What I read in 2024
It’s been a transformative year, and reading has as always been a source of recharge and inspiration. My 2024 list includes some great books for adults and kids.
As 2024 comes to a close, here are this year’s reads. Not as many books were read as previous years and that’s ok. The books on this list have all left an impression, and some have become all-time favorites. Most of these books I read in their physical form, a few I listened to as audio books.
Unlike last year, I’ve tried to link to bookshop.org wherever I could because I’d love for you all to support your local, independent book stores whenever and wherever you can. And as you see from my write-up, I would also encourage you to go browse any vintage book store you come across. They’re magical places.
Lastly, I have a special place in my heart for children’s books (and aside from the PUNX some really cool new projects in store for 2025). So, this year’s list also includes some children’s books that are equally as great for grown-ups to read. And they make for wonderful moments of connection with your kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews.
Thank you for reading my newsletters in 2024. I have more (frequent) writing coming for 2025. Please let me know which of these thoughts resonate with you, what you’d like to read more of, or send any ideas, questions, and feedback my way via email or the comments.
Happy New Year!
2024 Reads
Somehow (Book of the year): I listened to Annie Lamott’s interview with Kara Swisher (which in itself is worth a listen!), and then bought her new book “Somehow” which easily made the top of the list of this year’s reads. Annie’s ability to capture the profoundness of life through her everyday observations paired with a deeply personal writing style, is simply remarkable. The book is sprinkled with self reflection, beautifully expressed in exquisite phrases like “Fair is where the pony rides are”. I’ve since gifted this book to several friends, and keep the book close for a little skim every once in a while. I’m sure you’ll love “Somehow” as much as I did.
Einstein and the Quantum Revolutions: The last book I finished this year over the Christmas break. I’ve been trying to read as much as I can about Quantum Physics and our (limited) understanding of it because I’m fascinated by the field and it challenges my intellectual capacity in ways few topics do. This book containing an essay by Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize winner in Physics, does a great job walking you through humanities discovery and understanding (so far) of Quantum Physics, the first and second Quantum Revolution, and how humanity might use these insights in the future.
Zen in the art of archery: I picked up this book (published in 1956) at Rhino Records (a vinyl and vintage bookstore in Kingston, NY). Eugen Herrigel was a German professor who taught philosophy at the University of Tokyo between the wars. In the book he explains in detail how he first had to convince a Japanese archery master to take him on as a student. He then beautifully lays out the cultural differences he experienced and how he reasoned through them. As a German who’s traveled to Japan years ago for work – and continuously studying Zen in its various expressions in daily life, culture, and art – this book has been an insightful and inspiring read. It’s also a reminder of how much beautiful and meaningful writing can be discovered in local, vintage book stores.
Your brain on art: Part of my research and teaching at Princeton focuses on embedding the latest understanding of neuroaesthetics into entrepreneurial praxis. Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross are doing a great job bringing together the current scientific understanding with real life use cases. As the world is going through several paradigm shifts on the macro level that include both technologically (AI, automation, robotics) and socially (mass layoffs, geopolitical unrest, threats to democracies), I believe that humanity has to turn toward the arts to find answers that help us reconnect with ourselves and each other. The understanding of how art rewires our brains, affects our physical and emotional (well-)being, and taps into our creative nature is going to be critical to build a better, more humane future for all. This book is a great primer for anyone interested in the topic.
The adult children of emotionally immature parents: Part of me wishes I had read this book 10+ years ago when I first started my own inner work but then again I was able to read it from the perspective of my now 40 year old self who’s worked through a lot of the topics this book addresses. It was a great reminder that we’re all adult children, and that it’s important we understand both ourselves as well as the environment we come from. Also, because our parents, too, were the adult children of their parents. Lots of wisdom and great insights in this book. I have already recommended it to many friends and folks I mentor.
Make something wonderful: After having browsed the beautiful website that Lauren Powell Jobs, Jony Ive and others put together showing Steve Jobs’ own writing, emails, notes, and videos; I knew I wanted to get a physical copy of this book which was only given to employees at Apple, Disney, and Pixar – the companies Steve helped build, shape, and run. This book can be a handbook for creative leadership. It illustrates a level of personal integrity paired with a deep humanistic understanding of the responsibility we all have as leaders and (company / product) builders. At times it reads like a collection of poetry. So, needless to say that I cherished the read, and am glad this book exists as an artifact for generations of future leaders to read. And, most importantly, it exhibits the level of integrity, courage, and dedication it takes to make something wonderful. Unfortunately, it’s only available on eBay. You can check out the content here: https://stevejobsarchive.com/book
In my time of dying: Sebastian Junger‘s book reminded me of “When breath becomes air”, although it didn’t leave me in tears as much. This book is a vivid description of the authors near death experience, and his wrestling with the questions about our understanding (or lack thereof) of an afterlife. As a journalist, he manages to walk the fine line between his own personal, spiritual experience, and the research he did into the current scientific understanding of the physiology of dying. Fascinating to say the least!
Into the uncut grass: Only on second glance did I realize this was Trevor Noah’s latest book, I was too enamored by Sabina Hahn’s beautiful illustrations. It’s just a wonderful story about growing up, rules, and why we break them. It’s also a story about home, and what that feels like.
Startup leadership: This was a re-read for me. I’ve long been skeptical of most startup books that are out there because they often have a very skewed and biased VC-backed tech startup perspective. This book by my Princeton colleague Derek Lidow is a great read which covers all key aspects that make well-rounded entrepreneurs. No hype, no BS, and filled with exceptionally well-researched examples (as well as Derek’s personal experiences founding industry-leading companies), this is a book I’d recommend not only to our students but any founder.
Kitchen confidential: No much needs to be explained about Anthony Bourdain and his cultural impact beyond the kitchen. What stood out to me in this book was how deeply personal the writing and storytelling is, and how much of it translates to the business (and design) world as a whole. A read that is as entertaining as it is deep; in essence: Anthony Bourdain.
Reality is not what it seems: On my journey to learn more about Quantum Physics, Carlo Rovelli has practically become my go-to “teacher”. All his books are so approachable, yet do a great job explaining what we know and don’t know yet about the field. I always leave his books feeling both more informed yet also parts of them always “break” my brain. In this particular book, I found his explanation of thermal time to be absolutely fascinating: “The idea of thermal time reverses this observation. That is to say, instead of inquiring how time produces dissipation in heat, it asks how heat produces time.”
For one more day: I’ve loved every one of Mitch Albom’s books so far (there’s another one on this year’s list below). In this beautiful and heartbreaking book, Mitch Albom explores the question “What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?” in a conversation with Charley “Chick” Benetto. I won’t give too much away. Read it, you won’t regret it.
Burn Book: At this point, Kara Swisher is as much of a tech industry titan as the leaders she’s interview over the decades. Her first book is both a commentary on the history of the (still very young) tech industry as it is a collection of cautionary tales. Parts of the book weren’t necessarily stories I was interested in but as a whole Kara shows how important it is for the world to have journalists with integrity and courage to hold those with great power accountable. This theme feels more timely than ever going into the next decade or two.
The world on the brink: Another topic I’ve been studying through books and conversations at Princeton is geopolitics. In this book Dmitri Alperovitch is laying out both the facts, observations and probable scenarios between the USA and China’s relationship and the arising tensions. This book touches on everything from trade wars and semiconductors to invasion scenarios around Taiwan.
The algebra of wealth: Scott Galloway has become somewhat of a pop culture icon, for many reasons. I’ve read all his previous books, so I gave this one a read too. It’s a great primer for anyone who, like me, didn’t grow up with financially literate parents and/or in a culture where the skills for wealth generation were part of formal education. Scott does, as always, a great job breaking complex topics down into easy to understand and follow advice, sprinkled with his signature humor. And younger generations will be better for it.
The little liar: Here’s the second Mitch Albom book of the year. This book tells the story of a young boy growing up in Greece during the Nazi invasion. His family was kidnapped and his faced with a lot of difficult situations. I don’t want to give away the story, so the only thing I will mention here is what also absolutely left me in awe of Mitch Albom’s abilities as a writer: This story is told from the perspective of Truth being the narrator.
Anna: I don’t read a lot of biographies but Amy Odell’s biography of Anna Wintour intrigued me. It was an entertaining read which could’ve probably been a little shorter. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about Anna’s life, and especially her challenges as one of the most powerful women in business. She certainly has become an icon.
The tree of yoga: I bought this book by B.K.S. Iyengar at a vintage bookstore and it was a beautiful read on the philosophy of yoga as a spiritual practice and expression of life.
Creativity and Taoism: This book found me on top of a stack of books at Rhino Records in Kingston, NY where I get most of my old books. Since I’ve been reading a lot on neuroaethetics, this book was a great counter balance as it explores creativity and art in the (spiritual) context of the Chinese culture (art, poetry, etc) and understanding of life. I find it inspiring and fascinating how much we can learn from Chinese, Japanese and eastern philosophies – especially as we’re entering a new era of AI that has us reasses what it means to be (a creative) human.
As Edward Imagined: This book by Matthew Burgess – beautifully illustrated by the talented Marc Majewski – was such a wonderful read. The story of Edward is unique and a reminder for children and adults alike that we should live an authentic life that inspires others. This story is full of love, life, and art.
The Dictionary Story: Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston have created a piece of art. Not only is the story captivating and fun but the attention to detail in the artwork is remarkable. They created an actual, handmade dictionary to be features on every page. So, while this is a great story for children, adults can discover so many hidden details in the rich dictionary pieces across the book.
Begin Again: Another Oliver Jeffers book that couldn’t be more timely. It’s humanity’s story and it gives a chance to imagine the future we want to live in so that we all may live in a better, more just and peaceful world. The book is a beautifully optimistic idea of our collective future. Oliver’s poem “The Heart of It” at the end of the book will leave you with goosebumps.
Little big thoughts
How much technology in this current AI / autonomous everything race is created by people that fundamentally afraid of the messiness of their own human experience?
In the Age of AI does a humanistic, renaissance-esque education need to become the standard? And what does the polymath of the 21st century look like?
What good is a product for than to make people’s lives better? What good is a company for than to be a net positive for society?
You made it. Thank you!
Kudos to you for making it all the way to the end. Please share your feedback, questions or any topics you’d like me to touch on.
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