Best Books I’ve Read In 2019
This was the year of “starting and not finishing” a lot of books. And I learned that you do not have to finish the books you’re reading. Reading should be an enjoyable habit. So this year I opened lots of unfamiliar books and just read into the first 10–20 pages to get a good feeling, to figure out if it is an exciting, inspiring or entertaining book. Just to pass on it.
2019
You can learn as much from fiction as from non-fiction. Inspiring characters who are made up can teach you as much as real ones, maybe inspire you even more. Thats why I dug much more into novels and fiction writing this year. I fell for Daniel Suarez and the “techno-thriller” genre.
Also this year I abandoned my kindle and decided to buy more books. I know it is more inconvenient, but I’ll have something to add to my library I can eventually share with my kids.
Following you will find a list of all the books I have read in 2019 and my recommendations. Feedback and tips are welcome.
Fiction
“Daemon” Duology by Daniel Suarez
Daniel Suarez is my gift to you this year. A friend recommended me his book Daemon (And the follow up “Freedom TM”) saying “this is the bible at biohacker conventions”. The writer is an American information technology consultant turned author. In 2006 he self published the book and ‘word of mouth’ spread it all over the world. And it that good. The book answer the question of how an AI + human collaboration might look like. The ideas and inventions sound very plausible and are none of the doomsday ‘AI takes over the world’ scenarios you see on the internet. It is extremely well thought out and highly interesting. Pick up this book if you’re curious about where technology might take us and want to get to get consumed by a story.
37 out of 38 Alexis Points.
Non-Fiction
“Feck Perfuction — Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life” — James Victore
In a world where the micro-improvement is booming, James Victore brings valueable short advices that should be considered basics. I ,and all visitors I showed this book, enjoyed this book because its humorous writing style. I dont see it as a business 101 how to be successful. James’ advices are useful as life advices from a good dad and mentor. A great book for your anti library.
“Stealing Fire: The Secret Revolution in Altered States” — Steven Kotler, Jamie Wheel
Stealing Fire, Kotler and Wheel taught me about the humans most important tool for improved performance: The Flow State. As a nomad worker I used to be very distracted by my surroundings and internal dialogues. I picked up this book while training in “ice baths” for health and relaxation. This book made me aware how crucial it is to be strict with your dedicated working period. I shifted my productivity schedule from “working hours” to “flow state hours” and quit if I cant get into my preferred work mode. The two authors are the leading researchers on the topic of altered states and train many high performers from athletes, to navy seals to the pentagon.
“The Laws of Human Nature” — Robert Greene
Of course Robert Greene has a place in this list. His enormous collection of stories lets suggest that he must read a book a day or has an army of research-monkeys in an old warehouse. However he does it. Greene does not fail to educate you on the tragedy and success stories in human history. I’ve spread the listening time to the whole year and found suitable stories to my current state in life every month.
Biographies
“Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero” — James S. Romm
I have to admit, by the time of writing this blog post I have not fully finished the book. But I know it’ll land here as best biography of the year. Many view Seneca, one of the 3 great stoics, as one of the greatest philosopher of all time. The author makes the case that the true identity of Seneca might look more grim as his actions, advisor to the terrible emperor Nero, paint a cruel and calculated persona. In the authors words:”Dying Every Day is the first book to tell the compelling and nightmarish story of the philosopher-poet who was almost a king, tied to a tyrant — as Seneca, the paragon of reason, watched his student spiral into madness and whose descent saw five family murders, the Fire of Rome, and a savage purge that destroyed the supreme minds of the Senate’s golden age.”
Scribd
- “A Man in Full” — Tom Wolfe
- “Stillness is the Key” — Ryan Holiday
- “Origin” — Dan Brown
- “The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Perfomance” — Steven Kotler
- “Stealing Fire: The Secret Revolution in Altered States” — Steven Kotler, Jamie Wheel
- “The 50th Law” — Robert Greene, 50 Cent
- “Growth Hacker Marketing” — Ryan Holiday
- “Daemon” — Daniel Suarez
- “Freedom TM” — Daniel Suarez
- “Kill Decision” — Daniel Suarez
- “Influx” — Daniel Suarez
- “Change Agent” — Daniel Suarez
- “Delta-V” — Daniel Suarez
- “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius” — Donald Robertson
- “How To Talk To Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Communication” — Larry King
Books
- “Feck Perfuction — Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life” — James Victore
- “Do: Pause” — Robert Poynton
- “Its not good you are, its how good you want to be” — Paul Arden
- “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” — Mordecai Richler
- “Do: Improvise” — Robert Poynton
- “Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero” — James S. Romm
- “The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries” — R. Gordon Wasson , Albert Hofmann, Carl A. P. Ruck, Huston Smith, Peter Webster
Audible
- “Ego is the Enemy” — Ryan Holiday
- “The Laws of Human Nature” — Robert Greene
- “Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman” — Richard P. Feynman
- “Managing Oneself” — Peter Drucker
