I read 31 books this year (it’s amazing what one can accomplish when one reads every lunch hour). Here are my five favorite books that I read this year:
5. America Again by Stephen Colbert
I identify with Colbert’s unique style of humor and wit more than any other comic or pundit. His roundabout way of making people look silly had me struggling to contain my laughter as I read in a quiet corner of my office.
4. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers redefined the way I view successful people. We often place these individuals on pedestals, exalting them as visionaries, while silently lamenting our own lack of inherent genius. Gladwell convinced me that success is really an equal combination of opportunity and hard work. The stories were compelling, and Gladwell makes a great argument for easy steps that can help create true equal opportunity among all individuals.
3. Batman and Philosophy by Mark D. White
This was an interesting series of essays that tackled different philosophical questions in how they relate to the Dark Knight. The topics try to answer questions like, “Why doesn’t Batman kill The Joker?” “Is Batman morally right in his actions as a vigilante?” and “Is Batman a better hero than Superman?” I enjoyed integrating the different philosophies of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and Kant with the worldviews of the various denizens of Gotham City.
2. Drive by Daniel H. Pink
Before reading Drive, I would have said that the best way to motivate people is through successful use of
“carrots and sticks.” Pink has since convinced me that these types of external incentives are not only ineffective, they are actually demotivating in the long-run. Drive helped me better understand the complexities of human motivation, as well as recognize what pushes me to achieve in my own life.
1. Promise of the Witch King by R.A. Salvatore
This is classic D&D at its finest. Full of intrigue, characters both sketchy and noble, as well as a fast-paced dungeon crawl that kept me engaged throughout, Promise of the Witch King was pure fantasy and simply fantastic.
5. America Again by Stephen Colbert
I identify with Colbert’s unique style of humor and wit more than any other comic or pundit. His roundabout way of making people look silly had me struggling to contain my laughter as I read in a quiet corner of my office.
4. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers redefined the way I view successful people. We often place these individuals on pedestals, exalting them as visionaries, while silently lamenting our own lack of inherent genius. Gladwell convinced me that success is really an equal combination of opportunity and hard work. The stories were compelling, and Gladwell makes a great argument for easy steps that can help create true equal opportunity among all individuals.
3. Batman and Philosophy by Mark D. White
This was an interesting series of essays that tackled different philosophical questions in how they relate to the Dark Knight. The topics try to answer questions like, “Why doesn’t Batman kill The Joker?” “Is Batman morally right in his actions as a vigilante?” and “Is Batman a better hero than Superman?” I enjoyed integrating the different philosophies of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and Kant with the worldviews of the various denizens of Gotham City.
2. Drive by Daniel H. Pink
Before reading Drive, I would have said that the best way to motivate people is through successful use of
“carrots and sticks.” Pink has since convinced me that these types of external incentives are not only ineffective, they are actually demotivating in the long-run. Drive helped me better understand the complexities of human motivation, as well as recognize what pushes me to achieve in my own life.
1. Promise of the Witch King by R.A. Salvatore
This is classic D&D at its finest. Full of intrigue, characters both sketchy and noble, as well as a fast-paced dungeon crawl that kept me engaged throughout, Promise of the Witch King was pure fantasy and simply fantastic.