10 Books I Read in 2021 That You Should Read in 2022
By Grant Hiskes
It’s a little bit later than that time of year again, but I am now getting around to my reading recommendations for 202. Truth be told, I started/read a lot of not very invigorating books this past year. But that’s alright, because it made the others all the more entertaining. I believe a handful of these titles are bound to pique your interest, but if not, here are the links to my past years’ lists …
And now, without further ado, for 2021:
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
I got my anthropological fix in for the year with this title. This book had glowing recommendations from Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, and I can see why. Harari analyzes the evolution of humankind from physical, social, and cultural perspectives. In many instances, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Disney War by James Stewart
This was one of (and the favorite) of the two books I read this year regarding the Walt Disney Company. This was one of the most well-written books I read this past year and focuses on Michael Eisner’s tenure as CEO of the company from 1984 to 2005. A great untold history of Eisner’s successes and failures in revamping the entertainment giant and all of the politics that coincided with it. A big shoutout to William Herbst for this recommendation!
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
I would lose a lot of credibility as a proud, reading Texas Longhorn if I did not read this gem of an autobiography from the Minister of Culture himself. McConaughey has a lot of good wisdom to impart from his very unique life journey. He is undoubtedly eccentric, but do not write him off as an author. Must read for sure.
The Picture of Dorian Gray and three stories by Oscar Wilde
This is the first novel on this list, and I did read more fiction this past year than I have since The Diary of a Wimpy Kid days. Beautifully written by the great Oscar Wilde. This was the first piece I have read from him, but I am now eager to read more. Was inspired to read this after seeing The Picture of Dorian Gray painting done by Ivan Albright at The Art Institute of Chicago. A novel that features back and forth outlooks on life from a young, charming Dorian Gray and the old, cynical Lord Henry.
Zealot by Reza Aslan
Not to be dramatic, but Zealot was maybe the most life-changing book I read this year. Written by Reza Aslan, a Shia Muslim who chose to convert to Christianity as a youth, the book details a historical account of the man Jesus of Nazareth apart from the face of Christianity Jesus Christ persona that he would become decades after his death. This book sets valuable context for why Jesus would have wanted his message heard, the political structure that was working against him at the time, and the other historical happenings that played a hand in having his teachings studied for the subsequent 2000 years. Thank you to Cuba for this one. Great read, coach.
The Body by Bill Bryson
My business and film curriculum does not cover much science, but I was able to get a bit of a human physiology and biology 101 crash course from this book. I would really recommend if you are curious to learning more about how magnificent the human body is. The book is comprehensive but not too academic and can teach you a few tips and tricks to improving your well-being.
Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
A bit of a dramatic title that caught my eye, but I had to check this one out when I saw it was written by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. As the title reads (in a less than an ideal font size), Raphael Bob-Waksberg is the creator and writer behind the hit Netflix TV series Bojack Horseman. Both the Netflix series and this book, which is more of a collection of short stories, paint the sobering, yet realistic elements of life in a unique manner of humor.
Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper
I had to read this one as the big brother of a freshman at the institution that bears the namesake of the patriarch of the family that is subject of this book. I wonder if Logan has tuned in. Hi Logan. This book tells the story of the Vanderbilt family’s rise to prominence and penetration of the New York aristocracy through titan of industry Cornelius Vanderbilt as a result of the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, the book also gives a firsthand look at how wealth corrupts to create complacency and sorrow if not dealt with correctly in future generations. The book is written by acclaimed journalist Anderson Cooper, who you may know from the CNN show Anderson Cooper 360. Interestingly enough, Cooper is the son of fashion icon Gloria Vanderbilt, who is the great-granddaughter of “the Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt.
The Ride of A Lifetime by Robert Iger
This is the second of the two books I read this past year regarding The Walt Disney Company. This book was not quite as thrilling as Disney War, but it did provide an interesting review of all Iger accomplished in the last decade while he served as the CEO of Disney through different acquisitions. Personally, I feel like the acquisition of Marvel is one of the best corporate moves in recent memories. Full disclaimer: I don’t even really like superheroes. Reading this before Disney War was also made that latter more interesting as Iger was a pretty key player in the last half of Eisner’s tenure at Disney and in turn the last half of Stewart’s book.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Rounding out this year’s list is this classic novel. I would not say it was the most enjoyable read of the year, but the story certainly tells very important themes that I viewed as very applicable to today’s world as current power dynamics are being tested and altered as we dive into this post-pandemic world. I will stray from getting too political, but this novel is an American classic that anyone who enjoys reading should read at some point (just like Fahrenheit 451!).
If you made it this far, I hope you got a few good adds to your list for the rest of the year. If you have any good adds for me to my list, I would love to hear them here. Thanks folks.
