Investing the time to read a book isn't something I take lightly, and these are all books I've happily devoted my time and attention to. The return from a good book is outstanding, and I continue to treat study and learning as a critical component of living well. These books have expanded my thinking, and I have even more ambitious reading planned for the year ahead.
If you connect with any of these books, would you enjoy monthly book recommendations? Send me a quick note to marksaurelius@gmail.com, or enter your email below.
On to the books...
PHILOSOPHY
The study of philosophy is an every day practice. It should be made a priority, not something put off to left over time. Towards the end of the year, through the Daily Stoic book, I've incorporated a small dose of philosophy into each day. This is one of my favourite subjects, and one I spent a lot of time on in the past year.
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
Aspire. Success. Failure. We inevitably find ourselves in one of these states, and are either in the process of aspiring, succeeding, or failing. This is a book about how to conduct yourself well in each circumstance. There are many gems of knowledge to be applied, and it's one of those books to constantly turn to when life throws you challenges that you need a reminder on how to handle.
Letters from a Stoic by Seneca
If I could fully absorb and consistently apply the maxims from only this book, I would no longer see a need to continue reading and searching. It is because we must learn through living, through coming into contact with situations that call for application of knowledge that we must continually sweep and study. I had read Seneca in bits and pieces before this year (start with his essay "On The Shortness of Life"). But I went much deeper, reading and taking copious notes on Letters From a Stoic. Tim Ferriss has produced an audiobook version, and I listen to snippets during my walks to and from work as a constant reminder of the benefits contained in the practice of practical philosophy.
Enchiridion by Epictetus
I often look to who inspired the greats. Make a habit of going to the source. What influenced their thinking? This writing from Epictetus seems to come up a lot, and is full of great, applicable Stoic wisdom.
Fragments by Heraclitus
Again, source material. Contains one of the well known (and wonderful) quotes, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” There are a few other gems in there similar to that one.
The Center of The Cyclone: Looking Into Inner Space by John C. Lilly
Wow. This book will expand your thinking, and challenge assumptions about different states of consciousness. You're taken along on the author's scientific approach to understanding his own mind and inner world. He goes to some pretty "far-out" spaces, and the "trips" he takes without physically going anywhere are fascinating. John Lilly is the inventor of sensory deprivation tanks, which I'm a huge fan of and use at least once per quarter. My favourite parts of this book were reading about the development of the tank, and the progression to what it looks like today. At the time, it was thought that if external stimuli were eliminated, the brain would either shut down or one would go insane. What Lilly proved is that by giving the brain a chance to operate free of external input, you're exposed to an incredibly rich inner world. Rather than deprivation, you experience a heightened awareness. As he describes some of the states he reaches, I found myself either laughing out loud or startled by his bravery and adventurous approach to pushing the boundaries of understanding. The conclusion he reaches deserves to be quoted here:
“In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true, either is true or becomes true within certain limits. These limits are to be found experientially and experimentally. When the limits are determined, it is found that they are further beliefs to be transcended. In the province of the mind, there are no limits. The body imposes definite limits.”
The connectedness of these characters always fascinates me. Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, John Lilly, Aldous Huxley, Richard Feynman. Along with applicable philosophy, this branch of esoteric psychology is endlessly fascinating to me.
The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell by Aldous Huxley
Fascinating and somewhat terrifying, this book opens your eyes to the psychedelic (entheogenic) experience. I love great descriptions like this, observations made from the perspective of a different frame of mind. The connectedness of these various characters fascinates me, Aldous Huxley, Ram Dass, Tim Leary, John Lilly etc. Much to be discovered here.
How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain De Botton
This was my first introduction to Alain De Botton and his way of making philosophy relevant to everyday life. I look forward to reading more of his work, and I chose to start with this one based on a recommendation by Matt Mullenweg (founder of Wordpress), as well as constantly hearing about Proust without understanding him. I don't yet have the patience to work through "In Search of Lost Time," however I found this to be a great introduction to some of his ideas. There are many gems of insight, and it reads as relatable how-to advice through the lens of Proust and his characters. It's well worth the read, and contains one of my favourite topics: applicable philosophy.
I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas R. Hofstadter
I've wanted to tackle the authors more well known Godel, Escher, Bach, which is often recommended as a masterpiece on thought and cognition, however each time I pick it up I find it somewhat intimidating. I was wandering around a bookstore (one of my favourite things to do), and the "Strange Loop" title caught my eye. I found it to be much more accessible and easier to grasp than some of his other work. It takes a deep approach to existential questions such as "who are we?!" and "what is consciousness?" or "what does it mean to be an I?" I was instantly hooked after reading through the preface, and it's a book I'm sure I'll have to return to often to better understand.
Lying by Sam Harris
A short, concise book from Sam Harris, my favourite part was: "to agree to keep a secret is to assume a burden."
Who Am I? by Sri Ramana Maharshi
Continuing the theme of self-inquiry, this book and the questions it poses helped me further develop thought about this tricky question.
Buddhism without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Ram Dass, Again, a name I come across often and wanted to follow curiosity to dig deeper. This is a very interesting book about transformation. If you pass it in a book store, at least pick it up and flip through to check out some of the drawings.
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
I'll read anything Ryan Holiday puts out. This book is now a part of my morning routine, and I take time to get a dose of Stoicism and insight before beginning the day. Each month is organized around different themes, and this book brings needed focus and concise reminders that philosophy must be a daily priority. I was excited to see this one on the shelf- my favourite topic condensed into one book to return to daily.
Death/Mortality
I did a lot of thinking about death and existence this year. Towards the end of last year my grandpa died, the first close member of my family to pass. Witnessing that changes you. Seeing this person you know and love, lying lifeless. Holding their ashes in your hands, feeling the weight, not knowing how or what to think about it. It's a struggle to comprehend, and something I think of often.
Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart
The way I discovered this book is exactly why I listen, read, and search so much for recommendations. I was listening to Duncan Trussel's podcast with Chris Ryan (author of Sex at Dawn), where Chris mentioned traveller/adventurer Justin Alexander who he had on his own podcast. So I listened to both those episodes as well, which took me down another rabbit hole discovering the travels of Justin and his recent suspicious disappearance in India which breaks my heart the more I read about it. I highly recommend you listen to those episodes, as Justin has a fascinating and inspiring outlook on life. Anyway, this book was mentioned in their talks, and it took up much of my reading for the month. I loved this book. It's an honest, emotional, painful account of Rush drummer Neil Peart's journey to rebuild a semblance of life after suffering immense loss. In a short span of time, he lost his daughter in a car accident, and then his wife to cancer. Oh, and his dog. And his best friend went to jail. How do you possibly deal with all of that? This book is a stunning peek into his thoughts as he puts his mind and life back together, as well as can be expected. His response is to get out on his BMW motorcycle and try to nurse his "little baby soul" back to life through motion. He travels throughout Canada, the US, and down to Mexico, and you're taken along for the ride. This is an extreme example of Neil Gaiman's advice to "Make Good Art," regardless of what life throws at you.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Powerful. I found myself in tears at the end of this, and it's one of the rare books that lives up to and exceeds its popularity. Just trust me and read it.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons From The Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Wandering in a bookstore, the title grabbed my attention. It's morbid and fascinating, and despite its grim subject, quite entertaining.
Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived by Laurence Shames
This book was a strong recommendation from Chris Sacca. His other recommendation, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, was outstanding. This book is similar to When Breath Becomes Air, and a great read.
Fiction: a year of Murakami
I received Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 as a Christmas gift last year, and that kicked off a year of Murakami fascination. His work opens your mind to new ways of thought, and something about the unusual, foreign, sometimes bizarre Japanese perspective speaks to me. He is one of my favourite novelists, and I get such satisfaction and enjoyment from being drawn into the worlds he creates.
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Wind/Pinball by Haruki Murakami
The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Listen to the audiobook, and check out the movie based on the book as well. A related recommendation is The Graveyard Book on audio.
If I had to choose my two favourite fiction authors at the moment, they would be Murakami and Gaiman.
The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino
Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
I read this after seeing it recommended in various places, and Jack Dorsey's praise made me finally pick it up. My first Hemingway experience, I got through it in a Sunday afternoon. It's a great story, and a great example of concise word economy, with few unnecessary sentences. It can be interpreted a number of ways, but I took it as a tale of the fleeting nature of accomplishment.
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
I think I came across this while googling "books that will blow your mind" or something like that. This book came up often, and it didn't disappoint.
Business/other
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss
8 years ago I came across an author who I wouldn't hesitate to call one of the greatest teachers in my adult life. While wandering around a bookstore, a title caught my eye: the "4 Hour Workweek"?! I chose to indulge my curiosity, and it has paid off. While it may sound like a late night infomercial, dig a little deeper to discover it's really full of key insights about being effective with your time, thinking outside the box, and ultimately questioning/testing assumptions. It's about developing a toolkit to analyze and think for yourself. As I've followed along with Tim and his work, I continue to be impressed and inspired. He can exaggerate and can be polarizing, but in a crowded world sometimes you need to stir up some controversy to break through the noise. I've listened to every minute of his podcast, which delivers massive value for the cost (free, except for your time and attention). It in itself can be an MBA in life of sorts. Explore the uncommon, the uncomfortable. Discover the macro through study of the micro. If you're looking for immediately applicable habits, tools, tips from some of the world's best in their field, stop wandering the bookstore. Pick this up and get it all condensed into one (massive) book. This is my obsession, this is what gets me most excited about life. Learning, learning to be effective, learning to ask better questions, learning to test and experiment.
Robert Plant: A Life: The Biography by Paul Rees
This was excellent. It made me want to explore future music bios. It was fascinating to learn more about Led Zeppelin, and this spun off an interest in learning about Jimmy Page and his obsession with Aleister Crowley.
The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future by Kevin Kelly
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden
Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier
Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John C. Bogle
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
#AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur's Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness by Gary Vaynerchuk