Nat, great recommendations. I also loved the Comfort Crisis, reread the Odyssey (after reading Madeline Miller’s Circe), and try to revisit Tao Te Ching annually. Happy Sleeper is also phenomenal for kiddos. Lots to check out on your list.
Based on your choices, and if you’re looking for more fiction, I’d recommend the following:
- Mushasi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Epic Japanese novel, wonderfully written, and packed with wisdom. One of my most recommended books of the last few years.
- Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. Historical fiction climaxing at the Battle of Thermopylae. Awesome.
- Killer Angels by Michael Shara. Historical fiction recounting the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of generals on both sides.
-Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. 900 pages describing a cattle drive from Texas to Montana — and so much more.
- Circe by Madeline Miller. Greek mythology written from the point of view of Circe. Gives a different appreciation to a familiar trope.
Great list Nat. "When breath becomes air" shook me to my core when I read it earlier this year. I dont read many memoirs but this was worth it. Enjoy your break!
Have to agree on Four Thousands Weeks! Made me think a lot and surely impacted my relationship with my daily chores and routines.
The book that really did it for me this year is Why Buddhism Is True, by Robert Wright. An engaging, funny, and incredibly helpful guide to understand Buddhism, and why you don’t have to be a monk in isolation on a mountain to find meaning in your days. Highly highly recommended.
Fiction wise, I’d say Brothers Karamazov, which I am about to start. But I recommend it already because I know how great that is.
For now, Nat, I’ll catch up on all your best blog posts, enjoy your break!
Excellent recommends Nat, happy holidays and see you soon :)
‘When The Money is Just Too Damn Good’ was the first thing I read from this newsletter and it was brilliantly written. I particularly loved ‘Creator Economy’ one as well. Impeccable satire.
I read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro this year after delaying it for too long and it was mind bending. If someone is looking for dystopian fiction please check it out.
Since you've got some other Greek works on the list, I'd recommending diving into the tragedies if you have any interest in that kind of stuff. The Oresteia, Antigone, and Bacchae are great places to start depending on which tragedian you want to go with.
Also, the Gideon/Harrow/Nona the Ninth books are great if you're looking for some more fun sci-fi!
Nat, great recommendations. I also loved the Comfort Crisis, reread the Odyssey (after reading Madeline Miller’s Circe), and try to revisit Tao Te Ching annually. Happy Sleeper is also phenomenal for kiddos. Lots to check out on your list.
Based on your choices, and if you’re looking for more fiction, I’d recommend the following:
- Mushasi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Epic Japanese novel, wonderfully written, and packed with wisdom. One of my most recommended books of the last few years.
- Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. Historical fiction climaxing at the Battle of Thermopylae. Awesome.
- Killer Angels by Michael Shara. Historical fiction recounting the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of generals on both sides.
-Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. 900 pages describing a cattle drive from Texas to Montana — and so much more.
- Circe by Madeline Miller. Greek mythology written from the point of view of Circe. Gives a different appreciation to a familiar trope.
Enjoy the writing break!
Great list Nat. "When breath becomes air" shook me to my core when I read it earlier this year. I dont read many memoirs but this was worth it. Enjoy your break!
Have to agree on Four Thousands Weeks! Made me think a lot and surely impacted my relationship with my daily chores and routines.
The book that really did it for me this year is Why Buddhism Is True, by Robert Wright. An engaging, funny, and incredibly helpful guide to understand Buddhism, and why you don’t have to be a monk in isolation on a mountain to find meaning in your days. Highly highly recommended.
Fiction wise, I’d say Brothers Karamazov, which I am about to start. But I recommend it already because I know how great that is.
For now, Nat, I’ll catch up on all your best blog posts, enjoy your break!
Nat, great recommendations. I also read The Comfort Crisis after listening to Michael on the JRE.
I would add three pieces to my list for recommendations to you:
Non-fiction Book: Changing World Order by Dalio
Fiction Book: Read anything by Gianrico Carofiglio about the attorney Guerrieri. Not sure if they sell his books in the US.
Essay: A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Thanks for enriching my Goodreads shelf! Here are some books I enjoyed this year:
Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins - made me rethink everytime I complained about something petty. It also got me to take running seriously again.
Awareness by Anthony Demelo - brilliant meditations on love, thought, and consciousness.
Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson - I didn't know how widely learned and affable Franklin was.
Excellent recommends Nat, happy holidays and see you soon :)
‘When The Money is Just Too Damn Good’ was the first thing I read from this newsletter and it was brilliantly written. I particularly loved ‘Creator Economy’ one as well. Impeccable satire.
I read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro this year after delaying it for too long and it was mind bending. If someone is looking for dystopian fiction please check it out.
Only 25% in but "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" is a good sci-fi novel.
Since you've got some other Greek works on the list, I'd recommending diving into the tragedies if you have any interest in that kind of stuff. The Oresteia, Antigone, and Bacchae are great places to start depending on which tragedian you want to go with.
Also, the Gideon/Harrow/Nona the Ninth books are great if you're looking for some more fun sci-fi!
Looking for book hard to classify: Boomeritis - Is it fiction, philosophy, science, history? You decide.
"How to Get Insanely Rich in the Creator Economy. " was hilarious, we sent that to so many people 😂
When will you be writing a book Nat?