The Ten Best Books I Read This Year

Brief reviews of the best books that I read this year, in no particular order.

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Hyperion & The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

What begins as the final pilgrimage to the Time Tombs, a sacred site that is moving backwards in time and guarded by a legendary creature known as the Shrike, turns into an exploration of religion, artificial intelligence, environmentalism, galactic politics, fate and free will, and all that it means to be human. It should be read in conjunction with the second book (The Fall of Hyperion) and together, they tell one of the most unique tales I have ever read.

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Fungi are the forgotten branch of multicellular life despite being absolutely critical for local and global ecosystems to function. This was a fascinating journey as Merlin Sheldrake (the perfect name for a fungi scholar) guides us through both fungi's current biological and ecological roles as well as their potential industrial and environmental applications in a techno-optimist future.

Albert Camus and the Human Crisis by Robert Emmet Meagher

Many of us feel that the modern world is besieged on nearly every side by crisis. My two cents are that there are very few who speak with as much clarity, earnestness, and illumination about the human condition and modern life as Albert Camus.

“We gasp for air among people who believe they are absolutely right, whether it be in their machines or their ideas. And for all who cannot live without dialogue and the friendship of other human beings, this silence is the end of the world.” - Albert Camus

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I have been a wholly unashamed Tolkien nerd since my encounter with Middle Earth. I've known for a long time that The Hobbit would be the first book that I'd read to my first child. Though it was mainly an exercise in getting her used to my voice/putting her to sleep, I like to think that her first several weeks of life journeying through the magic of Middle Earth will prepare her for a lifetime of adventure and beauty.

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

After finishing The Hobbit, it was time for my first re-read of Lord of the Rings since high school. It was as fantastic as I remembered it. Simply put, there are many reasons that both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are both two of the best-selling books of all time. True classics.

Outline of Sanity by G.K. Chesterton

With an acerbic wit, Chesterton describes his political and economic philosophy of Distributism, being in favor of private property despite being anti-Capitalist and being in favor of redistribution of wealth despite being anti-Socialist, while delivering insightful yet funny commentary on a range of topics such as wealth, poverty, work, agriculture, machinery, and money.

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers

The first book by Richard Powers that I read was 2018’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Overstory. It was so incredible that not only did it make my ‘best books’ list that year, but I vowed to read his next one. When he published that book, Bewilderment, I read it and it also made that year’s ‘best book’ list. It was then I realized I needed to read some of his first eleven novels. On a whim, I selected The Echo Maker, and now it too is making the year’s ‘best books’ list. More people should read Richard Powers.

Shadow & Claw by Gene Wolfe

Detail and layers upon details and layers, there is a depth and weight to the story of Severian, an apprentice of the Seekers for Truth and Penitence, the Guild of torturers, as he travels in exile around the world called Urth. Truly one of the most unique stories I have ever read about, one that I’ve frequently thought about since finishing.

Environment Power & Society by Howard Odum

This is more of a textbook, but surprising readable, with many, many pictures and diagrams. Simply put, if you read this book, you will never see the world the same, and you will understand it better.

Governing the Realm and Bringing Peace to All Below Heaven by Kumazawa Banzan

The final review will be the shortest, as I’m planning to publish a full book review next year. Who would've guessed that early modern Japanese political philosophy would be so relevant to modern day America?