Books I read in 2015
Wed, 27 Jan 2016
Looking back at 2015, one achievement I’m pretty proud of was that I managed to read a lot of excellent books. I’m sure my fellow gym attendees laugh at me sitting on an exercise bike reading, but I don’t care - it has got me through a lot of good books.As much so I don’t forget what I’ve read, but also in the hope that some of these inspire others, I decided to put together a list of most of the non-fiction books that I’ve read or listened to over the past year.
Made to Stick - Heath - A guide to what makes ideas memorable - entertaining and worth reading for just about anyone
http://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287/
The Career-coaching handbook - Yates - I found it useful, but probably not for most people.
http://www.amazon.com/Career-Coaching-Handbook-Julia-Yates/dp/0415627877/
Chasing the Scream - Hari - a history of the war on drugs, its massive failures, and our best hopes of ending it. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Scream-First-Last-Drugs/dp/1408857820/
What money can’t buy - Sandel - a look at when markets can weaken institutions and relationships. I found it really good.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Money-Cant-Buy-Markets/dp/0374533652/
How to be a conservative - Scruton - I found it quite boring if I’m honest.
http://www.amazon.com/How-be-conservative-Roger-Scruton/dp/1472924002/
How we learn - Carey - a guide to the research into learning. I didn’t find it too memorable.
http://www.amazon.com/How-We-Learn-Surprising-Happens/dp/0812984293/
The examined life - Grosz - the adventures of a psychoanalyst and his patients. Some interesting stories, but I don’t think I’d recommend it.
http://www.amazon.com/Examined-Life-Lose-Find-Ourselves/dp/0393349322/
Reasons to stay alive - Haig - a personal insight into depression (something I didn’t know much about) - a short read but well worth it.
http://www.amazon.com/Reasons-Stay-Alive-Matt-Haig/dp/0143128728/
Being Mortal - Atul Gawande - extremely highly recommended - a look at medicine’s obsession with intervening to prolong life, and what can be done to offer a more humane end to life
http://www.amazon.com/Being-Mortal-Medicine-What-Matters/dp/0805095152/
Choosing in Groups - Munger - quite a technical review of election theory - I didn’t find its insights that interesting or helpful
http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Groups-Analytical-Politics-Revisited/dp/1107699622/
How Adam Smith can change your life - Roberts - I really enjoyed this review of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, a lot of real relevance for today.
http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life/dp/1591847958/
Change Everything - Felber - an excellent review of some of the big changes that could practically be made to make our economies work for the common good. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Change-Everything-Creating-Economy-Common/dp/1783604727/
Focus - Goleman - I had read and loved a few of his earlier books, and was full of hopes for this one, but found it pretty boring and unhelpful.
http://www.amazon.com/Focus-Hidden-Excellence-Daniel-Goleman/dp/0062114964/
The Darwin Economy - Frank - Why liberals and libertarians are wrong - I loved the ideas in this, though I think it could have been written better.
http://www.amazon.com/Darwin-Economy-Liberty-Competition-Common/dp/0691156689/
Freedom Regained - Baggini - this review of some of the challenges of thinking about free will was quite hard going but did get me thinking about a lot of issues that I’m pleased to have thought about.
http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Regained-Possibility-Free-Will/dp/022631989X/
The Last Act of Love - Rentzenbrink - a very sad tale of a family coping with the aftermath of a tragic injury. Beautifully written.
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Act-Love-Brother-Sister-ebook/dp/B00TUAYBBA/
Superforecasting - Tetlock - a look at common mistakes people make when forming predictions, and how we can do it better. I found it well worth reading.
http://www.amazon.com/Superforecasting-Prediction-Philip-E-Tetlock/dp/0804136696/
Reinventing Organizations - Laloux - an excellent look at companies that genuinely work for their employees and customers, and aren’t limited by traditional (incorrect) assumptions about motivation and the need for control. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Organizations-Frederic-Laloux/dp/2960133501/