For the last 10+ years I have read predominantly non-fiction works. This year is the first in a long time that I read more fiction than anything else. When I began work on another Masters Degree in August I went almost exclusively escapist reading.
There were however some worthwhile non-fiction reads that I experienced this year:
10. Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie A. Helgoe
I am an introvert and that is often seen by people to be a bad character trait. However, as Helgoe points out, that is a tragic misconception of the great contributions that introverts bring to society. The point of this book is that introverts should embrace their given personality and not try to take on the personality of an extrovert. There is room for both. Nor is this a book that says the solution is isolation but is instead finding proper alone time and to embrace solitude.
9. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible/The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
I include both of Jacob’s books together as they are indicative of the novel and creative approaches he takes to his writing. Both books were the results of experiments that he carried out: one to follow the Bible literally for one year, the other to read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica. Both books are fun to read and filled with hilarious anecdotes of his experiences. My only quibble is the length of both. I repeat my refrain: editing is a good thing.
8. Storm Warning: The Story of a Killer Tornado by Nancy Mathis
My town of Ponca City has not endured a major tornado in over 50 years. Some say that the refinery weakens the tornado winds as they come closer to town. Some claim that the Indian burial grounds exude some mystical force. I think we are just lucky. Oklahoma is the home to some of our nations most unpredictable weather. On May 3rd, 1999 that was witnessed in its full fury as 71 tornadoes hit the state. “The biggest of them all spanned a mile—making it the largest in recorded history—and delivered ground-level winds of over 300 mph.” This is a compelling account of that day.
7. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori and Rom Brafman
This is an intriguing look at why we tend to make irrational decisions despite evidence that making other decisions would be more productive. The inanity of most job interviews, ignoring fatigue and the over diagnosis of bi-polar disorder are all looked at.
6. Mudslingers: The Twenty-Five Dirtiest Political Campaigns of All Time by Kerwin Swint
Man, politicians are slimy people! This is an in-depth look at the dirtiest of political campaigns. It is often eye-opening and intriguing. It came out earlier this year so it did not include the latest campaign.
5. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
I am not a fan of memoirs but this is a book not to be missed. It is at times heartbreaking, at turns hilarious and consistently poignant.
4. Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N’ Roses by Stephen Davis
A book that only true fans would likely find interesting, I was hooked with the depraved tale of musical geniuses and what could have been.
3. The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin
For the second year in a row I have a behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court in my top 10. Toobin’s work focuses on the last twenty years of the Supreme Court and the difficult cases that have defined them. A highly entertaining read.
2. You’re Only as Good as Your Next One: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films, and 100 for Which I Should Be Shot by Mike Medavoy and Josh Young
This is an entertaining, candid and informative look at one individual’s life in the movie business. Medavoy had a great run in the early 70s as a produced and has parlayed that into a length, successful run in the movie business. His recollections of the infamous Cotton Club shooting alone is worth the time spent reading.
1. Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith by Suzanne Strempek Shea
Shea set out to attend a different church each week for a year in attempts to reconnect with her faith. In the process she visits a wide variety of churches from all stripes and records her impressions, some good, some bad, some ugly. If I wasn’t spoken for on Sunday mornings this is exactly the kind of thing I would love to do.