Years ago, on the website formerly known as Twitter, I had a habit of recapping my favorite books at the end of each year. I’ve moved that practice over here to the Fediverse.
As of this writing, I’ve finished 51 books this year. I’ll likely get through at least a couple more before 12/31. If one of them tips the scales, I’ll add it to the thread later.
Here are my my best books for 2024.
1/11
Right at the start of January, I declared Liz Cheney’s Oath and Honor the best book that I would read in 2024. Bold prediction, and honestly I enjoyed other books more, but this was certainly the most important. It tells the story of the moral collapse of the US Republican Party, and explains the urgency of keeping Donald Trump from winning reelection.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL35767165W/Oath_and_Honor
It was, sadly, ineffective.
2/11
Rob Copeland’s The Fund is a generally scathing examination of the history of Ray Dalio and his hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Dalio’s nurtured a social media reputation as an incisive thinker and visionary. In Copeland’s book, not so much. Deserves a place on your “Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you’re smart” shelf.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34338779W/Fund
3/11
Robert Sapolsky’s Determined was a mind-blowing book. I’ve enjoyed several of his works before. This one was, in many ways, the least accessible, and it argues a point that’s tough for many folks to accept: Free will doesn’t exist; neurochemistry is deterministic. Lots follows: What is “guilt” in that case?
I found it persuasive, but it’s a hard belief to live thoroughly.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL34336493W/Determined
4/11
@mikeolson I loved the first half of this book, but wished he had teamed up with an Ethics/Policy person (eg. Stanford’s Rob Reich). His policy arguments ignore deterrence and cultural norms as effective shapers of our determined actions.
(I still recommend the book and find his call for a less retributive justice system compelling overall, just wish he made the argument better and with more nuance.)
Mike Olson
Daniel Jackoway