2023 Bookz in Review
I read, I read, I’ll read some more. Here’s a list of what I read and a little of what I thought about it.
The list starts with the most recently finshed (because Fulton county library lists it that way)
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
Inspiring, non-judgmental, encouraging.
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
A slow burn. Some frustrating tension building and a fun character study.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
I loved it. It’s sobering and inspiring. The amount of times the book made me think of improv made it one of my favorite reads of the year.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Another one of my favorites this year. I flew through this one.
Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod
I think Hugh MacLeod was rooting for me to succeed. It sounded like I wouldn’t succeed at all if I didn’t do what he said. I’m not big on shame-based motivation and this had too many hints of it.
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Another great one that sent me on an inspiring revaluation of how I teach and how I can serve myself and others creatively.
What It Is by Lynda Barry
Two times this year I read books that were remarkable compliments to each other. It changed the way I journal and get my ideas out and reemphasized how encouraging I can be in classes I teach.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Allllmost finished it. I’m only including it because this quote got me: Beautiful things of any kind are beautiful in themselves and sufficient to themselves.
Breaking Bread With The Dead by Alan Jacobs
In short, watch old shit that you don’t think was made for you, it will feed your soul and your art.
Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, the Flesh, and L.A. by Eve Babitz
Big fun! Even though it describes L.A. in the 70’s and 80’s it still brought back vivid memories of my time there in the 2000’s.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
This book will go into the recommended reading list for all actors and artists I work with.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
A fascinating ghost story told with the COVID pandemic as the backdrop.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Really long, but pretty good even despite my skimming some parts.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
The subtitle says it all. Basically, stay curious and allow yourself to learn new things.
What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry
Yes, it’s an Oprah book, but it hits home encouraging everyone to give grace whenever possible because we don’t know what anyone is going through.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel
Another multiple timeline book but in a third of the pages needed for Cloud Cuckoo Land. This style of writing was much more appealing to me.
The Inside Game by Keith Law
For baseball nerds, but also an interesting way to look at biases in all walks of life.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A silly, touching read about an octopus and a grieving mother.
Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones
Truly interesting to find out about Jim Henson and how he fell into puppetry. I did not need to know how he decorated his apartment after divorvcing his first wife…
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
Literally the reason I decided to write a newsletter and find more outlets for creativity.
The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
A promising start becomes preachy. I probably could’ve guessed from the title it was not going to be good.
Wow! 21 books! And that’s not including ones I didn’t finish (mainly because I didn’t like them)
Let me know if you decide to read any of these or have read them before. Thanks for reading!