"If book knowledge made great investors, then the librarians would all be rich.”
— Warren Buffett —
I read 15 books in 2023 which is the same amount I read in 2022. A few things I learned: how the Koch brothers influence politics, markets, unions; the life of the 28th U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson; the increasing "privatization" of the U.S. military; and advice for aspiring writers from Stephen King.
I bought all of the books used from the website, Better World Books, for a total of $78. I sold most of them along with dozens of other books for a total of $15 at the bookstore, Half Price Books. Reselling isn't very lucrative as you can see. I would like to keep all my books but I live in a one bedroom apartment so I don’t have much room.
Here are some stats on what I read followed by the list of books.
Shortest book - 96 pages
Longest book - 784 pages
Average time to read - 25 days per book
Non-Fiction - 13
Fiction - 1
French Fiction - 1
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke The World - Liaquat Ahamed - Recommend
I enjoyed this book a lot. I learned about hyperinflation in Germany during the 1920s, World War I reparations, and how central banks pursued different paths to recovery following the war.
The Rise And Fall Of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living Since the Civil War - Robert J. Gordon
The book discusses the inventions that increased living standards after the Civil War (Electric lighting, indoor plumbing, cars, air travel, etc..). The first half of the book was interesting. The second half not so much. It’s long. 784 pages.
The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream - David M. Rubenstein - Recommend
David Rubenstein conducts 27 interviews with guests on topics from constitutional amendments to innovation to war to immigration to sports. This book covers a lot of topics and each interview is just a few pages so it’s a quick read. I have all of Rubenstein’s books.
Adaptive Markets: Financial Evolution at the Speed of Thought - Andrew W. Lo -
I found this book to be mediocre. It’s quite long, repetitive, and can be a bit technical.
Le Petit Nicolas et Les Copains - René Goscinny et Jean-Jacques Sempé
This is my fifth Petit Nicolas book. They're perfect for my French level - short, funny stories with vocab I can understand. I definitely need more French reading practice.
Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business - Rana Foroohar
The book argues American businesses prioritize short-term gains and financial manipulation over long-term growth and job creation. There are some good parts in the book but overall I did not care for it.
Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America - Christopher Leonard - Recommend
This was a great book. It’s very well researched.
Keeping At It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government - Paul A. Volcker, Christine Harper
While the details of Volcker's life were interesting, I found the book itself to be a bit dull. I was particularly intrigued by his time as Fed Chair in the 1980s, when his aggressive interest rate hikes, reaching 20%, helped to curb inflation which was around 14%. It was a good time to be a saver but a bad time to be a borrower.
Woodrow Wilson - H. W. Brands, Daniel E. Harmon
Quick, easy read about President Wilson. Before becoming the 28th U.S. President, he served as both president of Princeton University and governor of New Jersey. He also holds the distinction of being the only U.S. president with a Ph.D.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King
He writes about growing up in Maine while also giving out advice on how to be a better writer.
The Essays Of Warren Buffet: Lessons for Corporate America - Lawrence A. Cunningham
While I admire Warren Buffett and enjoy learning about his life and work, this particular book didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped.
Principles: Life and Work - Ray Dalio
Billionaire Ray Dalio shares the key ideas that shaped his success.
The Torrents Of Spring - Ernest Hemingway
I like most of Hemingway’s books, but I didn’t care for this one.
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power - Rachel Maddow
The book offers interesting insights into US military policy.
Leaders: Myth And Reality - Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Jeff Eggers, Jay Mangone
McChrystal uses true stories to show there's no one-size-fits-all leader.
