"The advances in the past few years are pretty absurd. You can stand in line at the grocery store and swipe sixty people’s faces on Tinder while you wait to buy hamburger buns.”
— Aziz Ansari—
I read 21 books in 2024, a modest increase from the past few years. I've been tracking my reading progress for six years now, and it's interesting to see how my yearly totals fluctuate:
2019 - 18 books
2020 - 12 books
2021 - 23 books
2022 - 15 books
2023 - 15 books
2024 - 21 books
My reading this year was quite diverse, covering topics from psychology and history to philosophy, art, and finance. Several books I would recommend while others not so much. I buy used, hardcover preferably, and I write/underline in each book.
A few things I learned:
In the years between 1830 and 1860, there were more than 100 incidents of violence between congressmen, from scuffles to mass brawls to duels. Before heading to the Capitol every morning, southern congressmen attached bowie knives to their belts and kept pistols in their pockets.
Constantly seeing others’ success on social media can foster insecurity and envy, sometimes leading to poor investment decisions.
In the 1980s and 1990s, people used classified ads in newspapers to find romantic partners. The ads typically included a description of the person: age, interests, personality traits; desired qualities in a partner; and a phone number where interested parties could call to make contact.
Here are some stats on what I read followed by the list of books.
Shortest book - 60 pages, 3 days
Longest book - 960 pages, 86 days
Average time to read - 22 days per book
All non-fiction books
Spent - $112 or $5.33 for each book
Best Book - Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes - Morgan Housel
Worst Book - Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers - Robert M. Sapolsky
Below are the books in the order I read them. I included the start and end dates too.
1. Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes
Morgan Housel
12/27/23 - 1/20/24
Explores the ways people think and act from investing and careers to personal relationships and societal trends. I loved this book. The chapters are short and easy to read. I also read his first book, The Psychology of Money. I highly recommend both books.
2. Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service
Carol Leonnig
1/21/24 - 2/21/24
The author digs deep into the Secret Service’s history, revealing some pretty wild stuff – from near-misses and scandals to the pressure these agents are under to keep the President safe. This was a great book. I’ve always been interested in top secret government agencies such as the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.
3. American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment
Shane Bauer
2/22/24 - 3/8/24
The author went undercover as a guard in a private prison in Louisiana (Winn Correctional Center in Winn Parish). The book examines the for-profit prison industry and raises concerns about how the pursuit of profit might harm inmates.
4. How to Invest: Masters on the Craft
David M. Rubenstein
3/9/24 - 4/1/24
A collection of interviews with some of the biggest names in investing. Warren Buffett, Larry Fink, Jamie Dimon, and other investing legends. You learn about their investment philosophies and how they built their fortunes. It's an easy read. I’m a big fan of David Rubenstein. His interview style is witty, engaging, and conversational. This is my fourth book of his.
5. These Truths: A History of the United States
Jill Lepore
4/2/24 - 6/25/24
The book explores American history, from its founding to the present day. It's a long read at 960 pages.
6. Grieving the Loss of a Love: How to Embrace Grief to Find True Hope and Healing After a Divorce, Breakup, or Death
Eleora Han
5/22/24 - 5/27/24
For anyone going through a rough patch after a breakup, divorce, or a loss. Discusses how to deal with your feelings, find healthy ways to cope, and find hope for the future.
7. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert
John Gottman, Nan Silver
5/27/24 - 7/2/24
The book shares seven principles to happy relationships, such as how to talk to each other, build trust, and handle disagreements.
8. Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships
Eric Berne
6/24/24 - 6/29/24
A book about how we often play hidden games with each other in our conversations. It shows that our conversations often have deeper meanings that aren't always obvious. The book could be a bit slow at times. Do not recommend.
9. Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth
Rachel Maddow
7/3/24 - 7/20/24
The book examines the influence of the oil and gas industry on global politics and the environment. This was my second Rachel Maddow book. She’s a great journalist. She is definitely biased which I could do without but still a great book.
10. Choices: Making an Art of Everyday Life
Marcia Tucker
7/3/24 - 7/5/24
A collection of interviews with several artists. They share their perspectives on life, art, and creativity. There were several excerpts in this book that I loved. Here is one:
Tehching Hsieh, a performance artist, says
”Life at some point for all of us is masochistic. When you want more challenge, you make things difficult for yourself, whether it's in a stupid way or on a higher level, a more meaningful one.... Art is artificial in many ways. Art is also special because you know how to make the medium fit your experience, so that people can share what you're doing. Of course it's easier to just live, not to make art at all.”
11. American Lion: Andrew Jackson In The White House
Jon Meacham
7/21/24 - 8/26/24
A biography of the seventh president of the United States. Meacham talks about Jackson's military career, political battles, and impact on American society. This is my second Jon Meacham book. He’s a terrific historian and his interviews are always great. This is also my second book on a U.S. President. Last year I read one on the 28th President, Woodrow Wilson. I think I will make it a goal to read one book on a U.S. President each year.
Hear, hear!
12. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
Daniel Goleman
7/28/24 - 8/11/24
The author argues that being emotionally intelligent – understanding yourself and others, managing your feelings – is more important for doing well in life than just being book smart. Having these skills can help you build better relationships, make smarter choices, and deal with life's ups and downs.
13. Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari
8/15/24 - 8/27/24
Explores how dating apps have changed the dating world, how texting has complicated things, and how ghosting and breadcrumbing are now part of the dating vocabulary.
14. Living Well Is the Best Revenge
Calvin Tomkins
8/27/24 - 8/30/24
Tells the story of an American couple, Gerald and Sara Murphy, who became famous in 1920s France. They were known for their amazing social circle, which included many famous artists such as Picasso, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and more. The book explores Gerald's career as a painter, the challenges the couple faced, and includes some great photos of their travels and parties.
15. Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life
Arnold Schwarzenegger
8/28/24 - 9/5/24
Schwarzenegger shares his own life lessons, from his early days as a bodybuilder to his career in Hollywood and politics. He talks about the importance of hard work, discipline, and never giving up on your dreams. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pretty impressive. He has accomplished so much in his life. Fascinating guy.
16. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
Robert M. Sapolsky
9/6/24 - 9/18/24
The author explores how stress affects our bodies and minds. He also talks about how different animals deal with stress, which is where the zebra part comes in. It's a mediocre book that can get bogged down in scientific jargon at times. Do not recommend.
17. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Jordan B. Peterson
9/19/24 - 10/18/24
Twelve life lessons based on the author’s understanding of psychology, mythology, and the human experience. He talks about things like taking responsibility for your own life, standing up for yourself, and facing your fears. Some chapters are great while others feel overly philosophical. I found it to have too many religious references.
18. You Weren’t Supposed To See That: Secrets Every Investor Should Know
Josh Brown
10/19/24 - 11/3/24
A collection of Josh Brown’s best blog posts from "The Reformed Broker," which is his finance blog. He talks about investing strategies, market trends, and the psychology of money. The book is both informative and entertaining. I listen to his podcast and when he appears on CNBC. He has a straightforward and honest approach to finance. Recommend this book.
19. The Philosophy of Modern Song
Bob Dylan
11/4/24 - 12/3/24
A collection of essays where Dylan discusses some of his favorite songs, ranging from Hank Williams to Elvis Costello to the Grateful Dead and more obscure musicians. Plus, it's filled with some fantastic photos. The photos alone could be a reason to buy the book. A photo of the Who inspired one of the sides of my Christmas card for 2024.
20. Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships
Daniel Goleman
11/20/24 - 12/15/24
The book talks about things like empathy, communication, and how to build strong relationships. The author explains how these skills are important for success in life, both personally and professionally. I read two of his books this year, and I recommend 'The Emotional Intelligence' book over this one.
21. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
James Clear
12/6/24 - 1/3/25
This book shows how small, consistent changes can lead to big improvements in your life. It offers strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones. I loved this book. It was very insightful and had excellent points on how to start or stop a habit. I have several daily habits and this book inspired me to add a few others to my daily life.
My 2024 reading stack