of value investing. It breaks down complex investment strategies into understandable concepts, emphasizing risk management and long-term success. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in finance and investment.

4. Words of Radiance (48 hrs) (1087 pg)
   By Brandon Sanderson
   
   Words of Radiance continues the epic fantasy saga of The Stormlight Archive. Kaladin, a low-born "darkeyes," rises to command the royal bodyguards, facing threats from the deadly Assassin, Szeth, while grappling with mysterious new powers linked to his honorspren, Syl. Meanwhile, Shallan's quest to prevent an apocalyptic return of the Voidbringers leads her to the Shattered Plains, where the Parshendi make a perilous decision to invoke supernatural forces. This epic intertwines their fates, setting the stage for monumental changes in the world of Roshar.

5. $100M Leads (6hr) (438 pg)
   By Alex Hormozi
   
   $100M Leads offers a unique insight into the world of high-stakes marketing and sales. It reveals the strategies that transformed the author's journey from sleeping on a gym floor to owning companies generating $200 million annually. The book offers powerful, practical playbooks for generating leads, crucial for any business owner's success. It covers methods like content conversion, effective ad frameworks, referral techniques, and collaborative business strategies, all designed to attract a significant number of leads quickly and effectively.

6. The Emperor’s Soul (4 hrs) (192 pg)
   By Brandon Sanderson
   
   The Emperor's Soul crafts a captivating story about art, identity, and magic. In it, Shai, a skilled forger, faces a life-threatening challenge after being caught replacing a priceless artifact. Tasked with the impossible job of creating a new soul for the comatose Emperor Ashravan, she races against time, confined and despised for her forbidden art of soul-Forgery. As she navigates a web of political intrigue and suspicion, her only potential ally is the emperor's loyal counselor, Gaotona. Shai must craft a flawless escape plan while forging a soul under intense scrutiny and pressure.

7. Shōgun (53 hrs) (1152 pg)
   By James Clavell
   
   Shōgun is a captivating tale set in seventeenth-century Japan, where Englishman John Blackthorne finds himself after a shipwreck. Thrust into a closed, unfamiliar society, he navigates the intricate and perilous world of feudal Japan, challenging his own concepts of morality and freedom. This epic narrative combines intense action, deep historical detail, and raw human emotion, vividly portraying the complexities and conflicts of a land on the brink of profound change.

8. The Plague (11 hrs)(308 pg)
   By Albert Camus
   
   The Plague, published in 1947, is a profound narrative set in the French Algerian city of Oran, ravaged by a devastating plague. Told from an initially anonymous narrator's perspective, the story captures the unrelenting horror and resilience of humanity in the face of death. This masterful blend of understated storytelling and epic scope paints a vivid picture of a town gripped by an inescapable crisis, pushing its inhabitants to the limits of suffering and compassion. While considered an existentialist classic, The Plague delves into the powerlessness of individuals against their fate.

9. Man’s Search for Meaning (5 hrs)(165 pg)
   By Viktor Frankl
   
   Man’s Search for Meaning is a deeply moving account of his survival and psychological resilience during his imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz. Frankl's narrative, drawn from both personal experience and his psychiatric practice, explores the idea that while suffering is inevitable, finding meaning in it is a choice that can lead to purposeful living. His experiences led to the development of logotherapy, centered on the belief that the quest for meaning is the primary human motivation. This influential memoir, a testament to the human spirit's capacity to transcend extreme adversity, has significantly impacted our understanding of humanity and suffering.

10. Letters from a Stoic (7.5 hrs)(254 pg)
    By Seneca
    
    Letters from a Stoic embodies the philosophy of Stoicism, which values self-control and living in harmony with nature, as articulated by its most eloquent advocate, Seneca. Originating with Zeno's followers in fourth century BC Athens, Stoicism emphasizes ethical ideals, virtuous living, and the dignity of the individual mind. Seneca's writings not only eased the transition of pagan Rome to Christianity but also offered a powerful critique of societal ills like slavery and the brutality of Roman arenas, transforming Stoicism into a deeply inspiring and humane creed.

11. Zero to One (5 hrs) (195 pg)
    By Peter Thiel
    
    Zero to One by Peter Thiel, a renowned entrepreneur and investor, challenges conventional beliefs about innovation, arguing that true progress extends beyond the realm of information technology and Silicon Valley. Thiel proposes a contrarian view of our era as one of technological stagnation, emphasizing the need for unique creation rather than mere iteration. He advocates for a shift from the familiar path of going from 1 to n, adding more of what's already known, to the pioneering journey of 0 to 1, doing something completely new. The book offers an optimistic outlook on America's future progress and a fresh perspective on innovation, urging leaders to ask unconventional questions and find value in unexpected places.

12. Principles (16 hrs) (593 pg)
    By Ray Dalio
    
    In Principles, Ray Dalio, one of the world's most successful investors and entrepreneurs, shares the unique principles that drove his success over 40 years, leading Bridgewater Associates from a small apartment-based operation to a hedge fund giant. Dalio attributes Bridgewater's effectiveness to its culture of "an idea meritocracy" fostered through "radical truth" and "radical transparency." He offers practical lessons on decision-making, challenge management, and team-building, supplemented by innovative tools like employee "baseball cards" and computerized decision-making systems. This book presents a blend of unconventional wisdom for both organizations and individuals, providing insights into systematic approaches to life, management, and economics, applicable to diverse goals and ambitions.

Bonus To-Reads

• Grand Pursuit (20 hrs) (576 pg)
  By Sylvia Nasar
  
  Grand Pursuit offers a sweeping narrative of modern economics, tracing its transformative impact from the streets of nineteenth-century London to the global stage. Nasar vividly recounts how pioneers like Marx, Keynes, Schumpeter, Hayek and Sen revolutionized economic thought, turning it from a focus on poverty to a powerful tool for human progress. This compelling account intertwines personal stories, historical upheavals, and innovative ideas, showcasing how economics evolved to shape and improve the human condition.

• JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died & Why It Matters (22.5 hrs) (510 pg)
  By James W Douglas
  
  JFK and the Unspeakable offers a profound exploration of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, arguing it was the tragic outcome of his shift from a "Cold Warrior" to a peacemaker. Douglass meticulously examines the transformation of JFK, particularly through his responses to the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and secret dialogues with Khrushchev, which increasingly alienated him from the U.S. military-intelligence establishment. This book, blending political intrigue with a quest for peace, suggests that Kennedy's death was not just the silencing of a man but the destruction of a vision for global peace. As its 50th anniversary approaches, the book's insights serve as a crucial reminder of the continuing relevance of JFK's unfulfilled mission and the enduring need for peace.