For a writer, I believe reading is just as important as sitting down and filling a blank screen. Reading before bed is so engrained into me that falling asleep without reading just might be impossible.
Every year I get onto GoodReads and set up my reading goals for the year. In recent years I’ve set a goal of 35 books and achieved that goal but this past year (2021), I sort of overachieved and read 64 books.
The other feature GoodReads has is their Annual Review of the books you have read. The yearly book page list the shortest and longest book read. The average rating of books given. And it lists all the books read for that year.
This year I was a bit surprised I had read more non-fiction books than fiction. Some of the non-fiction books centered on science as I really enjoyed the creation of the universe.
My favorite books of the year:
Start with Why by Simon Sinek (Everything you do should start with Why)
Einstein, His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson (Walter Isaacson is becoming one of my favorite authors)
The Big Bang, The Origin of the Universe by Simon Singh (Want to understand complex subjects then read something by Simon Singh who will explain everything to your understanding.)
Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Did not realize this was the same author of Eat, Pray, Love until I started the book. I also read Eat, Pray, Love this year)
The Boy Who Played With Fusion by Tom Clynes (Crazy smart kid and how parents and teachers can fuel ones passion)
My Least favorite book of the year:
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Not sure what to say about this other than long.)
Books of note:
Robin by Dave Itzkoff (Biography of Robin Williams)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (My daughter had been pushing me to read this for years. Glad I did and well worth it)
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (I like to read a classic every year and I managed three this year, The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
Creep by Jennifer Hillier (I heard her speak on an Author’s panel. She impressed me and so did her first book.)
A list of what I read this year 2021
Fiction
1. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
2. A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais
3. Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion(Nancy Drew 18) by Carolyn Keene
4. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
5. The Land That Time Forgot Collection by Edgar Rice Burroughs
6. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
7. Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich
8. B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
9. C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
10. Burmese Days by George Orwell
11. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
12. True Valor by Dee Henderson
13. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
14. Adam by Ted Dekker
15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
16. D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
17. True Honor by Dee Henderson
18. E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
19. Creep by Jennifer Hillier
20. True Courage by Dee Henderson
21. Dead Sea Rising by Jerry B. Jenkins
22. Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci
23. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
24. The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker
25. Prophet by Frank E. Peretti
26. Rise of the Mystics by Ted Dekker
27. The Night Fire by Michael Connelly
28. Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
29. G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton
Non-Fiction
1. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
2. Retirement 101 by Michele Cagan
3. You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado
4. The Book of Nothing by John D. Barrow
5. Robin by Dave Itzkoff
6. Last Hope Island by Lynne Olson
7. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
8. Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson
9. Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson
10. Novelist’s Essential Guide to Creating Plot by J. Madison Davis
11. Franklin and Winston by Jon Meacham
12. The Physics of Star Wars by Patrick Johnson
13. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
14. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
15. Novelist’s Boot Camp by Todd A. Stone
16. The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman
17. Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
18. Think, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
19. The Joy of X by Steven H. Strogatz
20. Find Your Why by Simon Sinek
21. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
22. How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie, Brent Cole
23. How To: by Randall Munroe
24. No Time Like the Future by Michael J Fox
25. Big Bang by Simon Singh
26. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
27. The Chicken Runs at Midnight by Tom Friend
28. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
29. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife
30. If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher
31. The Boy Who Played With Fusion by Tom Clynes
32. Ali by Johathan Eig
33. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
34. Just Six Numbers by Martin J. Rees
35. Peace with God by Billy Graham
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