The Books of 2019
BookMark is a project that began in November 2016, and it's something I've put out every single month since. Condensing all that I've read and thinking carefully about what each book meant to me is something I always look forward to. In many ways, this monthly practice began out of gratitude and admiration for others who took the time to put their own reading suggestions out into the world, and after being asked so often for recommendations or how I choose which books to focus on, I decided to make this a dedicated habit.
Ever since I was young I’ve always found walking through a bookstore or library to be filled with immense possibility. Slowing down and looking around at the shelves, I think of all the lives, all the worlds contained in the pages around me. I think of the things I don't yet know, everything left to discover. It’s my hope for you to enter the year ahead filled with a sense of curiosity and wonder.
“Creativity is as much about exploring what you don’t know as embracing what you do know. Having the courage to wander into your own ignorance, armed only with base knowledge, can be a powerful way to true creativity. When you truly go out there and create something, it’s as much a product of what you don’t know as a product of what you do”
P.S. If you’d like me to send over my top 5 picks from 2019 and to join BookMark for 2020, I would absolutely love to share this endless reading journey with you. With your email below, I promise an incredibly value adding once per month note full of my curated reading recommendations and reviews.
On to the books…
Biography
You'll Know I'm Dead When I Stop Talking by Jerry Weintraub
After hearing this recommended on the Rich Roll Podcast episode with Alex Banayan where Alex mentioned a high profile mentor told him that it was a must-read book, I quickly made my way through it. The anecdotes and stories involving characters like Sinatra and Elvis alone make it worth reading. The way he talks himself into situations and then finds a way to make things come together under pressure is also fascinating. It's a story about where ambition can take you, and the "hutzpah" required to boldly make dreams happen. I enjoyed reading the way in which he was able to craft some of his biggest business deals and navigate important relationships.
Motorcycles I've Loved: A Memoir by Lily Brooks-Dalton
I read this in basically one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. The author was able to put into words exactly what I love so much about motorcycles, the thoughts and excitement that run through your mind every time you even set eyes on one. There are some truly beautiful passages in the book, and I was impressed with the writing:
"On a motorcycle, I learned to let go of the vast uncertainty and focus instead on what is in front of me: the surface of the road and the curve of it, the vehicles in front and behind, the wind and the rain and the wildlife peeking out of the grass. There are times when I struggle to manage every last detail as it whips past me, to hold on to past and present and future simultaneously, but they're not mine to understand, or to control. I have to remind myself again and again, that only this is mine: this moment, this heartbeat, this decision."
My wife laughed at me for relating to a teenage girl, however I found I really connected with her journey into adulthood, and it is refreshing when someone else is able to articulate things you've felt but may have been unable to properly express. If you're looking for a similar motorcycle book, definitely check out Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Shop Class as Soulcraft or Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
Ken Foster’s Vancouver: Life, Art and the Alleyways by Sean Nosek
I'm a huge fan of Ken Foster's art, especially the unique way he depicts the Vancouver cityscape. Last year for Christmas my wife and I got each other one of his paintings, and this year I got her this book which follows his story alongside a beautiful collection of his art. You also might enjoy this brief documentary on Ken.
Little Black Stretchy Pants by Chip Wilson
I have a deep fascination for the way people develop, how they became who they are, and the stories that drive them to succeed. It’s invaluable to read first hand perspectives and reflections from people like Chip about their journey.
My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgård
I had often seen this book in passing at bookstores, and recall being intrigued by the title. I also noticed that there was something like six volumes, always somewhat curious what they might contain. The striking Scandinavian figure staring out of the cover with his piercing eyes also piqued my interest. For some reason I happened to listen to a podcast between Karl Ove and Tyler Cowan, and finally decided to see what these books were all about. I discovered a memoir about life growing up in Norway, confronting the death of his father, and the various familial relationships he navigates. What is surprisingly engaging, and why I ultimately found myself wanting to return to it, is the way he writes about the mundane, every day details of existence with such clarity and precision. The writing itself is really beautiful, if a bit wandering at times. It's one of those rare books where you truly feel like you are inhabiting the inner world of the author, sharing life through their eyes.
A Work in Progress: A Journal by René Redzepi
This has taken me DEEP down a rabbit hole of curiosity, and it came about in such an unsuspecting way (like all great things). As I do on the weekends, I was moseying through one of my favourite Vancouver shops (Old Faithful), when I happened to pick up this unassuming pale blue book with simple black writing on the front- “A Journal”. I would have set it back down and moved on had something not caught my eye at the last second- Lars Ulrich. I could feel the gears turning... Lars, like Metallica Lars Ulrich?! What the heck is he doing writing the forward to a book that seems to be about cooking by some dude named René?
What I would quickly come to discover is that René is one of the most (if not the most) highly regarded and respected chefs, with his restaurant Noma being voted the best in the world for three consecutive years. The book gives an outstanding glimpse into his mind and how he views creativity, with all of its struggles and triumphs. Experiences like this always make me wonder- how many worlds are out there to experience that we know currently nothing about? More than anything, it is this curiosity to know and discover more that drives me. As an example of following my curiosity, I uncovered this wonderful exchange between Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi) and René (watch it). My favourite part was when René asked Jiro about when he felt he was a master, how many years it took until he felt he was doing a good job- Jiro's answer? 50! 50 years! This reinforced to me the importance of playing the long game.
Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World by Jeff Gordinier
Continuing down the same rabbit hole, I followed René’s journal up with this wonderful account of four years food critic Jeff Gordinier spent with René travelling the globe. From the jungles of Mexico to Sydney to the Arctic Circle and back to Copenhagen, this book thrilled me. It was everything I love in a story- thoughtful, inspiring, exciting and energetic. It further ignited my interest in cooking, flavour, discovery, creativity. The entire sensory experience. Exceptional.
Philosophy
Stillness is The Key by Ryan Holiday
Ryan is a master in the art of weaving both modern and historical stories together, distilling them into compelling, memorable lessons. I'm amazed with the consistent level of output he his able to achieve, and this relatively short and concise read is one of my new favourite books. The ability to cultivate and maintain an inner stillness is more important than ever.
Waking Up by Sam Harris
I don't know if it's because I had my 30th birthday this year, but I feel as though I’ve been increasingly anxious, struggling to define my self and identity. It's somewhat frightening and disorienting to "wake up" and realize that the self is an illusion, that all there is is consciousness, and doing the work to explore that fact. As an example: Pause and search for who is reading this sentence. What is the mystery behind consciousness, behind self, what is the nature of the transitory moment to moment experience we are sharing? Reading this book prompted a lot of re-evaluation and growth. I’ve been using Sam's Waking Up meditation app for months now, and the daily practice has been surprisingly challenging but beneficial. I highly recommend some form of daily meditation, and even just 10 minutes a day has a great cumulative effect over time.
Awareness by Anthony DeMello
I heard this book praised by enough guests on the Tim Ferriss podcast throughout the year that I moved it to the top of my list. It’s definitely one I see myself returning to many times throughout my life. What I took away from it at this point is that it’s about “waking up” and becoming more aware of ourselves, which most people avoid because it is challenging and painful to see things as they are and work to make changes.
Business/Other
On Looking: A Walker's Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz
I heard about this book on the "You Made It Weird" Podcast featuring Ryan Holiday. I highly recommend checking this one out, it will change the way you see things and is one of my favourite reads in recent memory. It fits well with the theme of awareness and attention, which I am always looking to cultivate.
The Plantpower Way by Rich Roll
Rich is an ultra-endurance athlete, and I loved his book Finding Ultra. I go back and forth with the arguments for vegetarianism, but it really helps to see people achieving extraordinary feats while maintaining a plant based diet. This book provides a good lens to think about it, and the motto "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants" is one that has been a good rule of thumb. The book is full of great information and delicious recipes.
Civilized to Death by Christopher Ryan
An interesting look into the downside of Civilization and "progress". I had heard Chris Ryan mention that he was working on this a few years ago and had been anticipating it for a while. Pairs well with Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud.
Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin
A short collection of aphorisms from Benjamin Franklin, the book is full of wise sayings and virtues. It's a great compliment to one of my other favourite books, "Poor Charlie's Almanack"
5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
I've enjoyed Robin Sharma's work in the past, and my mom actually sent me this most recent book after it inspired a shift in her morning routine. Although I found the storyline a bit hokey or far fetched, it contained a lot of good fundamentals.
Hiroshima by John Hersey
I've been thinking about how would I describe this. The book chronicles a first-hand perspective of a number of survivors from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. We visited Hiroshima shortly after reading this account, and I believe it is important to understand the context of what we are seeing, to gain some perspective. Honestly, it's difficult to wrap your mind around. Below is just one example of many descriptions that haunted me:
"Mr. Tanimoto found about twenty men and women on the sandspit. He drove the boat onto the bank and urged them to get aboard. They did not move and he realized that they were too weak to lift themselves. He reached down and took a woman by the hands, but her skin slipped off in huge, glove-like pieces. He was so sickened by this that he had to sit down for a moment..."
A Geek In Japan by Hector Garcia
This was consistently recommended as a good comprehensive overview of Japan, and provided insight on a number of cultural and historical details prior to our trip.
The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu Goldratt
I had heard about this book from a number of sources, and it was one of those that I had purchased a while back that just sat on the shelf. It's a bit deceiving, the cover looks like it was printed in somebody's basement and it's basically about manufacturing and supply chain management (sounds boring). However, it's written in the form of a narrative, and the tipping point that made me finally pick it up was the conversation between Tim Ferriss and Instagram founder Kevin Systrom where he praised the book and the effect it has had on his thinking. It is a favourite book of many business minds, and I've found myself seeing things and processes differently after spending time thinking about the concepts it presents.
Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
I picked this up on a whim, as I had seen it many times but never quite felt the need to pick it up. However, Neil Gaiman's commencement speech that he gave in 2012, "Make Good Art" struck such a chord with me that I felt having a physical copy of it written out would be great to return to. A wonderful and constant reminder that no matter what happens, it's an opportunity to create art to share with the world.
Absolutely on Music: Conversations by Haruki Murakami
For some reason, it seemed like the right time to pick this book up. Throughout the conversations between Murakami and conductor Seiji Ozawa, I feel like I gained a much deeper insight and appreciation for classical music. I especially liked the section on the “relationship of writing to music”. I listened along to the pieces they were discussing, and found it satisfying to have a first hand perspective on the study and creation of the music discussed.
What You Do Is Who You Are by Ben Horowitz
Another read from the Tim Ferriss podcast. Cofounder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Ben has plenty of interesting insights into culture and its influence. There are many examples and lessons ranging from samurai culture, Ghengis Khan, prison gangs and Toussaint Louverture (really interesting leader I knew nothing about). If this piques your interest, Ben's book “the Hard Thing About Hard Things” would be a good follow up.
Fiction
Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto
I have a true affection for Japanese writing, which translates to English in fantastic ways. Reading this reminded me somewhat of Haruki Murakami, mixing the mundane everyday with magical realism.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
I've been meaning to get to this book after my wife so highly recommended it. And honestly, once I picked it up on a Friday afternoon I couldn't stop reading, finishing it that weekend. Based on the true tale of Lale Sokolov, it is a love story set in the darkness and horror of a concentration camp. If you haven't yet, I also highly encourage you to read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning.
Birthday Girl by Haruki Murakami
Whenever in a new bookstore, I often make it a habit to check out the Murakami section, just to see if there are any surprises or works I’m somehow unaware of that I haven’t read yet. While in Iceland, I was so excited to see this little short story hidden on top of his other books. I read it eagerly on the plane ride home, and as always, Murakami did not disappoint. There are so many layers to his stories, and this was no exception. His writing wriggles its way into your brain, somehow mixing with your memory to become a part of you.
Record of a Night Too Brief by Hiromi Kawakami
What a weird, oddly satisfying book. The way I would describe it would be the "Japanese Alice in Wonderland". Right up my alley. Read it, but be ready to be confused. Gloriously confused. Like reading through a bizarre dream.
In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami
I remember reading this on a plane, and it’s one of those books that makes you you wonder what people were to think if they caught a glimpse of it over your shoulder. Don’t read if you have a weak stomach (given one especially gruesome scene). Minus that, I was interested in Ryu and am glad I finally had some exposure to his writing.
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami
I didn't realize this was a collection of short stories, or else I would have read it sooner. I deeply enjoyed these six stories, loosely related and centred around the 1995 earthquake in Japan. They contain everything there is to love about Murakami, and the last story, "Honey Pie", really stood out to me.