You read thirty-one books, and what do you get? Another year old and deeper in (book) debt. Saint Peter, don’t call me `cause I can’t go. I sold my soul to the book store…
Yes, it’s that time of year again when I look back on the number of books I conquered (31 – Hooray!) v the number of books I purchased (significantly more than 31 – Boo!) and rate the best of the best.
This year, six books scored 5/5, including one graphic novel, one YA book and four non-fiction books! Let’s look at the runners and riders:
-
The Fix: How the First Champions League Was Won and Why We All Lost by James Dixon
-
Detective Beans: The Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen
-
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
-
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
-
Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay
-
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
And the winner is… *drum roll*
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
This one is not a surprise. I’ve been a massive fan of Mr. Doctorow’s work since I discovered he gave away his eBooks for free on his website. I’ve since bought all of his books in print, most of them in eBook or audiobook, so I’d say his gambit has paid off handsomely.
This is not only my favourite of Doctorow’s books (so far), but it also inspired me to get into my current job in information security and to push for more digital rights through my work in the UK Pirate Party. While some of the references have dated since it was first released, it is still an impactful look at technology, privacy, and freedom, with a highly written story and interesting characters. It is a must-read for any teen and arguably most adults, too.
Anyway, that’s a wrap for another year. Here’s to discovering what 2025 has to offer and, hopefully, reading more new books and not just plugging away at my favourite authors’ back catalogues.