My 2022 Reading List
My New Year’s Resolution was the generic “read more”. It feels strange to be writing about New Year’s Resolutions in April, but I also resolved to “write more” and this is my first post for the year. Resolutions may in fact not be my forte.
In an effort to feel a heavier weight of accountability, I’m publishing my intended reading list for 2022 for all the world to see. Feel free to ask me at the end of the year how this all went. Maybe you can add some of these to your list as well and we can have a high-brow discussion of our thoughts on them and become best friends – or enemies – afterwards.
Without further ado, here’s my list in no particular order:
1. Educated by Tara Westover
In this memoir, Tara Westover recounts overcoming her survivalist Mormon family in order to go to college, and emphasizes the importance of education in enlarging her world.
Why it’s on my read list:
First of all, I love memoirs! I love feeling privy to people’s innermost thoughts. I love the way different people express themselves in their memoirs and I love the fact that I can learn life lessons vicariously through reading about their experiences. I also have a weird fascination with cults and cult-like behaviour so this book intrigued me.
2. Too Big To Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin
A non-fiction book chronicling the events of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the collapse of Lehman Brothers from the point of view of Wall Street CEOs and US government regulators.
Why it’s on my read list:
I’m pursuing a career in finance/investment management so anything to do with major incidents in the industry interests me. And what scandal is bigger than the GFC? I love Andrew Ross Sorkin’s general style of writing so I feel like this would be an enjoyable and insightful read.
3. Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
The book examines the history of the Sackler family, including the founding of Purdue Pharma, their role in the marketing of pharmaceuticals, and the family's central role in the opioid epidemic.
Why it’s on my read list:
This book is biography, true crime and scandal all in one, so it’s definitely going to be an interesting read. I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, which doesn’t have a major opioid abuse problem, so I remember being a bit taken aback on trips on to US hearing about how widespread and pervasive the issue was. I’d like to be better informed on the topic and the role major pharmaceutical companies played.
There’s also a Hulu series with similar content (though it’s based on a different book) called Dopesick.
4. The Frontlines of Peace by Séverine Autesserre
The Frontlines of Peace tells the stories of the ordinary yet extraordinary individuals and organizations that are confronting violence in their communities effectively. One thing is clear: successful examples of peacebuilding around the world, in countries at war or at peace, have involved innovative grassroots initiatives led by local people, at times supported by foreigners, often employing methods shunned by the international elite.
Why it’s on my read list:
Funny story, when I was younger, I used to blow out my birthday cake candles and wish for “world peace”. As I grew older, I became a lot more cynical about that goal ever being achieved. However, this book might provide some insight on efficient ways to better resolve conflicts and accomplish my young heart’s wish. I’m open to learning about methods that work and hopefully supporting efforts in whatever way I can.
5. Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama by Bob Odenkirk
Odenkirk's memoir is an often funny look at the difficulty of being funny.
Why it’s on my read list:
Another memoir! I wasn’t kidding when I said I love these. Comedy is an artform and I greatly admire those who have perfected their art. I’ll admit I’m not the biggest Breaking Bad fan (I still haven’t finished the series since I lost interest trying to watch it during the pandemic in 2020) however, I absolutely love Bob Odenkirk in his cameo on The Office! He also wrote for Futurama and the Simpsons which I both love.
6. In Spite of the Gods: The Rise of Modern India by Edward Luce
As the world's largest democracy and a rising international economic power, India has long been heralded for its great strides in technology and trade. Yet it is also plagued by poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and a vast array of other social and economic issues. Here, noted journalist and former Financial Times South Asia bureau chief Edward Luce travels throughout India's many regions, cultures, and religious circles, investigating its fragile balance between tradition and modernity.
Why it’s on my read list:
I really enjoyed Luce’s Retreat of Western Liberalism, so I know this will be an interesting and balanced read. I’ve never been to India, but I’m obviously ethnically Indian and thus interested in the “motherland”, so to speak. I definitely think there is a changing world order, much like the shift from European powers to the US, it’s likely in the coming century the East will have concentrated global power.
7. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany is a book by the journalist William L. Shirer, in which the author chronicles the rise and fall of Nazi Germany from the birth of Adolf Hitler in 1889 to the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
Why it’s on my read list:
I actually started this book last year, but it’s over 1,500 pages so it’ll definitely take me a while to finish. That being said, the writing style is amazing and keeps me sucked in like I’m watching everything play out first hand. The book has lots of interesting tidbits and has been an insightful read thus far.
There are a lot of books I want to read in 2022, but these are the ones I absolutely must finish this year.
You can stalk my 2022 reading journey here: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/32360842
You have permission to cyber-bully me if I haven’t fulfilled my list by December 31st 11:59pm EST.
