The Books I've Read
This book deeply explores the price we pay for assuming the power of intellectual technologies, specifically its (often) pernicious ramifications on the human mind.
Students, professors, nonfiction writers. Anyone who writes a lot has much to gain from reading this book. It explains how you can build a simple yet effective note-taking system that solves most of your writing woes, such as: overcoming writer's block, creating coherent arguments, and more.
Reading this book during my conscription made me appreciate it so much more. This book isn't simply a story about war. It's greater than that — it's more like a narrative of the paradoxical nature of the human condition, of its strength and also of its fragility. I'll definitely be revisiting this book again.
Undoubtedly the best fiction book I've read in 2021. Virginia's writing style is unlike anything you've read before. It's convoluted and complex, yet precise and poetic at the same time. You've to read this book to truly experience the beauty of her writing.
Man's Search for Meaning is a must-read. Especially for those who are deeply struggling with their mental health, those who feel hopeless as a result of the circumstances they're in, and for those who want to lead a meaningful life.
A short and fun book that you can read (and even re-read again) in less than a day. Yet within these few pages, this book contains multiple insights that completely reframes how you approach any creative endeavor. Fundamentally, it's a unique exploration of how anyone can create profound change in their lives by simply sharing their work.
You may know Nassim Nicholas Taleb by his other books, such as "The Black Swan" and "Antifragile". But Skin in the Game was my first book by him. And it was an eye-opening one. It has taught me so much about the importance of risk-taking, as well as offered me new mental models to guide my thinking in everyday life.
As a former teacher and student, this book shed light on many issues I'm personally intrigued about: the global education landscape, the purpose of schooling, how our schools can provide a better education for students, and much more. The End of Education is a must-read for anyone who is even vaguely interested in education-related issues.
As a twentysomething, this book has given me much to reflect upon. It's a book that I'll certainly recommend to my peers in my age-group. If you're in your twenties, you need to read this book. It's just that good, I promise.
This book might seem like a breezy read, but it's deceptively enriching as well. If you would like to explore new perspectives on building your wealth and happiness, this is the book for you.
To all non-fiction writers, I would recommend reading this book. It covers many basic writing principles, which are often disregarded yet crucial to the success of any piece of writing. Even if you may disagree with some of the points raised by Zinsser, there'll definitely still be something for you to take away from this book.
Easily one of the most poignant books I've read in 2021. Within these pages, Haruki investigates the strength of the human condition, the fragility of friendship and the bleak reality of transitioning into adulthood.
A timeless literary classic that reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917, as well as those that occurred during the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. It's a deceptively simple tale, but is so full of nuanced yet powerful symbols and metaphors, making it a fascinating read.
A roller coaster of a book. It's hard to describe how it feels like reading this book. Haruki has added so many different layers of meaning to this book, that you can always uncover a new interpretation when re-reading certain parts of it again. This is, in my view, what makes this book so enjoyable to read.
The Bell Jar deals with sensitive and controversial societal topics, like electroshock therapy and suicide, in a blunt and forceful manner. It invites you to reconsider your priorities and purpose in life, while also abating the stigma that surrounds mental illness by placing you in the shoes of the protagonist who suffers from a serious depressive episode.
I went into this book, thinking it was just about writing long-form content. But I can tell you right now, it covers much more than that. It delves into the technicalities of writing a "100 to 400 pages" essay, discusses the best research methodology, and much more.
An exploration of intelligence, ambition and love. Using a series of lab reports as its format, this book uncovers the different kinds of intelligence we need to thrive as human-beings. It also documents the struggles of growing up and describes our universal need to be loved.
An unconventional book that reframes how we look at productivity. Jenny's writing style may take some getting used to. But once you're in sync with how she writes, the perspectives and research she shares on productivity and technology makes the initial struggle worthwhile.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, albeit it gets convoluted at times. This isn't a book that I'll recommend to most people, unless you're interested in critical pedagogy.
This book opened my eyes to the life of the impoverished in the 1930s. But it contains so much political theory analysis. It'll only appeal to you if you've a strong interest in the socio-political context in which it was written in. And I didn't, unfortunately. Nonetheless if you're interested in Orwell's writing, this book may still be worth the read.
The concept of the book was great. Random things are disappearing each day. Soon people begin to vanish as well. We, the readers, are invited to reflect on the nature of loss and the importance of our memories. But the actual story felt vague and sometimes boring. Perhaps its finesse was lost in translation? I'm not sure.