Here are some of the best books I read in 2024. In a way, I didn’t read as many books as I hoped I would this year. But when it came time to write this list and review the books checked out this year, I realized I read more than I thought. Writing this list was harder than I expected. Do you include books you read last year but didn’t have time to include on the 2023 list? Books you reread? Books you read a fraction of? Ultimately, I focused on everything that resonated and ignored everything else.
How to Be a Man – Duff McKagan
This is a book of short essays from one of the cofounders of Guns N’ Roses, Duff McKagan. There are essays on raising children, supporting the Seattle Seahawks, staying healthy, touring the world in a rock and roll band, and being a man in the modern age. As a general rule, I don’t get life advice from rock musicians, but I’m glad I made an exception because this book is great. This is a follow-up to It’s So Easy (and Other Lies), a memoir where McKagan mostly talks about founding GN’R, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, quitting those substances, going back to school, and starting a family. I’m also a fan of McKagan’s conversational prose. Do you know that feeling when you read an author but hear his voice in your head? That’s how I felt when I read this book.
Welcome to The O.C.: The Oral History by Alan Sepinwall
I could have included any number of books on this list, such as books about philosophy, psychology, or history. Instead, I included a book about a teen drama from the early 2000s. Welcome to the O.C., is about the creation and rise in popularity of The OC, one of the most popular television shows of the 2000s and something I used to watch religiously as a teenager. While I loved this book, I barely consume any TV now. Nevertheless, it’s fascinating to see how television has changed in two decades and how this relatively short series had a tremendous impact on the medium. Unless you love the show, it’s impossible to recommend the book. If you do though, you’re in for a treat.
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
In this book, Michael Easter argues that human beings have never been more comfortable in history. Despite our comfort, we’re suffering from physical and mental health issues that don’t seem to have a solution. According to Easter, the solution is right in front of us and it’s discomfort. Humans thrive on challenge, but we’ve forgotten about it because we live in a world of temperature-controlled rooms, abundant food, and unlimited access to entertainment. Nowadays, we all need to figure out a way to challenge ourselves and what it means to be human.
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Most people think that productivity means busyness. As a consequence, they end up with a neverending list of tasks that leave them unfulfilled. In Slow Productivity, Cal Newport suggests we go back to a more sustainable model that involves producing long-term quality without sacrificing our mental health in the process. In other words, the idea is to create more without having to work more.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Have you ever wondered if exposing children to social media and smartphones negatively affects them? Do you think previous generations were mentally healthier due to the lack of smart technology? In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt explains the consequences of children having unlimited access to smartphones and the internet. The author argues that kids need unstructured time to play and explore the world and modern technology is depriving them of that.
Mastery
Sometimes I find myself reading books I bought months or years ago. Every once in a while I read a fantastic book and think to myself: why did it take me so long to read this? I’m glad I read Mastery when I did. In the book, Robert Greene explains how pretty much everyone has the potential to be a Master in a given field, as long as they’re willing to put in the work. Greene wanted to demystify the belief that some people (such as Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, or Leonardo da Vinci) are different than us. The author argues that anyone can achieve what they did as long as they are willing to go through a process that involves years of experience.
Atomic Attraction
Dating books are psychology 101 and I’d go as far as recommending them to people who are in relationships. Atomic Attraction is the result of the analysis of 120 scientific studies. I like how the author takes a topic we’re all somewhat familiar with and turns it into actionable steps that anyone can take.
The 48 Laws of Power
I have no idea what took me so long to read The 48 Laws of Power. This has to be one of the best-selling self-help books of all time and it’s become more popular over the past couple of years. I think that’s the case because people (especially young people) are confused by the messages they get. There’s so much information out there and the messages we get are so contradictory that many people don’t know how to behave. Robert Greene’s books offer a roadmap to help us understand the world around us.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
I heard of Murakami before, but since he mostly writes fiction, I always ignored his books. I’m glad I made an exception with this one. In What I Talk About When I Talk about Running, Murakami shares a series of essays as he prepares for a marathon. In each essay, he articulates what running means to him on a personal and philosophical level. Although the title suggests that this is primarily about running, it’s also a memoir. Murakami vividly describes his life, career, relationships, and the writing process.
Masters of Doom
I used to be obsessed with gaming when I was younger and I heard about Masters of Doom before. That said, I wasn’t prepared for this book. I was so engrossed with the story that I couldn’t stop reading, even when I was familiar with the development of Doom. I ended up reading Doom Guy (John Romero’s memoir) and I’m looking forward to reading Kushner’s book on Grand Theft Auto soon.