My 2022 Readings Review

It's the last day of 2022, time for my reading review of the year. Last year I shared my readings reviews here.

if you have a good memory you might remember that I targeted to have 20 books read by the end of 2022. for many reasons, I had to adapt my goal by June to 15 , and I can say it ended well with 17 books this year, different types and different learnings. interesting point to share that this year, since I started reading, is the first year to end with no paper books on my list. either electronic ones, thanks to Amazon Kindle , or audiobooks, thanks to Storytel .

as usual, my readings are different between fiction and non-fiction books.

1- I'm coming to the light, by Mohamed Aboelghiet.

for many reasons, I wanted to start this review with this book, Mohamed Aboelghiet was an Egyptian Investigative journalist, Broadcast journalist  and a physician who lost his life this year on December 5th, after a 17 months battle with cancer. In this book Mohamed started to write this memoir after got diagnosed with stomach cancer, in this book Mohamed recounted his experience with illness, among other comments and insights. sharing his pain and hope across this sad ended journey.

Aboelgheit wrote about the book: "You won't find me writing a patient's diary; instead I write about events and feelings, what I experienced and learned - an autobiography for myself and my generation as well."

"If by some miracle I am saved, I will seek that light with which my experience and appreciation have increased in the days of my illness, and will give what I can in gratitude for being so fortunate in having a wife who radiates light, as do my father and mother, and many friends whose light reassures me that there truly is good in the world. And if fate limits my time to what the doctors have determined, I hope that after my death there will be light and calm, and that this book will give some light to whoever reads it."

Mohamed kept writing this book even till the last days of his life, in the final pages of this heart melting book, Mohamed wrote a message in public to his 8-years old son Yehia that he left behind.

2- Who moved my cheese?, by Spencer Johnson.

early this year, a dear colleague mentioned this book in a business meeting, advising the audience to have a look on this book if you want to see the opportunities when the change is here. and It was. this short book is all about how to adapt an agile mindset when you are facing a lot of quick changes, like we always do these days.

3- Rebel Talent, by Francesca Gino

I can say that Prof. Gino was my favorite writer for 2022, Thanks to this book. Through most of our lives we are taught to follow the rules, but this book is about the price of rebelling. starts with the story of the world's best chef Massimo Bottura. Francesca Gino writes about sparking creativity, excelling at work and life and thereby becoming happier by learning how to rebel - against ideas, status quo, and your own intuition. Professor Gino is Harvard School of Business professor, and she writes articles in Harvard Business Review. The book is highly recommended and of course following Prof. Gino.

4- Competing in the age of AI, by Marco Iansiti and Karim Lakhani

If we can describe our life time era, simply it's the time of Artificial Intelligence. this book is suitable for those who want or need to understand the potential for the increasing span, scope, and scale afforded by the utilization of artificial intelligence as applied to business models, with real life example about how did AI change the face of business in the last decades. If you want yourself or your business to be ready for tomorrow, This one is recommended.

5- Influence, by Robert B. Cialdini

This book is all about influencing people around to say YES. In his book, Cialdini shares a simple six principles of influence that will help you in this. ;Reciprocation, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity. with each of this principles combined with examples about how to influence people, although it's interesting one, I found the book a tactical one for short term wins not for strategic ones.  mere reading of this book won't make you a master, but taking notes and applying them in real life might.

6- Think Again, by Adam Grant

This book is another great one from Adam Grant, after the Originals.

Have you ever heard about Dunning-Kruger Effect? Well, in simple words this effect is a cognitive bias that happens when people with limited knowledge, overestimate their own. This books is about how not to be a victim of this cognitive bias, more about the benefit of DOUBT. Yes, the benefit of doubt; In this book, Grant shares with us that when we think and talk, we often slip into the mindset of three distinct professions: preachers, prosecutors, and politicians. We become preachers when the unwarranted strength of our convictions compels us to convert others to our way of thinking; prosecutors when our sole aim is to discredit the beliefs of others; and politicians when we seek to win favors from our chosen constituency. Grant also shares that a mindset and skillset, rethinking can be taught and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities to do it.

and remember “The first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don’t know you’re a member of the Dunning-Kruger club.”. This book is a great mind opener.

7- Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari.

One simple word for this book: BRILLIANT!

It's a something like a novel for the history of mankind. Homo Sapiens or Us are the only human species who survived. We reached all corners of the Earth and have developed enormous power – and yet at a huge cost. If you are interested in knowing more about the history of us in an interesting way, from the agriculture revolution to the capitalism, This book is for you.

8- Leonardo DaVinci and a memory of his childhood, by Sigmund Freud

A detailed reconstruction of Leonardo's emotional life from his earliest years. I could that this book is the least interesting one this year.

9- Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta

If you were a regular watcher of the CNN during the pandemic, you might know CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta.

Last Year, I lost my grandfather who suffered earlier from dementia, a vigorous medical condition that effect our life with aging and the loss of cognitive awareness. In this manual, Gupta shares with us the findings that could help us to stay with a sharp mind whatever the age.

"Skip the crossword puzzles and go for a walk with a friend, Your brain will thank you" If you are an interested person of adopting the good habits to keep your mind sharp, This books is for you.

10 - Eat that frog, by Brian Tracy

Procrastination! That monster that's always there, behind preventing us from doing what we need to do, or preventing us from finishing all these loaded to-do-lists. How many times did you go through your day and say to yourself; Maybe I have better. In this short manual, Brian Tracy shares 21 Great ways to stop procrastinating and Do what you need to do. If you are someone, like me, who is a victim to all the time dominating technology around us, This book is for you.

11- What every BODY is saying, by Joe Navarro

a dear senior manager once advised me with this title, and I can say it deserves. Joe Navarro is an ex-FBI agent who shares in this book his personal experience about reading the nonverbal behaviors of people, when we move our legs, torsos, arms or facial expressions. It's about decoding the body language. with many of his professional experience, Navarro identifies more about how to read the people around you.

"Observation is like a muscle. It grows stronger with use and atrophies without use."

12- Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo

What’s the incurable problem that we are always facing since the dawn of mankind? Yes, It’s poverty. In this book the authors do an outstanding job of explaining the behavior of poor people and reason for their status quo. They use conclusions and evidence drawn from the randomized control trial to explain the steps that can be taken to steer them on the right course.

This book is about economics but it’s not for economics students, It’s much more easier for us to read, understand what are the real reasons behind this problem. This book illuminates how the poor live, and offers all of us an opportunity to think of a world beyond poverty.

The authors were awarded 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Esther is the youngest woman to win the award. 

Also, I have 5 other fiction readings that I have on my list in 2022

13- Khufu's Wisdom, by Naguib Mahfouz

Published in 1939, This is the first novel for Naguib Mahfouz, also the first of his Egyptian Trilogy.

14- Before the Throne, by Naguib Mahfouz

Published in 1983, This unconventional novel is about a conversation in front of Osiris with all the great rulers that ruled Egypt since the Unification that happened five thousands years ago.

15- The Stranger, by Albert Camus

published in 1942, Le Monde ranks this novel as number one on its "100 Books of the Century" list. This novel is an example of Camus' philosophy of the absurd and existentialism. 

“I may not have been sure about what really did interest me, but I was absolutely sure about what didn't.”

16- The Poppy Flower, by Khairy Shalabi

published in 2005, This novel events takes place in the metropolitan Alexandria between the WWII and the Egyptian revolution in 1952.

17- Mankind and the Orthopedic plaster, by Ahmed Atef

a light book that I listened while in a journey through a couple of hours. Ahmed Atef is an orthopedic surgeons who is known for his comedy social media posts.

Hopefully in 2023 that I can read 20 books, as I aimed at the start of 2022. If you read those above mentioned books share with me your thoughts and reviews in the comments below. If you have a book recommendation for me in 2023 please share it with me in the comments.