In year-end fashion, here’s a closer look at the thirteen titles that I read in 2024. No audiobooks here, just good old fashioned page turning.
1. The Storm Is Here: An American Crucible by Luke Mogelson — 5/5
Luke Mogelson does current event writing correctly -- with a healthy dose of historical context to provide the reader with the context to understand what they’re reading. It’s a timely, clear-eyed dispatch on the turbulence roiling contemporary America. Mogelson bring war reporting home.
2. The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates — 5/5
Coates’s commanding voice on race, identity, and resilience resonates This short yet profoundly moving essay should be on everyone’s must-read list for its thoughtful introspection and unflinching honesty. A book about writing and voice that journeys through the world. 3
3. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport — 4/5
Newport continues his exploration into modern work culture, advocating for measured pacing over frenetic multitasking. While not entirely new ground for Newport, his latest treatise resonates as both timely and reassuring in an age of constant hustle. Can’t wait for his next book.
4. Abstract Expressionism by David Anfam — 3/5
An introduction to the movement that shook the art world, filled with vivid imagery and historical context. Although comprehensive, the text sometimes feels more reference-like than transporting. At time over my head and full of reference lost on a rube like me, but still a worthy read for those curious.
5. Mark Rothko (FLV Retrospective) by Suzanne Page — 5/5
This sumptuous retrospective captures Rothko’s luminous canvases, highlighting the emotional power of color and form. A definitive tribute to one of modern art’s greats, it captivates as much on the page as Rothko’s works do in person.
6. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel — 5/5
In a novel that merges speculative fiction with meditations on humanity’s resilience, Mandel once again proves her storytelling prowess. A transcendent narrative that feels both intimate and expansive—one that lingers long after you turn the final page.
7. Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis — 3/5
Lewis’s flair for profiling risk-takers is on display as he tracks the meteoric ascent and downward spiral of a modern financial wunderkind. This falls short of Lewis’s other books and is only saved by his engaging writing style.
8. How to Think More Effectively: A guide to greater productivity, insight and creativity (Work series) by The School of Life — 3/5
A gentle reminder of the importance of curiosity and structured thinking in an overstimulated world. Though its insights may feel familiar, it’s a helpful nudge toward more mindful introspection.
9. Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York, and London by Mohsin Hamid — 4/5
Hamid’s essays traverse multiple continents and perspectives, painting a rich tapestry of contemporary global tensions. While it occasionally meanders, his reflections on identity and migration remain thought-provoking and timely.
10. Clyfford Still: The Late Works by Clyfford Still — 5/5
A stunning gallery of abstract expressionism that captures Still’s intensity and distinctive brushwork in his later years. Essential for any fan of 20th-century art, this volume is a testament to his enduring influence on the American art scene.
11. Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet by Chris Dixon — 3/5
A forward-looking take on the possibilities of decentralized technologies and user ownership online. Though it can border on idealistic, the book stokes the imagination for what the internet might become in the not-so-distant future.
12. Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — 4/5
Part essay, part letter, this heartfelt guide on how to raise the next generation with feminist values resonates with clarity and conviction. Adichie’s personal tone and universal insights make it a refreshing and accessible read for our rapidly changing world.
13. A Monk’s Guide to A Clean House & Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto — 3/5
A succinct guide combining Zen philosophy with everyday housekeeping tips. Though it may not revolutionize your chore routine, it offers a refreshing perspective on how tidying one’s environment can nurture mental calm.
