Books are the most impactful media I consume. One of my regrets for 2023 is that life as I’ve constructed it leaves me little time for reading. Nonetheless I finished 16 books in 2023, the same as 2022. It’s well over the national average of four but nowhere close to the family (adult) average of over 60 this year.
There were several books I read that had an impact on the work I do and how I live in the world.
(A note about links: I have used bookshop.org for most links, which supports independent booksellers. I get a small affiliate percentage if you buy a book through these links, which I will use to maintain this website. You can also direct a portion of your purchase to support a local bookstore of your choosing. Which is pretty cool.)
Nonfiction
Why They Can’t Write, John Warner (288 pages) Warner is one of the organizers of the Tournament of Books and a longtime adjunct English professor. His book is about writing, thinking, education, and so much more. When I posted a picture, I described it as essential reading if you’re a teacher, parent, or citizen. It will change your views about writing education.
The Song of Significance, Seth Godin (208 pages) Seth Godin is a thinker who has influenced me in countless ways over the past 10+ years. His newest book is about leadership, collaboration, and work and is so compelling.
The Melodic Voice: Conversations with Alice Parker, Cameron LaBarr & John Wykoff (243 pages) Alice sparkles in conversation. Her keen mind and deep convictions lead these conversations in fascinating directions. I read this book at Singing Brook, her longtime home, but I think you can’t help but be inspired by her, no matter where and when you read it. I’ll be reading it again as soon as I can bear to open it.
Fiction
A Gentleman In Moscow, Amor Townes (496 pages) A most Russian novel, taking place almost entirely within a hotel under a decades-long house arrest. Charming doesn’t do justice to the main character, and the historical perspective is rich and fascinating.
Babel, R.F. Kuang (560 pages) It’s kind of steampunk sci-fi in 19th Century England? But also it’s about language, translation, culture, racism, classism, and about 1,000 other ideas. Also it’s epic in scope and ramps up to a thriller pace.
The List of Things That Will Not Change, Rebecca Stead (240 pages) I love reading novels for kids, not just so I can recommend them to my own kids, but also because a well-written middle-grade novel has something to say for everyone. This one was a meditation about divorce, how we change, the challenges of growing up, and more. Rebecca Stead’s writing knocks me out.
The Hurting Kind, Ada Limón (128 pages) We all need a little poetry in our life, don’t we? I learned of Ada Limón through her conversation with Krista Tippett on On Being in February of this year. Like all great poetry, it asks your full attention and pays you back for giving it.