Books remain at the heart of the media I consume – not perhaps the most significant by volume, but certainly by the effect they have on my life. I completed 27 books in 2018; I think a book every two weeks is a solid total, but I do hope to increase my total in 2019.
Here are a few books I read this year that had an impact on the work I do and how I live in the world.
The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker. (304 pages) This book is without a doubt the standout of my year. Parker’s ideas about creating gatherings that do not squander the time, intellect, or potential of those gathered has already impacted the way I approach my work.
Draft No. 4, John McPhee (192 pages) Form and process! McPhee’s expert thoughts on writing–culled from a lifetime divided between writing for The New Yorker and teaching college writing–aren’t prescriptive but are deeply influential.
On the Brink of Everything, Parker J. Palmer (198 pages) Parker Palmer’s writing is peace in print, and this new collection of essays, ostensibly about aging and endings, was a balm to me this year.
You, Your Child, and School, Sir Ken Robinson (304 pages) If you want to think about how to approach education for your children, your students, or young people anywhere, Robinson is the best place to start. This book condenses many of the insights from previous books and talks, and adds a lot more practical advice on how to proceed.
The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage, Philip Pullman (449 pages) At least half of the books I read are fiction, which is something you wouldn’t know from reading my Personal Bibliography. This new book is a continuation (prequel, sort of) to the His Dark Materials trilogy, and it did not disappoint. Magical, adventurous, and with a quality of writing that is better than almost any young people’s fantasy literature I’ve read. A masterpiece.
Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi (305 pages) And this is a masterpiece of a completely different variety. Taking place over many generations, the novel traces two branches of a family tree from early 17th-century West Africa to the present. Amazing, illuminating, and deeply moving.
Every year I am surprised by what books speak to me, and by what books I’m not thinking about even a few months later. I hope you find some books among this list that speak to you!