DanThornton

One of the habits I succeeded in for 2019 was reading more. Admittedly it was helped by a period of ill-health which has meant more time sitting around. But it also helped that I either found some really interesting titles in secondhand and charity shops, or was lucky enough to be given fascinating books for presents. So here are the books I read in 2019.

And why am I blogging it? Well, I do track what I’m reading on Goodreads. But am I better publishing a short review on there amongst all of the others, or putting it on here first where it may be found by search or social media, and someone might click through to buy it – generating some pennies via affiliate links which I can then put towards rent? Or more books?

Ironically, Amazon wins either way as they own Goodreads, and are the most logical affiliate link. But at least putting my thoughts here means I might eke out a couple of pence, and know that the words will be online as long as I can keep the server running…

It’s also a useful remembering tool, and it’s interesting to see which titles have stuck with me the most – if you’re not discplined about index cards and note-taking, it’s amazing what your mind will choose to consciously remember or forget – which one of the books covers in more detail!

In total I finished 15 books, including one which was started just before the end of the year.

Books I read in 2019 in chronological order

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Originally published a few years ago, famous worldwide, and started in 2018. And one of the most eye-opening books I’ve read in a long while.

It’s really well-written and readable (in a Gladwell-esque style), and contains lots of thought-provoking and surprising information even for those who thought they knew a little about history or humanity.

Yes like Gladwell, it’s possible to criqitue the fact Harari might not have produced the most authorative, detailed and annotated work, but then it would be 20 times as long, and read by about 20 people. Instead, it’s an engaging jumping off point for people who might want to go on to learn more.

Creative Superpowers edited by Laura Jordan Bambach, Mark Earls, Daniele Fiandaca and Scott Morrison

Another present, and one I’ll be going back to repeatedly. (Disclosure, I’m fortunate enough to have chatted to Mark Earls online and off many times over the years).

It’s a collection of chapters each covering various aspects of Making, Hacking, Teaching and Thievery, with plenty of ideas, inspiration and examples from the various contributing authors. Which means some sections will be new, some useful, and others offer a different perspective.

As someone who earns a living in part from being Creative, it’s one of the titles I’m keeping next to my desk to dip into occasionally for inspiration, and I’d recommend it for anyone’s creativity toolkit.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Borrowed from my girlfriend, and a great distillation of many principles which work effectively for modern businesses, especially given the importance of the online world to so many.

The essential lesson is to launch, test, measure and iterate, rather than blindly follow existing assumptions, with examples of how that has made a massive difference to the success or failure of businesses. Not something I’m unfamiliar with, especially as a close friend is a leading expert in multivariate testing and optimisation for companies. But it’s a useful reminder and handy to be able to share with any doubters.

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J Kurtz

Described by the author as a reminder of things you knew but forgot, this short 130 page book is another title that sits beside my desk.

Being creative, starting a business, or even just working remotely can be difficult and lonely at times. So having something you can pick up and browse for a few minutes to get a reminder that you’re not suffering alone, and that there are good and bad habits to develop which will help you do better, is definitely useful.

With a page of a notepad covering each tip or piece of advice, it’s not going to give you detailed examples of how to do everything. But it’s a more directed and useful inspiration than a cat poster saying ‘just hang in there’, and sometimes that’s all you need.

The Most Human Human by Brian Christian

I think this was another fantastic gift, and it covers the quest of the author to take part in the annual Turing Test as a human confederate. The test involves humans and AI competing to see if judges can work out which is man or machine, and there’s an award for the most human human.

Which all sounds exclusively for the tech geeks among us. But actually it tends to go more into discussions of philosphy, linguistics and what it means to be human.

The result is something that’s really interesting for anyone with an interest in tech and language. So it could well have been written for me…

It’s not perfect, but it’s readable, interesting, and I’ve noted several passages with insights I want to delve into much more in the future

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

Sounds like a self-help book, but is really an autobiography containing some useful life lessons.

Hadfield is the first Canadian to walk in space, flown two space shuttle missions, and served as a commander of the International Space Station, as well as gaining internet fame for videos shot while he was in orbit.

All of which is fascinating for any space geek, along with his test pilot career. But what’s stuck with me are the challenges he’s had to overcome to get to his goals, the ways that he dealt with disapointments, and also the methods developed for working with others.

I’m probably not going to be stuck in space with just a couple of other people for 12 months. But I often work on projects with small teams and tight timelines.

It’s currently in a pile of books I’m encouraging my son to read as the lessons hidden amongst the fighter jets and rocket ships can already help him through education and life.

Empire Games by Charles Stross

Pure sci-fi enjoyment featuring alternate worlds and timelines, which works as part of the Merchant Princes series, and pretty well as a standalone title.

I’m a big fan of Charlie Stross and his approach to hard science fiction (the type which has a concern for scientific accuracy and logic). If you want a standalone book, you could try Accelerando, or the more present-day themes of Rule 34. But if you want an epic, sprawling world to lose yourself in, the Merchant Princes series will definitely do the job.

Human Universe by Brian Cox

Going through school, I was equally fascinated by the arts and science. But over time, education and career choices led me down the path of writing and creativity (with SEO to satisfy the urge for more technical work).

But I do try to keep up a hobbiest interest in various areas online. And I’m making an effort to try and improve my understanding of space and physics partly for my own edification, and partly so I can have better conversations at Peterborough STEM Festival.

It’s well-written and accessible without the science being overly-simplified (some of the maths caused me time to pause a bit). But I think the love letter to humanity framed through the magnitude of infinite space, and the chances of intelligent life ever actually existing is something which would reach any reader.

Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku

One of the joys of charity shops is picking up books you’d never heard of. Because at 50p you can take a gamble. So I have to admit I didn’t realise how well-known and respected theoretical physicist Michio Kaku actually was until after I’d started reading the introduction (As the co-founder of String Field Theory, he’s a popular TV personality in America – and the inspiration for the title of a Muse album) .

But the idea of the book definitely appealed. Take ideas from popular sci fi, and then assess whether they’re going to be possible soon, in the far future, or would break the laws of physics completely.

Although the book was originally written in 2008 and some things have evolved or changed since then, even in my own limited physics knowledge, using teleportation from Star Trek, or the TARDIS from Doctor Who as a way into examining physics from a scientific perspective is a great way to introduce concepts and laws that I might have shied away from in a textbook.

Wait: The useful art of procrastination by Frank Partnoy

As someone who is prone to procrastinating at times, I’ve had to learn to curb that habit. But it turns out it might not always be a bad thing.

The real basis of the book isn’t as much about delaying a decision or task, as much as consciously choosing whether you should act quickly or slowly. And given the pressures of modern life on doing everything as fast as possible, it’s an important reminder that slowing down can be more beneficial at times.

It’s readable and thought provoking, although it’s not perfect. There could certainly be more explanation of why delays can work in our favour rather than demonstrating a particular example. But it definitely set the scene for one of the books I read later in the year, which goes into decision making in far more scientific detail.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

Apparently some people may exist who don’t find Terry Pratchett funny, but I’m not sure I’d want to hang around with them. But if you’re possibly one of them, then this book might be the best way to enjoy his work.

The collaboration means you get a mix of seriousness and humour which was really enjoyable, but not quite as flat-out comedy as Pratchett’s fantasy work. As with his collaboration with Neil Gaiman (Good Omens, now an Amazon TV series), it’s really enjoyable.

In my opinion at least – skimming through the reviews on sites like Goodreads makes me wonder about humanity, but if you like novels which focus on the journey rather than necessarily delving deep into every character, then you’ll probably enjoy it.

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

Easily summarised as a journalist visits the United States Memory Championship to write an article, becomes fascinated, and sets out to compete the following year.

Fortunately it’s more memorable than that. It works really well as the story of one person becoming obsessed with a niche achievement that involves plenty of other interesting characters along the way.

It’s less successful as a guide on how to improve your memory, as the techniques are actually pretty simple and well-documented. Think memory palaces, and you’ll be pretty much there.

If you’re looking for a quick guide to memory, then you’ll probably come away disappointed. But if you fancy a longform article on how one person becomes obsessed with an unusual achievement, and some tips/discussion about memory along the way, then it’s worth taking a look at.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnemen

I mentioned this earlier in reference to decision making. And it’s probably the most important book I’ve ever read on how the human mind copes with quick thinking and slower decisions.

Nobel prize winner and psychology professor Kahneman is notable enough to have had his work with Amos Tversky covered in a book of it’s own (by Moneyball author Michael Lewis), and he’s been recognised as one of the most influential economists in the world, so I probably don’t need to reinforce his brilliance.

It’s a dryer read than many popular psychology and economics books, certainly compared to Portnoy above, or anythingby Malcolm Gladwell. But it’s not off-puttingly academic. And even the observations which may have seemed more intuitive if you’re not trying to rationalise humanity in the manner of an economist are presented in a way which allows you to make logical sense of why humans can be so illogical.

If I had to pick one book for anyone to read from my 2019 reading list, it’s this one. It’s useful for anyone in business, marketing, sales, product development etc, but also for understanding how the world works around us, especially in the context of modern politics, media and advertising.

It’s one worth reading, re-reading, and taking notes from.

The Pyramid by Henning Mankell

I’ve always enjoyed the occasional detective or crime story. But it wasn’t until I started reading the Kurt Wallander stores that I really followed one particular character and author. And then went back to the earlier Beck series by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo which undoubtedly inspired some of Mankell’s writing.

What I love about the Wallander books is the slow pace of rural Sweden, and the mundane details of his imperfect life which contrast with the crimes he’s investigating.

It also helps that I know the Skåne region, having visited several times, so places like Malmo are both foreign and familiar. My Swedish isn’t good enough to read the Wallander books without it being a translation, but it does mean I can say with authority that you should ignore the English Branagh TV series, and Krister Henriksson is the real Wallander.

The Pyramid is a collection of 5 stories which cover the time before we properly meet Wallander in Faceless Killers. It’s not the best of the books, but it’s OK if you’re a fan and want to find out more about what led to the aging detective who became so popular.

Street Phographer – Vivian Maier

Rounding off the year was the most delightfully unexpected book present I received.

Vivian Maier spent her life taking street photography as a hobby, and never telling anyone about it. The result was more than 150,000 images from mainly American cities which were only discovered shortly before her death in 2009, and only received widespread attention and acclaim posthumously.

The fascination about her stems partly from her work, which has been critically acclaimed (and I love many of her pictures, particularly downtown America in the 1950s and 1960s), and partly due to the way in which her photography was a private secret, known to very few people during her life.

As someone who has no visual artistic talent, but occasionally managed to take a photo which isn’t completely terrible, it’s some inspiration to keep trying, and to allow private hobbies in an age where everything is shared online.

And imagining the stores behind Maier and her subjects certainly helps with my writing.

Now onto reading in 2020:

I’m already deep into another Wallander book, and I’ve set myself the same target of one book a month for this year on Goodreads, so hopefully I’ll keep it up.

As much as I enjoy compulsively reading as much as possible online, it’s been wonderful to rediscover the delight of sitting away from a screen to get more deeply involved in what I’m reading – and the serendipity of finding fascinating books in charity shops is matched by the pleasure of knowing if it drops into bathwater, I’ve only potentially lost 50p…