Reading Recap 2024

I read 38 books in 2024. But despite reading more than my goal of reading 26 books, I can’t help but feel a slight twinge of disappointment with my reading choices.

The year before, I set out to read 52 books, and I read 55. But this time, I wanted to read fewer books because I wanted to be more intentional with my reading. I wanted to read more thought-provoking books, history books, classics, and big fat books that make for a good doorstop or, in extreme cases, a projectile.

But I didn’t use my time as wisely as I’d hoped. Too many hours disappeared into phone scrolling, and I read more marketing books than I care to admit. Still, the year wasn’t wasted. Among the distractions, I read some true gems that made it all worth it.

Here are the books that left the biggest impression on me:

Favorite fiction that may or may not have made me cry:

• Stoner by John Williams
• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman

And my favorite nonfiction:

• Endurance by Alfred Lansing
• The Wager by David Grann
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

I learned much about what I want and don’t want from a book. I am incredibly grateful to have slipped into this hobby nearly by accident in 2022. It’s opened me up to fun conversations with my wife and gave me something more interesting than sports or local town drama to talk about with friends. Although, local town drama can be fun–especially after a few drinks.

More importantly, becoming an avid reader has rekindled my desire to write. The more I discovered how books can unlock new perspectives and ideas, the more I felt a pull to explore my own. Writing feels like the natural next step–a way to see what’s brewing inside.