Reading
I read as a way to continually learn. As a student, this allowed me to diversify my areas of study, and after finishing my (many) years of formal education, I read to resist stagnation. Importantly, to learn does not require only reading non-fiction. I believe there is plenty to be learned by great fiction.
Below I have links to my book reviews, organized by the year in which I read the book:
You can see what I have read on either Goodreads or The StoryGraph by following the links below.
Favorites#
All time#
Rascal by Sterling North#
This is a heart-warming story about a boy and his pet racoon and the adventures they embark on over the span of a few years. I have read this book many times over the years and it always reminds me of childish joy and wonder that is too easy to forget in adulthood. I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly for young boys as it really speaks directly to that unique experience.
(As an aside, this book served as the muse for a popular cartoon in Japan, eventually leading to a boom in the pet racoon market, many of which escaped and caused an ongoing ecological disaster.)
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel#
Man’s Search for Meaning is a memoir by psychoanalyst Viktor Frankel during his years as prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. His unique expertise and background provides tremendous insight into humanity through this particularly tragic experience. This book provides a sobering analysis of the brutal realities of the most fundamental features of human nature and is a must read for anyone seeking to better understand themselves and others.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway#
For whatever reason, this classic short story struck a chord in me. What stood out to me was the description of greatness and how it often involves suffering alone. I don’t claim to have undergone this experience, but I appreciated this novel analysis and beautifully remorse description of achievement and excellence.