My Year in Books - 2024
Turning the page on another year
Happy New Year! As we begin 2025, I trust you have found time to rest and recharge with family and friends over the last few days. I hope the coming year brings you happiness, good health, and exceeds all your expectations.
2024 in the books, fifteen books completed during the year (with a whole lot started and stopped). As always, below is the list of fifteen books from 2024 with quick thoughts on each. As I pull together my reading list for 2025, please click the link below and send me your book recommendations! This coming year I’m looking to read more science fiction since, with so many technological advancements taking place across machine learning, AI, robotics and energy production, science fiction is looking a whole lot like science fact. Please let me know your favorites!
And for my past years’ reading lists, click here.
Note: * indicates a strong recommendation
Fiction
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver*
Deserving of all its acclaim, Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is a gripping reimagining of Dickens’ David Copperfield, set against the backdrop of Appalachia. This poignant tale delves into the opioid crisis and the foster care system, following Demon as he battles addiction after a football injury. A must-read for your list.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen*
Jacobsen’s deeply researched exploration of nuclear warfare is extremely unsettling. While the topic is grim, her ability to make complex scenarios accessible and engaging is remarkable. This of a minute-by-minute account of how a nuclear war might unfold is chilling, a major wake-up call we shouldn’t ignore. An absolute must-read.
Table for Two by Amor Towles*
Amor Towles is a favorite of mine. Table for Two is the latest from the author, a combination of short stories mostly set in New York City in the early 1900s, and a novella that follows the character Evelyn Ross from Towles's previous novel Rules of Civility as she crafts a new future for herself in 1930s Hollywood. A fun and easy read, it is definitely worth picking up for any upcoming travel.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Towles’ portrayal of 1930s New York is as elegant as it is poignant. And you know I’m a huge Amor Towles fan, so a recommendation here is obvious! Set in late 1930s New York City, this novel follows Katey Kontent as she navigates the Big Apple and her own heart. I was prompted to read this after I found out that a story in Table for Two was a follow-on to Rules of Civility.
The Paladin by David Ignatius
I’m a sucker for spy thrillers, and this one didn’t disappoint. This espionage thriller follows CIA officer Michael Dunne as he seeks revenge after being abandoned by his agency. Ignatius crafts a suspenseful narrative that explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the dangers of unchecked technology in the world of international espionage
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Slow Horses introduces readers to a unique world of British espionage. But instead of focusing on 007-types, the protagonists are a group of MI5 misfits relegated to Slough House. The team must confront a kidnapping that challenges their ineptitude and offers a chance for redemption. It’s a fresh take on the spy genre while exploring themes of failure and ambition among its colorful characters. Highly recommend you read, but in case you’d rather watch, Slow Horses has been turned into an award winning show on Apple TV, and was recently renewed for a fifth season.
The Rivals: A Novel by Jane Pek
The Rivals is the second novel in the Verifiers series (I read her first last year, you can see the review here). Her second book expertly blends technology, romance, and intrigue in the world of online dating. With its complex plot and thought-provoking exploration of AI’s impact on modern relationships, this sequel to “The Verifiers” solidifies Pek’s talent for crafting sophisticated thrillers that entertain. A great plane or beach read.
Trimalchio: An Early Version of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby has long been a favorite. So when I discovered there was another, rougher, slightly different version I was intrigued. Trimalchio proved quite compelling, probably most interesting for the glimpse into Fitzgerald’s creative process and the evolution of a masterpiece.
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman
I read TJ Newman’s first books last year. Worst Case Scenario is another great plane read, that feels like it was written for the big screen. High level - a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant and chaos ensues. Between Nuclear War and this, I had nuclear calamity on my mind a lotthis year!
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
I hadn’t previously read this foundational piece of science fiction, only really aware of the Three Laws of Robotics through pop culture references and a Will Smith movie. Given all the advancement in AI and robotics, I thought it was high time I pick it up. Genuinely, I am amazed that it was published in 1950. Asimov’s tremendous foresight has truly stood the test of time with. It is well worth (re)reading if you haven’t recently.
Non-Fiction
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson*
The Splendid and the Vile is a gripping narrative nonfiction account of Winston Churchill's first year as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the height of the Blitz bombing campaign by Nazi Germany in 1940-1941. Larson draws on diaries, letters, and other primary sources to vividly depict Churchill's leadership in the face of unrelenting horror, as well as the personal lives of his family and inner circle as they navigated the challenges of wartime. An awesome read.
eBoys: The First Inside Account of Venture Capitalists at Work by Randall E. Stross*
This book was a fascinating look behind the scenes at one of the best firms of all time, Benchmark. Time and again I found myself smiling at how familiar some of the discussions felt to those I’ve had myself, both at Garuda and previously at Matrix and Scale. The more things change, the more they stay the same! This is definitely required reading for anyone interested in venture capital and, more specifically, how firm decisions get made.
Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim S. Grover
Grover, trainer to elite athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, outlines the mindset and principles necessary to achieve unstoppable success. The book focuses on developing mental toughness, embracing pressure, and maintaining excellence in all aspects of life. While some of the advice felt extreme and the book was very repetitive by the end, he does have some good examples to back it up.
(Auto)Biographical:
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between by Hisham Matar*
This was an exquisite read, one of my favorites of the year. At it’s core, the book is a deeply personal journey of a son searching for his missing father. It so happens that Matar’s father was a Libyan intellectual, kidnapped and imprisoned by the Libyan government. The book masterfully intertwines an intimate narrative with broader themes of political tyranny, exile, and national identity. It was a book full of passages that you read, re-read, and stop and think about.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Murakami is a legend. Combine his command of language with his own creative process and his strict running regimen, and you get a wonderful memoir and meditation that with lessons for all.
Quote I’m thinking about: “What is extraordinary is that, given everything that has happened, the natural alignment of the heart remains towards the light. It is in that direction that there is the least resistance.” - Hisham Matar
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