My reading this year was suggest my core interests were becoming more effective, understanding how the world might end, and deciding how to behave politely while it does.
I spent the year learning how to build wealth, lead teams, persuade humans, raise a family, confront evil, survive apocalypse, and behave decently while the universe collapses. It was a productive year. Slightly bleak, but productive.
The Algebra of Wealth – Scott Galloway
Galloway lays out a practical framework for building long-term wealth, comparing it to an “algebra” of factors: focus (choosing the right career path), stoicism (living below your means), time (investing early and consistently), and diversification (spreading risk). The book mixes financial advice with life lessons, stressing that wealth is about freedom, not just money.
The Coming Wave – Mustafa Suleyman
A bit wishy-washy, co-founder of DeepMind, Suleyman warns about the coming “wave” of technologies like AI, biotech, and synthetic biology. These advances will transform industries but also pose huge risks, from surveillance to autonomous weapons. He argues for strong guardrails, governance, and global cooperation before innovation outruns our ability to manage it.
Unreasonable Hospitality – Will Guidara
Guidara, former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, shares how making guests feel seen and valued transformed his restaurant into one of the world’s best. His philosophy is that going “above and beyond”, in ways that are personal, creative, and sometimes outrageous, is what creates unforgettable experiences in any business.
A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety – Jimmy Carter
The 39th U.S. president looks back on his remarkable journey, from a Georgia farm boy to president, humanitarian, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He reflects on politics, faith, family, and global service, offering candid stories and lessons from nearly a century of public and private life.
The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu
After watching Season One, twice, I did it again; read the book. Then the other two. I’ll never learn. This sci-fi epic begins with scientists uncovering a secret first-contact scenario with an alien civilization, the Trisolarans, whose unstable planet drives them to seek a new home. Blending physics, history, and politics, Liu explores humanity’s response to an overwhelming extraterrestrial threat.
The Dark Forest – Cixin Liu
Best of the three. The sequel introduces the “dark forest” theory: the universe is a dangerous place where civilizations must remain hidden to survive. Humanity, aware of the approaching Trisolaran fleet, struggles with internal conflict and survival strategy. The novel examines trust, deterrence, and existential risk on a cosmic scale.
Death’s End – Cixin Liu
The trilogy’s finale expands to a breathtaking scope across space and time. Humanity and the Trisolarans face higher-level cosmic civilizations, leading to a universe governed by terrifying laws of survival. The book blends hard science, philosophy, and awe-inspiring imagination to close one of sci-fi’s most ambitious sagas.
A Long Walk to Water – Linda Sue Park
My son’s summer reading. Based on true events, this novel alternates between two stories in Sudan: Salva, a boy displaced by war in the 1980s, and Nya, a girl in 2008 who spends her days fetching water. Their journeys intersect in a moving tale about survival, resilience, and the life-changing power of clean water.
The Energy Bus – Jon Gordon
A fable-style business book about George, a man whose life and work are falling apart until he meets a bus driver and passengers who teach him 10 rules for infusing life with positivity, vision, and teamwork. The story emphasizes that energy, especially optimism, drives success in both business and personal life.
The Art of Winning – Bill Belichick
Most love or hate Bill. He’s made some questionable decisions, many of late, but this is still a worth while read. Belichick distills his coaching philosophy into lessons on preparation, discipline, and execution. The book emphasizes process over outcomes: mastering fundamentals, eliminating mistakes, and making situational decisions under pressure. While rooted in football, the insights translate to leadership, team building, and sustained excellence in any high-performance environment.
The Secret of Secrets – Dan Brown
I’m a huge fan. This one’s familiar. A fast-paced thriller following Robert Langdon as he uncovers a mystery tied to hidden knowledge, cutting-edge science, and ancient symbolism. As with Brown’s other novels, the story blends real historical references with speculative ideas, exploring themes of power, secrecy, and humanity’s future.
To Sell Is Human – Daniel H. Pink
Pink argues that selling is no longer limited to salespeople. So very true. Everyone sells ideas, influence, and themselves daily. He reframes selling as a human skill centered on empathy, clarity, and service rather than manipulation. The book offers research-backed techniques for persuasion, communication, and motivation in modern, non-traditional selling contexts.
Notes on Being a Man – Scott Galloway
As the father of a young man, this hit. Galloway offers candid reflections on masculinity, responsibility, relationships, work, and self-discipline. Drawing from personal experience and social trends, he challenges cultural narratives around success and fulfillment, particularly for young men. The tone is direct and occasionally blunt, focusing on accountability, purpose, and building a stable life over chasing status.
Graphic Novels
Saga (Issues 1–70) – Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples
An epic space-fantasy following two lovers from opposing sides of a brutal intergalactic war and their child, Hazel. The series blends science fiction, fantasy, and family drama, exploring love, identity, violence, and the cost of conflict. Known for its emotional depth, moral complexity, and fearless storytelling, Saga is as much about parenting and relationships as it is about war.
Y: The Last Man (Issues 1–60) – Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra
After a mysterious event kills every male mammal except one man, Yorick Brown, and his monkey, the world is forced to rebuild society without men. The series examines gender, power, grief, and survival through political, social, and personal lenses. It’s less about why the apocalypse happened and more about how humanity adapts afterward.
Outcast (Issues 1–48) – Robert Kirkman & Paul Azaceta
A dark horror series centered on Kyle Barnes, a man plagued by demonic possession in his family and hometown. As he investigates the nature of possession, the story shifts from personal trauma to broader questions of faith, evil, and free will. The tone is bleak, psychological, and slow-burning rather than action-driven.
We Called Them Giants – Kieron Gillen & Stephanie Hans
A standalone, visually striking sci-fi story about children living alone in a world where mysterious, towering “giants” appear after humanity’s collapse. The book explores loneliness, memory, and growing up in the aftermath of extinction. It’s atmospheric and emotional, relying more on mood and art than exposition.
Worldtr33 (Issues 1–16) – James Tynion IV & Fernando Blanco
A techno-horror series about a secret, corrupted version of the internet that connects to horrifying alternate realities. When this hidden network begins leaking into the real world, it threatens global collapse. The story blends conspiracy, body horror, and digital-age anxiety, examining what happens when technology opens doors humanity should never have unlocked.
In conclusion
I sought wisdom, discipline, and meaning, found some answers, many warnings, and confirmation that the universe is vast, indifferent, and best faced prepared, curious, and reasonably well-mannered.
Owen
Work In Progress 