Reading List

Here’s what I’ve been reading, along with some simple ratings:

👍 = Recommended 👎 = Skip 🤷‍♂️ = Meh 😍 = Amazing

I mostly read non-fiction and comics, with some science fiction sprinkled in there. I’m ruthless with books, though. If it doesn’t hold my attention then I’ll give up, so you won’t find many thumbs down ratings here.

2023

Books finished: TBD Favorite book: Dilla Time by Dan Charnas

Book Author Genre Rating
Maus Art Spiegelman Comics 😍
The Mandolin: A History Graham McDonald Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Axiom’s End Lindsay Ellis Fiction 👍
Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm Dan Charnas Non-Fiction 😍
Project Hail Mary Andy Weir Fiction 😍
You Are Not Expected to Understand This Torie Bosch Non-Fiction 👍
Creative Selection Ken Kocienda Non-Fiction 👍
Wool Hugh Howey Fiction 😍
Shift Hugh Howey Fiction 😍
Dust Hugh Howey Fiction 😍
Silo Stories Hugh Howey Fiction 😍
Monsters Barry Windsor-Smith Comics 👍

2022

Books finished: 15
Favorite book: Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy

Book Author Genre Rating
The Personal MBA Josh Kaufman Business 👍
UKEtopia! Jim Beloff Non-Fiction 👍
Managing Oneself Peter Drucker Business 👍
Tunnels Rutu Modan Comics 👍
Powerful Patty McCord Business 🤷‍♂️
Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives Jack Carneal Memoir 😍
Mirror Sound Spencer Tweedy, Lawrence Azerrad, Daniel Topete Music 😍
What Tech Calls Thinking Adrian Daub Tech 👍
Solid State Kenneth Womack Music 😍
Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) Jeff Tweedy Memoir 😍
The Fellowship of the Ring JRR Tolkien Fantasy 👍
Endless Endless Adam Clair Music 👍
Below Ambition Simon Hanselman Comics 👍
Living in Data Jer Thorp Nonfiction 😍
Berlin Jason Lutes Comics 😍

2021

Books finished: 12
Favorite book: How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy

Book Author Genre Rating
How Music Works David Byrne Non-Fiction 👍
Hell Yeah or No Derek Sivers Non-Fiction 👍
This Searing Light, The Sun, and Everything Else Jon Savage Non-Fiction 👍
How to Write One Song Jeff Tweedy Non-Fiction 😍
This Isn’t Happening Steven Hyden Non-Fiction 👍
Citizen First, Designer Second Rejane Dal Bello Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Collected Angers Mike Monteiro Non-Fiction 👍
Extra Bold Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie xia & Valentina Vergara Non-Fiction 👍
The Detroit Printing Co-Op Danielle Aubert Non-Fiction 👍
Ruined By Design Mike Monteiro Non-Fiction 👍
Go Ahead in the Rain Hanif Abdurraqib Non-Fiction 👍
The YouTube Formula Derral Eves Business 🤷‍♂️

2020

Books finished: 20
Favorite book: A Civic Technologist’s Practice Guide by Cyd Harrell

Book Author Genre Rating
Drawing the Vote Tommy Jenkins & Kati Lacker Comics 🤷‍♂️
Remain in Love Chris Frantz Biography 👍
The Politics of Design Ruben Pater Non-Fiction 👍
A User’s Guide to Democracy Nick Capodice & Hannah McCarthy Non-Fiction 👍
How to be a Conscious Eater Sophie Egan Non-Fiction 👍
Keep Going Austin Kleon Non-Fiction 👍
Words to Win By Margaret Kaplan Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Influencing Machine Brooke Gladstone Non-Fiction 👍
A Civic Technologist’s Practice Guide Cyd Harrell Non-Fiction 😍
Reset Ronald J. Deibert Non-Fiction 👍
The Prince and the Dressmaker Jen Wang Comics 👍
Exhalation Ted Chiang Fiction 👍
Eichmann in Jerusalem Hannah Arendt Non-Fiction 👍
Working Robert A. Caro Non-Fiction 😍
Pretty Much Everything Aaron Draplin Non-Fiction 👍
Strengthsfinder 2.0 Tom Rath Business 👎
The Tiny MBA Alex Hillman Business 🤷‍♂️
We Are Called to be a Movement Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II Non-Fiction 👍
20 Bits I Learned Dan Cederholm Non-Fiction 👍
Notes on a Nervous Planet Matt Haig Non-Fiction 👍

2019

Books finished: 18
Favorite book: On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

Book Author Genre Rating
I am a Blogger Seva (ConvertKit Team) Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Selfie Made Meridith Rojas Non-Fiction 👎
Girl Town Carolyn Nowak Comics 👍
The Oath and The Office Corey Brettschneider Non-Fiction 👍
Margo Maloo and the Monster Mall Drew Weing Comics 👍
The Care and Keeping of You Valorie Lee Schaefar & Josee Masse Non-Fiction 👍
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them Jason Stanley Non-Fiction 👍
Graveyard Shakes Laura Terry Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Coaching Habit Michael Bungay Stanier Non-Fiction 👎
Shit is Real Aisha Franz Comics 👍
Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America Box Brown Comics 👍
On a Sunbeam Tillie Walden Comics 😍
Awards for Good Boys Shelby Lorman Non-Fiction 👍
Are you listening? Tillie Walden Comics 👍
Birding is My Favorite Video Game Rosemary Mosco Comics 👍
Green River Killer: A True Detective Story Jeff Jenson & Jonathan Case Comics 👎
Tools and Weapons Brad Smith & Carol Ann Browne Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
No One is Too Small to Make a Change Greta Thunberg Non-Fiction 👍

2018

Books finished: 44
Favorite book: Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal

Book Author Genre Rating
Primates Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks Comics 👍
Louis Undercover Fanny Britt & Isabelle Arsenault Comics 👍
The Sentinel Arthur C. Clarke Fiction 👎
The Lost Art Christian Furr Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Astronomy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained DK Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Sculptor Scott McCloud Comics 🤷‍♂️
Tales from the Farm Jeff Lemire Comics 🤷‍♂️
Broad Band Claire L. Evans Non-Fiction 😍
Anywhere that is Wild John Muir, Peter & Donna Thomas Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Archival Quality Ivy Noelle Weir & Steenz Comics 🤷‍♂️
Super Late Bloomer Julia Kaye Comics 👍
Your Black Friend and Other Strangers Ben Passmore Comics 👍
Exit Wounds Rutu Modan Comics 👍
The Lovely Horrible Stuff Eddie Campbell Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Property Rutu Modan Comics 👍
Smile Raina Telgemeier Comics 👍
Ghosts Raina Telgemeier Comics 👍
The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head David Gaffney & Dan Berry Comics 👍
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Robert C O’Brien Fiction 😍
You Are Mighty Caroline Paul & Lauren Tamaki Non-Fiction 👍
The Light of the Stars Adam Frank Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Why art? Eleanor Davis Comics 👍
Sabrina Nick Drnaso Comics 😍
What To Do When I’m Gone Suzy Hopkins & Hallie Bateman Non-Fiction 👍
Killing & Dying Adrian Tomine Comics 👍
Coyote Doggirl Lisa Hanawalt Comics 👍
Johnny Boo: Twinkle Power James Kochalka Comics 👍
Johnny Boo and the Mean Little Boy James Kochalka Comics 👍
Be Prepared Vera Brosgol Comics 👍
Apollo Matt Fitch, Chris Baker, and Mike Collins Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Sheets Brenna Thummler Comics 👍
Ivy Sarah Oleksyk Comics 🤷‍♂️
Bigfoot: I Not Dead Graham Roumieu Comics 🤷‍♂️
Food Rules Michael Pollan Non-Fiction 👍
Adventures in Cartooning James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, Alexis Frederick-Frost Comics 🤷‍♂️
Woman World Aminder Dhaliwal Comics 😍
Anya’s Ghost Vera Brosgol Comics 🤷‍♂️
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea Ben Clanton Comics 🤷‍♂️
Measure What Matters John Doerr Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Demystifying Public Speaking Lara Hogan Non-Fiction 👍
El Deafo Cece Bell Comics 👍
In the Company of Women Grace Bonney Non-Fiction 👍
How to be an American Silvia Hidalgo Non-Fiction 👎
Dune Frank Herbert Fiction 😍

2017

Books finished: 81
Favorite book: Life in Code by Ellen Lupton

Book Author Genre Rating
Searching for Bobby Fischer Fred Waitzkin Non-Fiction 👍
Booklife Jeff Vandermeer Non-Fiction 👍
The Art of Learning Josh Waitzkin Non-Fiction 👎
Mindfulness for Mere Mortals Patrick Rhone Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Some Thoughts About Writing Patrick Rhone Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Zen Habits Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness Leo Babauta Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Waking Up Sam Harris Non-Fiction 👎
The World Inside Robert Silverberg Fiction 👎
On Bullshit Harry G. Frankfurt Non-Fiction 👍
The Magic Words Cheryle B. Klein Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Death’s End Cixin Liu Fiction 👍
Thrill Me Benjamin Percy Non-Fiction 😍
Resilient Web Design Jeremy Keith Non-Fiction 👍
Horten’s Incredible Illusions Lissa Evans Fiction 👍
The Girl Who Drank the Moon Kelly Barnhill Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Networking! ACK! Julia Evans Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Inclusive Design Patterns Heydon Pickering Non-Fiction 👍
The Fate of The Artist Eddie Campbell Comics 👍
Sloth Gilbert Hernandez Comics 🤷‍♂️
Asterios Polyp David Mazzucchelli Comics 😍
Wonder Boys Michael Chabon Fiction 👍
Deep Work Cal Newport Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Louis Riel Chester Brown Comics 👍
Can’t we talk about something more pleasant? Roz Chast Comics 🤷‍♂️
Weaving The Web Tim Berners Lee Non-Fiction 👍
The Road Cormac McCarthy Fiction 👎
Chicken with Plums Marjane Satrapi Comics 🤷‍♂️
Spiral-Bound Aaron Renier Comics 👍
Tomboy Liz Prince Comics 👍
Just Draw Mark Badger Non-Fiction 👎
Table Manners Jeremiah Tower Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
American Born Chinese Gene Luen Yang Comics 👍
This One Summer Mariko & Jillian Tamaki Comics 😍
Scrum Basics Tycho Press Non-Fiction 👎
Anything You Want Derek Sivers Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Empire State Jason Shiga Comics 🤷‍♂️
Micrographica Renee French Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Little Book of Hygge Meik Wiking Non-Fiction 👎
The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Success Through Stillness Russell Simmons Non-Fiction 👎
Yawn: Adventures in Boredom Mary Mann Non-Fiction 👍
The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo Drew Weing Comics 👍
Dark Matter Blake Crouch Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Show Your Work Austin Kleon Non-Fiction 👍
Steal Like an Artist Austin Kleon Non-Fiction 👍
Not Dead Yet Phil Collins Non-Fiction 👍
Wilson Daniel Clowes Comics 🤷‍♂️
Adulthood is a Myth Sarah Anderson Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Work Life Molly Erman Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Dizziness Gregory T. Whitman, MD & Robert W. Baloh, MD Non-Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Fun Home Alison Bechdel Comics 😍
Displacement Lucy Knisley Comics 👍
The Grownup Gillian Flynn Fiction 👍
Age of License Lucy Knisley Comics 👍
French Milk Lucy Knisley Comics 👍
Paying for It Chester Brown Comics 😍
New York Drawings Adrian Tomine Comics 🤷‍♂️
Scenes from an Impending Marriage Adrian Tomine Comics 👍
Diary Comics Dustin Harbin Comics 👍
Diary Comics #5 Dustin Harbin Comics 👍
Diary Comics #6 Dustin Harbin Comics 👍
Boundless Jillian Tamaki Comics 👍
Super Mutant Magic Academy Jillian Tamaki Comics 👍
Thornhill Pam Smy Fiction 😍
Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud Anne Helen Peterson Non-Fiction 👍
Pinky and Stinky James Kochalka Comics 👍
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Stephen King Fiction 👎
The Three Paradoxes Paul Hornschemeier Comics 👍
Shortcomings Adrian Tomine Comics 👍
Strange Practice Vivian Shaw Fiction 🤷‍♂️
Life in Code Ellen Ullman Non-Fiction 😍
Cat Burglar Black Richard Sala Comics 🤷‍♂️
Sleeping Giants Sylvain Neuvel Fiction 🤷‍♂️
The Best American Comics 2017 Ben Katchar Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Heartless Troll Oyvind Torseter Comics 🤷‍♂️
The Best We Could Do Thi Bui Comics 🤷‍♂️
House of Women Sophie Goldstein Comics 👍
Present Leslie Stein Comics 🤷‍♂️
Behold the Man Michael Moorcock Fiction 👎
Night Elie Wiesel Non-Fiction 😍