A Bookish Odyssey: My 2023 in Books 

I did it. Holy freaking moley! I achieved my stretch goal of reading 25 books this year, completing my 25th title, ‘Oil: A Beginner’s Guide’ by Vaclav Smil, at 4pm on Saturday the 30th of December. It’s not necessarily the number I’m chuffed about, but that I read wide and deep – highlights, marginalia, notes and all – during the busiest and most productive year of my career. I read on planes, on trams, on walks (thank you Audible), during lunch breaks, before turning in for the night. Here are a few highlights of my 2023 reads, with the full list at the bottom of this post.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

I hadn’t heard of Viola Davis until one of my sisters introduced me to ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ over a decade ago. This exceptional memoir shares her heartbreaking, inspiring, triumphant backstory as she became one of the greatest actors on the planet despite having grown up in abject poverty. The book re-humanised concepts we often think about as abstract ideas – living below the poverty line, abuse, racism. The most powerful theme she explores in the book is that despite everything she went through in her life, and perhaps because of it, she’s come out with not only the thickest of skins, but deep compassion and feeling for others. I listened to this on Audible, exceptionally narrated by the author herself.

The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen

Recommended to me by a former boss of mine, this is an insight-rich book by a general partner at A16Z and ex-Uber exec, and explores several ideas that, when put together, can be defined as ‘Network Effects’.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I’m a late adopter of Hilary Mantel’s work, but I loved her extraordinary historical novel about Thomas Cromwell’s rise from runaway to Henry VIII’s 2IC. I don’t have a particular interest in English history but this story transported me to that era, capturing Cromwell’s shrewd, 3D-chess-playing mind so convincingly well.

The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young

A short and sweet collection of experiences by the owner of Kite’s Nest Farm in the UK, Rosamund Young, with her cows, sheep, pigs and hens. A joy to read, reminding me that animals are bright, feeling, sensitive, intelligent beings. Extending this idea to livestock makes one think hard about eating meat, and I now try much harder to buy meat raised in as humane a way as I can find and afford.

Money in One Lesson by Gavin Jackson

A fantastic guide on the roots, meaning and value of money. Many of us know that money is just an idea that we all agree to, but what exactly this idea is and how it has been developed and structured over centuries is explained in a very accessible way. My biggest takeaway from this book is how central banks work, how they fund banks, and the powerful ripple effects their actions have across the planet.

Do I Make Myself Clear by Harold Evans

A sharp and witty reminder, by one of the most impactful journalists in the last few decades, on why it’s important to write for clarity above all else, along with tools and rules one can easily refer to.

The Wandering Earth by Cixin Liu

A breathtaking blend of sci-fi and philosophy, speculating on many versions of Earth’s future in short stories. One of my favourite cautionary passages from one of the stories, as we enter an era of AI for the masses:

“..if the jungles of primitive Earth had been filled with inexhaustible supplies of fruits and tame creatures that desired to become food, how could apes evolve into humans? The Machine Cradle was just such a comfort-filled jungle. Gradually we forgot about our technology and science. Our civilization became lazy and empty, devoid of creativity and ambition, and that only sped up the aging process. What you see now is the God Civilization in her final dying gasps.’”

Destiny’s Child: The Untold Story by Mathew Knowles

Before you dismiss me here as a fanboy of all things Beyoncé (no shame, I’m definitely a fanboy), hear me out. This book by Beyoncé’s dad and manager of her group, Destiny’s Child, is packed with fascinating stories on the early days of building her fan base, the resourcefulness in recording their albums in the most cost-effective, profit-maximising manner, and commercialising the group with cleverly structured business deals. I walked away from this book with immense admiration for the grit and hustle of Mr. Knowles that helped build the career of the 21st century’s Michael Jackson.

Full 2023 reading list in order of completion date

1. The Wandering Earth – Cixin Liu
2. The Courage to be Disliked – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
3. Do I Make Myself Clear – Harold Evans
4. The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation – Girish Kuber
5. Finding Me – Viola Davis
6. The Mindful Athlete – George Mumford
7. Money in One Lesson – Gavin Jackson
8. Rule of Laws – Fernanda Pirie
9. How the Universe Got its Spots – Janna Levin
10. Narconomics – Tom Wainwright
11. The Art of Is – Stephen Nachmanovitch
12. Obvious Adams – Robert Updegraff
13. Smart Brevity – Roy Schwartz
14. Destiny’s Child: The Untold Story – Mathew Knowles
15. Precious and Grace – Alexander McCall Smith
16. Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel
17. The Cold Start Problem – Andrew Chen
18. The World Jones Made – Philip K. Dick
19. Aiming High: Masayoshi Son – Atsuo Inoue
20. Happy – Derren Brown
21. No Mud, No Lotus – Thich Nhat Hanh
22. Taste – Stanley Tucci
23. The Secret Life of Cows – Rosamund Young
24. Creative Quest – Questlove
25. Oil: A Beginner’s Guide – Vaclav Smil

I’m hoping to do it all again next year, setting myself a goal of 25 books to read in 2024 and pre-curating my reading list in advance. Of course, I’ll be leaving enough room for spontaneous finds in bookstores and recommendations through the year. 

Wishing you an epic 2024, filled with a many great reads!