Books I've Read in 2024

#books 3 min.

For the 7 years in a row now, I aim to read roughly 1 book per month. While I don’t take this goal too seriously, and the last time I hit it was 2020, it still provides some motivation.

This year, I rediscovered audiobooks - the list would be much shorter without them. I still do not enjoy audiobooks as much as my Kindle or paper books - it’s too easy to get distracted and kinda ruins the ritual aspect of reading - but that’s a reality of my life.

For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor

All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor

I’ve read the first book two years ago. I can only repeat what I said then - it’s mostly a fun, light read, but it still manages to explore some profound ideas and have some touching moments. The series is repetitive, and the writing isn’t excellent, but I still enjoyed it. If you like Andy Weir’s stuff, you’ll like this too.

The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer

It was a freebie with an Audible subscription. The synopsis sounded interesting, and it was just 5 hours, so why not?

As with every Audible’s in-house production, the quality is bombastic, but the story is pretty meh. It says a lot that I don’t even remember how it ends by the time I’m writing this a year later.

On Writing Well: Audio Collection by William Zinsser

This became part of my sleep routine because I LOVED the reader’s voice. Very meditative, but I can’t really say how much of the book I retained. There’s some good, pragmatic advice, and I’ll probably have to listen to it again.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

It was one of the most important books written in the last century, and I finally got around to reading it. Aspects of it will be familiar to anyone who knows a thing or two about concentration camps. However, the way Frankl writes about his experiences and the lessons he draws from them are still compelling and inspiring. Miles better than any self-help book you can find. Must read.

A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett

My second favorite book of the year. Interestingly, this was written by some AI entrepreneur, but you couldn’t tell. Very accessible and comprehensive despite complex topics. This is a strong recommendation for anyone interested in AI or neuroscience. I will be re-reading it in the future.

I liked it so much I wrote a short summary.

Blood on Snow (Kraujas ant sniego) by Jo Nesbø

A nice and short, formulaic, scandi thriller. The most brutal part was the poor translation to Lithuanian, which kept taking me out of the story.

The Nickel Boys (Nikelio berniukai) by Colson Whitehead

It’s a fictionalized account of a real-life reform school in Florida, and it’s as brutal and sad a story as you could imagine. Still manages to put some good twists and turns, even though you have a pretty good idea of how it will end. Well-earned Pulitzer Prize.

Vilnius’ Myths (Vilniaus padavimai) by P. Vingis

A short collection of myths and legends about Vilnius city spanning close to millennia, from pagan times to the 19th century. Really helps to see the city and streets you see daily in a different light.

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Est. 2011