I've had a few conversations in the past weeks about my favourite books I read in 2019. I'm going to share a few titles here in case anyone wants a repose from the raging deluge of depressing news.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker. Sleep is the greatest performance enhancer known to man. Get your eight hours. Super interesting read. goodreads.com/book/show/3446…
The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry. Berry was considering the consequences of unchecked consumerism decades before most had heard of climate change and the environmental movement. Painfully beautiful prose. goodreads.com/book/show/3610…
Laurie Lee's autobiographical triology Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, and A Moment of War. I've never read a description of childhood as entertaining. His writing even adds a sparkle to the poverty of depression era Spain. goodreads.com/book/show/3790…
The Gun by @cjchivers. The first biography of a weapon I've ever read and boy was it fascinating. Even if you're not interested in AK-47s this is gripping history. goodreads.com/book/show/9537…
Here's another history I didn't know I wanted to read: The Price of Paradise, @iainoverton's book on suicide bombing. The only book I reviewed in 2019. Excellent research. goodreads.com/book/show/4480…
I don't read enough fiction. @JM_Beck put me onto Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. But only fiction could capture what I imagine the feeling was like in Baghdad during the height of the sectarian violence. goodreads.com/book/show/3397…
Minor Characters by Joyce Johnson. Women in the Beat generation were treated as props was my takeaway from this. Joyce is a fantastic writer, reminded me a little of Diana Ahtill, whom I adore. Thanks @BadBillieDean for the recommendation goodreads.com/book/show/8161…
What It Is Like to Go To War by Karl Marlantes. I enjoyed his novel Matterhorn but thought some it far-fetched -- turns out that stuff and more happened to him in Vietnam. This book required reading for gung-ho young men. goodreads.com/book/show/1129…
In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by @lindseyhilsum. Best biography I read last year. goodreads.com/book/show/3973…
The Face of War by Martha Gellhorn. The OG of war reporting, no wonder Hemingway was so threatened by her. goodreads.com/book/show/4561…
On the Road to Kandahar: Travels through conflict in the Islamic world by @burke_jason. The opening of him turning up in Iraqi Kurdistan with no clue was painfully familiar, just wish I'd taken the kind of notes Jason must have to write so vividly. goodreads.com/book/show/8342…
I read a bunch more in 2019 but those were the highlights. If you would like to nerd out with me about books further, please join me on @goodreads goodreads.com/user/show/6281…
