Books

image from here

Books are to remind us what asses and fools we are . . . most of us can't rush around, talk to everyone, know all the cities of the world, we haven't time, money or that many friends. The things you're looking for . . . are in the world, but the only way the average chap will ever see ninety-nine percent of them is in a book. –Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Books (and a bad memory) are the reason I began this blog in 2012.  Like board games, books are an excellent hobby.  Reading makes "new things familiar and familiar things new," to paraphrase Samuel Johnson. Regular reading of diverse genres and authors increases knowledge (history/culture/awareness/etc.), reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, speaking . . . it is far superior to many other pursuits.

Though I love reading, I've admittedly oscillated in devotion to this hobby.  I enjoyed it as a kid, but don't recall being a bookworm.  I went through a phase in high school when I read so much, I once read two complete novels in a day (both by Clive Cussler—good stuff).  In college, it tapered to a trickle- my mind occupied on academics and related readings- and so it remained until 2011, when the weather of England plus young children meant I spent a lot of time indoors.  My fervor for books returned and has remained strong ever since.

In England, I decided to create and read through a "British Reading List."  This self-driven reading list proved to be an amazing experience and I highly recommend it.  Here is the complete list, my recommendations, and some reflections on it.  That was so much fun I also did a German Reading List, with highlights, omissions, and reflections. I am now working through a large American Reading List broken down by category (history, literature, everything else).

I've done over 600 book reviews; you can scroll through them here.  Each year, I do a 'best of' post, highlighting my top 10 (or so) books that I read in that year (not that were released in that year).  I've also done my 'top ten' by category; links to all are below.  Happy reading!

Best of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

My top ten by category (as of 2020):
War, Religion, History, Literature, Fantasy, Leadership, and Miscellaneous