Books Read in 2023

I was caught off guard making this year’s list. I read 30 books this year. It felt like I barely opened a book after my daughter’s birth in September.

I saw trends in my reading this year, more so than in past years. I dove into topics around Japan, parenting, sci-fi and behavioral economics throughout 2023.

Below are some of my favorite books of 2023 with a few words on each. I also included a list of all 30 books at end. If I’ve written about the book in a Thursday Thought, the title will be a link. If not, there’ll just be an Amazon link to find out more about the book.

Favorite Books

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is about three friends who start a successful video game company. It spans decades, from their first game of Mario to the launch of their own games. I experienced nostalgia throughout the book, having played most of the games mentioned.

The Year of Magical Thinking

Joan Didion details the year after her husband’s death in The Year of Magical Thinking. I enjoyed how Didion combined grief and grace into these stories. I couldn’t stop reading.

Convenience Store Woman

Convenience Store Woman centers around a Japanese woman who worked her entire adult life at a convenience store. I liked how the author explored the clash between the main character’s unique personality and Japanese culture.

Pachinko

This long epic novel follows the tale of Korean immigrants in Japan following the first World War up to the 1990’s. I learned about the complicated history of Korea and Japan through Pachinko.

Cooking at Home

David Chang teaches you how to make fast and delicious food at home in this cookbook. My wife loved several of the dishes I made from this book. There’s no better recommendation than that.

Outlive

Peter Attia lays out his foundations for improving lifespan and health span in this massive book. The premise of Outlive resonated with me as I was looking for a health goal beyond having huge muscles. This book changed the way I ate, exercised, and slept.

The Gardener and The Carpenter

The Gardener and The Carpenter is more than just a book about parenting. I questioned my beliefs on parenting, relationships, and how children learn after reading this book.

All Books Read (in chronological order)

1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow [Amazon]
2. Normal People [Amazon]
3. Steve Jobs [Amazon]
4. Stories of Your Life and Others [Amazon]
5. Will [Amazon]
6. The Year of Magical Thinking [Amazon]
7. A Random Walk Down Wall Street [Amazon]
8. A Wizard of Earthsea [Amazon]
9. This Is How to Lose The Time War [Amazon]
10. We Were Dreamers [Amazon]
11. Our Missing Hearts [Amazon]
12. Convenience Store Woman [Amazon]
13. Tokyo Ueno Station [Amazon]
14. Excellent Advice for Living [Amazon]
15. Good Dog, Happy Baby [Amazon]
16. The Expectant Father [Amazon]
17. NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs Are the Future [Amazon]
18. Just Keep Buying [Amazon]
19. The Behavior Gap [Amazon]
20. Pachinko [Amazon]
21. Ready Player One [Amazon]
22. Cooking at Home [Amazon]
23. Wanting [Amazon]
24. Outlive [Amazon]
25. Steal Like an Artist [Amazon]
26. This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends [Amazon]
27. Eat a Peach [Amazon]
28. The Gardener and The Carpenter [Amazon]
29. Hunt, Gather, Parent [Amazon]
30. Clear Thinking [Amazon]

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