The 5 Best Books I’ve Read So Far This Year
I’ve read good books and not-so good books so far this year. Here are five I loved. Enjoy!
This book by the team at Farnam Street will teach you how to think better and make smarter decisions. It introduces you to the most powerful mental models that can help you understand the world and solve problems. You’ll learn how to use these models to avoid common biases, errors, and traps that can lead you astray. Whether you want to improve your business, your relationships, your health, or your happiness, this book will give you the tools you need to level up your thinking.
This Larry McMurtry book is a thrilling adventure that follows the exploits of two young Texas Rangers in the wild frontier of the 1840s. Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call are brave, loyal, and reckless as they face hostile Indians, Mexican bandits, and savage outlaws. Along the way, they encounter legendary figures like Buffalo Hump, Bigfoot Wallace, and Caleb Cobb. This is a must-read for anyone who loves westerns, history, or just a good story.
Sebastian Junger is one of my favorite authors and books like this are why. Tribe explores the human need for belonging and community. It argues that modern society has lost its sense of tribe and that this has led to increased alienation, loneliness, and mental health issues. It also shows how we can reconnect with our tribal roots and find meaning and purpose in our lives. Drawing on examples from history, anthropology, psychology, and military veterans, this book will challenge you to rethink your assumptions and values.
This book is a powerful memoir of a Holocaust survivor who found a way to cope with the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist who developed a theory of meaning that helped him and others survive the most brutal conditions. He discovered that even in the most hopeless situations, we can choose our attitude and find meaning in our suffering. This book will inspire you to live with dignity, courage, and hope.
Sapiens is an accessible and fascinating outline of the history of humankind. It explains how we evolved from ancient apes to modern humans and how we shaped the world with our culture, language, religion, science, and technology. It also explores the big questions of who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. You’ll rethink everything you thought you knew about yourself and your species.
Matthew McConaughey is as cool a guy as he seems; this book is a candid and entertaining memoir of the unconventional life he’s lived so far. He shares his stories, insights, and lessons learned from his adventures around the world. He reveals his philosophy of life that he calls “greenlights”, which are signals that tell him to go ahead and pursue his dreams. If nothing else, you’ll laugh a lot and see what it looks like when a normal guy tries his best to live an examined life.
