Reads of 2017
I started reading in 2014, and by that I mean, I started enjoying books as a hobby.
At first it was contrived - I really had to force myself to sit down and read - and every book took me much longer than it should have. This year I finally felt like reading was something I gravitated towards, and I'm enjoying getting warm under blankets and diving in.
Here's what I read in 2017:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig
You've probably at least heard of this book already - it's regarded as one of the "best books to read while traveling" - so let me try and explain it in a way that actually describes it:
The basic premise is a guy is traveling with his son across the country on a motorcycle. The guy is mentally crazy, but also super smart. The actual story of them traveling is rather bland, but in between are monologues of thought regarding linguistics, philosophy, and metaphysics. I loved it, but it's not for everyone. If you're really into logic and thought, this book is for you.
Ishmael, Daniel Quinn
Ever thought what it would be like for a gorilla to describe humanity's impact on the planet? That's what this is. Through a series of conversations, a man and ape discuss how humans have imprisoned the earth and regularly subject it to torture. It does not make you feel good but it does make you think about things from another perspective.
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
This was the first book by Ernest Hemingway I've read, and I get why he's talked about so much. He has a natural ability to write about completely menial things and make them sound interesting. The book is about an old man who catches a big fish that drags him around the ocean for a few days, but somehow it's beautiful and poetic and gives you feelings.
Lila, Robert Pirsig
The sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I actually preferred this book more than ZAMM. In the first book, the narrator (who is actually the author writing about himself) starts to formulate an idea which finally gains clarity at the conclusion. In Lila, Persig actually dives in and elaborates on this thought. The whole book is basically a philosophical whitepaper but ironically, his subject will never be accepted in the traditional school of philosophy, so this "novel" is actually his workaround-way of publishing his ideas. The dude was a genius.
Side note: Robert Pirsig passed away this year. R.I.P. His only publications were ZAMM and Lila
The Creative Destruction of Medicine, Eric Topol, M.D.
This book is well known as being one of the most complete and informative sources on technology in US Healthcare. Obviously because I was working at Bloodbuy, it appealed to me. Generally speaking, if you're not in healthcare, you'll probably find it monotonous. If you are in healthcare, you need to read this book. It details everything from genetical engineering to patient health data, to imaging. Topal does a great job of taking a non-biased view at things.
Religion for the Nonreligious, Wait But Why
I read a lot of internet articles, but this one is noteworthy. Wait But Why is a great internet web comic that breaks down philosophical thought into easy-to-understand articles (with pictures!). This one discusses religion and the meaning of life. If you're religious or not, it's worth reading, because the premise is, regardless of our beliefs, we should be striving for wisdom and integrity.
The Way of the Superior Man, David Deida
This book is about masculinity and relationships. I have mixed feelings about it. Some chapters were really good and others pushed a gender role agenda. Usually I despise relationship books because they're so cliché, but this one is different. It's definitely a great read if you're in a relationship, but take it with a grain of salt. It's kind of hippy-dippy.
Siddhartha (reread), Hermann Hesse
I re-read Siddhartha because it's badass and I needed it. For a description, see my writeup in last year's post.
Demien, Hermann Hesse
I got on a Hermann Hesse kick and wanted to really understand his work. Demien is about a boy's struggle between light and dark, and trying to find balance between the two. Mostly it's a coming-of-age novel, so it would have been better to read this when I was younger, but if you're a big Hesse fan, it's worth a read, but not his best work.
Peter Camenzind, Hermann Hesse
Here's another Hesse novel which follows the life of an imaginary character. Camenzind is a loner who spends his life around Switzerland, trying to find meaning where there really is none. Eventually he starts taking care of an invalid and realizes human connection is the solution to his depression. Kind of cliché. It was alright. Hesse can be pretty depressing.
Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
Here's another Hemingway novel that I thought was even better than The Old Man and the Sea. Again, Hemingway takes ordinary situations and describes them in a way that makes them incredibly interesting and intense. The character dialog is vivid and he manages to capture the love relationship between two people who will never be together. From a "literary novel" perspective, it's a must-read. Think: Gatsby in Spain.
Virginia Woolf, Penguin Classics Collection
I picked up a collection of Virginia Woolf's short stories at a hostel and I hadn't read her works so I figured "why not?". She's an impressionist, which means, she takes one sliver of one moment and dissects it into an entire short story. She basically writes her stream of consciousness. I understand the importance she played in her era, but I found her stuff to be incredibly dry and boring. #sorrynotsorry
Included short stories: The Lady in the Looking Glass, A Society, The Mark on the Wall, Solid Objects, and Lappin and Lapinova
Stoner, John Williams
I picked this book up at a book exchange and contrary to the title, it has nothing to do with marijuana. One of the reviews on the back says "The greatest book you'll never read", and it's pretty true. It's a book about a man who is depressingly average. That's it. It literally walks you through his life from birth to death. BUT, somehow you get a sense of fulfillment out of it because it's not about a superhero or a villain or the end of the world - it's just about a guy, like all the rest of us. Don't believe me? The Guardian and The New Yorker both have reviews on it.
Just... don't read it if you're depressed... because it's depressing.
Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari
Definitely one of my favorite books of all time. 100% non-fiction. Dry. Lots of history. Just how I like my wines. This book is literally "a brief history of humankind". It captures everything you need to know about how we got here including: evolution, evolutionary psychology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, history, and (briefly) the future. If you ever see someone drunk at a bar and think "wow, what a dumb ape he is" - this book is basically that. It's a 10,000ft view of who we are and where we've been. Not for everybody but very insightful for those who appreciate our animal side.
So, lots of heady and sort-of depressing books this year eh? It was actually quite nice and I'm excited to get moving on next year! I always keep a list of books and who recommended them to me, so if you've got something amazing - please let me know!
Best wishes and happy 2018