Year in books - 2018

Once again I didn’t read as much as I would want to and like every year, my reading list grows longer and longer. So many books, so little time, ‘sigh’. Looking back, compared to 2016 and 2017, my read list in 2018 is quite an eclectic mix as I am consciously stepping out of my belief system and value framework. Enter more ezo and spiritual reading. I let you judge me the same way I judge your Spotify playlist I do hope you are find something inspiring and I would love it if you can leave your recommendation in comment or DM.

"Books are as useful to stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person"

Secret lives of trees - Erwin Thoma

Some books help to define you or understand who you are somewhat surprisingly. For me, this is one. It helped me formulate how I will live at some point. Otherwise, its great book for science nerds as it is for eco-warriors. Great perspective on dimensions long lost to us behind all those screens.

The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin

I’ve given up on the self-help genre a long time ago, but this book came recommended on several shows so this was the one I gave chance to this year. Nothing wrong I suppose if this is what you into but this just confirmed that this whole type of books is a complete waste of space and paper to me.

Benjamin Franklin, An American Life - Walter Isaacson

Isaacson has at this point made a great name for himself in biographies space so if he publishes, you read. His research is so extensive I can’t even. Initially what motivated me to read this was that I wanted a context to the time when US constitution was written especially with this whole 2nd amendment thingie. But there is obviously a lot more to Franklin’s persona and I am fascinated with polymaths like he was. Big book and a big story on one of the most important shapers of the modern world as we know it.

Can’t hurt me - David Goggins

This dude is probably the toughest motherfuckers out there when it comes to elite army forces or ultra runners. He is also probably crazy, so don’t try to be like him. Regardless, it’s an inspirational story of perseverance and hard work over talent any damned day. The audiobook is bit weird format because it’s being interrupted by him and the narrator having an on-air podcast type chat, which is a bit confusing.

Dying to be me - My journey from Cancer to Near Death, to True Healing - Anita Moorjani

From time to time I make a point to pick up books that are out of my sphere because I believe any exposure to something completely strange to your environment/culture/race/occupation/belief system is ultimately beneficial. This is some serious woohoo okay? But the thing is you can’t prove it nor disprove it. It just is, so deal with it alright.

The Founder’s Dilemmas - Noam Wasserman

Probably the most useful startup book out there I re-read this year again. Mind you it’s probably the only startup book I read ever so I don’t have a great dataset. It is nonetheless a very practical one if you are at an early stage business or preparing to launch your first business.

Paradox Bound - Peter Clines

I love me a little fantasy intertwined with the real world as we know it and some time travel, although I am pretty convinced this is based on true story. Great story that sparks the imagination in a very Gaiman-esque way. Speaking of which, when is his next book coming?

Becoming - Michelle Obama

This is so good! Go read it yesterday. There is so much to her story, to their story. She is most definitely breaking the ‘behind-every-successful-man-there-is-a-woman’ theorem. This book carries so many small and big lessons, my favorite was the anecdote about standing up to some kid in school and shutting her up for good. So, much, gut.

Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

A really unique perspective of human identity, fundaments of psyche, survival and much more by none other than one of the most important psychologist of the 20th century whose life story was to a large degree formed by his terrifying experience during the World War 2 where he endured concentration camps like Auschwitz. Not an easy read, but an important one.

Girls & Boys - Dennis Kelly

Apparently a big deal as a theater play, the book adaptation just could not capture my attention enough.  

Challenger Deep - Neal Shusterman

So much in this book, so so much. Deep thoughts on mental disease and very relatable storytelling. Read it. I won’t spoil it.

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth - Chris Hadfield

A curious insight into what mindset does it take to become the elite and then the elite of the elite, talking jet fighters and space shuttles. Not surprisingly, the guy who has seen planet Earth from the orbit has an interesting perspective on life and some pretty badass problem-solving skills.

You are not so smart: Why you have to many Facebook friends, why your memory is mostly fiction and 46 other ways you’re deluding yourself - David McRaney

Not a self help category but has the most profound effect in that way. I think really anyone would benefit from reading this book big time because it debunks very common beliefs, that can be dangerous.

A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and A Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis rediscovered faith, friendship, and heroism in the cataclysm of 1914-1918 - Joseph Loconte

Whether you are Narnia or LOTR geek, this book is a really great study on the relationship between the two famed authors and share lots of moments from their discussions. It was really interesting to see how those works are directly influenced by the context of the time be it religious or war one.

Why England Lose - Simon Kuper, Stefan Szymanski

Well we all know that it is never coming home, don’t we? So now we also know why. Fascinating to think how the traditional business of football (soccer) will be disrupted by innovators and data rise of Asian teams eventually.

Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman - Richard P. Feynman

I wouldn’t dare to doubt his scientific contribution, I am not sciency enough and know too little, but I can help to think that he was a pretty shit, narcissistic human being, doing little extra reading after some hints in this book. Its the glorification of these types that’s a problem today.

Endure: Mind, Body and the curiously elastic limits of human performance -  Alex Hutchinson

Great read on the next sports science frontier for masses - the brain fitness. Books written by people who have first-hand experience - Hutchinson being a really good competitive runner back in the day, always carry extra weight!

Skin in the game: Hidden asymmetries in daily life - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

I have really enjoyed his previous books like the Fooled by randomness, but at this point, some of the arguments Taleb is making seems as out of touch as his Twitter account. Go for a long hike instead of reading this book, you will learn more.  

Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela

This book posed a real challenge to me. It’s clearly one of the grandest stories of the 20th century. The oppression, the hard work, the many decades in jail but it also somewhat deliberately omits the ugly side of the struggle against apartheid. Also, it is really, really long and suffers from lack of literary talents or good ghostwriting. It just gets too flat in certain parts.

Flash boys - Michael Lewis

This is the wolf of Wallstreet for the nerds. A fascinating story of the early days of high frequency, algo trading. Equally interesting when put in perspective of common small time investor.

Total Recall - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Reading this made me realize how easy it is to judge a person on basis of knowing an only certain aspect of their life. There is so much to his legacy. The poor immigrant turned the American dream story, his political career, his investment smarts and his most recent focus on education an youth. He is the true role model and inspiration.

Open - Andre Agassi

This book just blew my mind so freakin much. It’s such an interesting thought to know that behind those polished Nike ads are real people with real struggles who also sometimes, or often hate their job. I can totally relate to the loneliness on the circuit. Such uncommon is the openness of this book. I really appreciate the vulnerability.

My Life and Work - Henry Ford, Samuel Crowther

While it’s not the most captivating storytelling, it’s one of the most interesting entrepreneur's stories there are and many of the fundamental principles of success in business coined by Ford. I would really rate this as business tycoon wannabe essentials.

Bruce Lee: A Life - Matthew Polly

Honestly, I expected much more of a deep journey into the ultimate martial artist's soul and mind, but this was rather disappointing. I put it away halfway through.

Můj dlouhý běh - Dan Orálek

Protože v ultra je všechno a protože Danova cesta je tak charektiristická pro tenhle sport co snad nikdy doufám nebude úplně tak sport. A i kdyby náhodou jo, tak mi to vadit nebude protože si vždycky budu pamatovat těch několik závodu kde startovalo tak třicet super divnejch týpků a tet a kde jsem mu asi tak dvě minuty koukal na záda než zmizel zatáčkou. Určitě palec nahoru, nemůžu si pomoct a nedojmout se.

Láska v době klimatických změn - Josef Pánek

Tahle knížka mě vlastně dost naštvala, což je stav který mám u čtení rád pokud to není bežná beletrie, takže pořádně ani nevím co si o ní mám myslet. Takový to trošku česky úzkoprsý, trošku rasistický, trošku ublížený slušno intelektuálství. Palec dolu pane Pánek.

Nejlepší pro všechny - Petra Soukupová

Asi jsem si jí koupil spíš z vytrvalosti, loni se mi moc líbilo její Zmizet, ale tohle už mě ničím nepřekvapilo ani nezaujalo.

Autismus & Chardonnay - Martin Seller

Asi nejsrdečnější překvapení a knížka vybraná úplně náhodou bez reference před cestou na letiště. To si takhle uvědomíte, jak jste lucky, ať jste kdo jste. Kdyby každý kdo to má v práci těžký ventiloval na blogu, svět by byl docela jistě o dost snesitelnější místo.

40 dní pěšky do Jeruzaléma - Ladislav Zibura

Já vim, že Ládik je doma asi docela selebrita, ale já ho fakt doteď vůbec neznal, každopádně super vtipný zápisky u kterých vám ještě nenásilně připomene, že je celkem jedno ke komu se modlíte, ale na konci dne jsme stejně všichni jenom lidi a z podstaty vlastně většina z nás celkem dobrý bytosti.

Opuštěná společnost - Erik Tábery

Nejsem úplně fanoušek Respektu, protože ho považuju za elitistickej, nicméně Taberyho uznávám, ikdyž nemám rád pozice pozorovatelů a tahle kniha pěkně dává do kontextu století republiky od jejího založení až po ten humus co nás reprezentuje teď. A dělá to rozumně, klinicky a jednodušše. Dost bych jí doporučil komukoliv kdo se podivuje nad aktuální politickou situací a přemýšlí kam až by to to mohlo zajít.

That's it for the year. If you pick one of these, let me know how you found it and I would much appreciate any suggestions you might have for me.